Explain it like I’m 5
Imagine you get paid $20 for every hour you work. You agreed to work 40 hours a week. But this week you stayed late and worked 45 hours.
Those extra 5 hours are called overtime. Because you’re giving up extra time, the law says your boss has to pay you more for each of those hours — not just $20, but one and a half times as much. Half of $20 is $10, so $20 + $10 = $30 an hour. That’s “time and a half.”
So your week adds up like this: 40 normal hours × $20 = $800, plus 5 overtime hours × $30 = $150. Total: $950. The calculator does this for any pay and any hours.
Words you’ll see, in plain English
- Overtime
- Hours you work beyond the normal limit — in the US, more than 40 hours in one week. Most hourly workers must be paid extra for them.
- Time and a half
- Overtime pay of 1½ times your normal hourly rate. If you normally earn $20 an hour, each overtime hour pays $30.
- Double time
- Pay of 2 times your normal rate for certain hours, such as holidays or very long days. $20 an hour becomes $40.
- Gross pay
- Your pay before anything is taken out — before taxes, insurance or retirement savings. What lands in your bank account (net pay) is smaller.
- Exempt vs. non-exempt
- Non-exempt workers must get overtime pay. Exempt workers — usually salaried managers and professionals above a pay threshold — don’t.
More money words explained simply in our glossary.
How to use the overtime calculator
- Enter your normal hourly pay — what you earn per hour before tax.
- Enter all the hours you worked this week, including the overtime. The calculator splits them into regular and overtime hours for you.
- Check when overtime starts. It’s 40 hours a week under federal law, but your state or contract might differ.
- Pick the overtime rate — usually time and a half — and add any double-time hours.
The formula
Overtime rate = hourly pay × 1.5
Weekly pay = (regular hours × hourly pay) + (overtime hours × overtime rate)
Example: you earn $18 an hour and work 48 hours.
- Regular pay: 40 × $18 = $720.
- Overtime rate: $18 × 1.5 = $27 an hour.
- Overtime pay: 8 × $27 = $216.
- Total for the week: $720 + $216 = $936 before tax.
Time and a half chart
Common hourly rates, their time-and-a-half and double-time rates, and what 5 hours of overtime adds to your paycheck.
| Hourly pay | Time and a half | Double time | 5 hours of overtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| $12.00 | $18.00 | $24.00 | $90.00 |
| $15.00 | $22.50 | $30.00 | $112.50 |
| $16.00 | $24.00 | $32.00 | $120.00 |
| $17.00 | $25.50 | $34.00 | $127.50 |
| $18.00 | $27.00 | $36.00 | $135.00 |
| $20.00 | $30.00 | $40.00 | $150.00 |
| $22.00 | $33.00 | $44.00 | $165.00 |
| $25.00 | $37.50 | $50.00 | $187.50 |
| $30.00 | $45.00 | $60.00 | $225.00 |
| $35.00 | $52.50 | $70.00 | $262.50 |
| $40.00 | $60.00 | $80.00 | $300.00 |
| $50.00 | $75.00 | $100.00 | $375.00 |
Overtime rules in plain English
- It’s about the week, not the day (federally). Working 10 hours on Monday doesn’t earn overtime by itself; going over 40 hours in the week does. A few states, including California, also count daily hours.
- Each week stands alone. Your employer can’t average two weeks together — 50 hours one week and 30 the next still means 10 hours of overtime.
- Bonuses can raise your overtime rate. Non-discretionary bonuses (ones you were promised, like production or attendance bonuses) must be included in the “regular rate” used for overtime.
- Paid time off usually doesn’t count. Holiday, vacation and sick hours you didn’t actually work generally don’t count toward the 40, unless your employer’s policy or state law says otherwise.
Common mistakes
- Multiplying all your hours by 1.5. Only the hours over the limit get the higher rate.
- Expecting the full amount in your bank account. This calculator shows gross pay; taxes and deductions come out after.
- Assuming salaried means no overtime. Only exempt workers lose overtime — check your job classification.
This calculator gives general estimates. Overtime law has many exceptions — check with your employer, your state labor department or the US Department of Labor for your exact situation.
Learn more
- Overtime Rules Explained: Who Gets Time and a Half? — Most hourly workers in the US must get at least time and a half for hours over 40 in a week. Here’s who qualifies, how states add their own rules, how bonuses change your overtime rate, and how overtime is taxed.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate time and a half?
Multiply your normal hourly pay by 1.5. If you earn $20 an hour, time and a half is $20 × 1.5 = $30 an hour. Then multiply that by your overtime hours: 5 overtime hours × $30 = $150 of overtime pay.
What is time and a half for $15 an hour?
$15 × 1.5 = $22.50 an hour. Five hours of overtime at that rate pays $112.50.
What is time and a half for $20 an hour?
$20 × 1.5 = $30 an hour. A 45-hour week pays 40 × $20 + 5 × $30 = $800 + $150 = $950 before tax.
When do you get time and a half?
Under US federal law (the Fair Labor Standards Act), most hourly workers must get at least time and a half for every hour over 40 in a workweek. Some states go further: California, for example, also pays overtime for hours over 8 in one day, and double time for hours over 12 in a day.
Do salaried employees get overtime?
Some do. Being on a salary doesn’t by itself mean you can’t get overtime. Workers who are “exempt” — generally salaried employees doing executive, administrative or professional work and earning above a pay threshold set by the Department of Labor — don’t get it. If you’re salaried but non-exempt, your hourly rate is your weekly salary divided by the hours it is meant to cover.
Is overtime taxed more?
No — overtime is added to your regular pay and taxed the same way. It can look like it’s taxed more on one paycheck because payroll software estimates your yearly tax as if you earned that much every period. Any extra withheld comes back when you file your tax return. For 2025 through 2028, eligible workers can also deduct the extra “half” part of federally required overtime pay — up to $12,500 a year ($25,000 married filing jointly), phasing out at higher incomes. It doesn’t reduce Social Security or Medicare taxes.
Is double time 2 times your pay?
Yes. Double time pays twice your normal hourly rate: $20 an hour becomes $40 an hour. Federal law doesn’t require double time, but some states, union contracts and employers pay it for holidays or very long days.
These results are estimates for education only, based on the assumptions you enter. They are not financial, investment or tax advice. Real returns, rates and taxes vary. See our methodology anddisclaimer.