How overtime pay is calculated
Overtime pay = overtime hours × hourly rate × overtime multiplier
With the standard “time and a half” multiplier of 1.5, someone earning $20 an hour gets $30 for each overtime hour. If they work 46 hours in a week with overtime after 40:
- Regular pay: 40 × $20 = $800
- Overtime pay: 6 × $30 = $180
- Total gross pay: $980
Double-time hours (paid at 2×) are entered separately – for example hours worked on a public holiday or, in California, hours beyond 12 in a single day.
Overtime rules at a glance
- United States (federal FLSA): non-exempt employees get at least 1.5× their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. Some states add daily overtime – California pays 1.5× after 8 hours and 2× after 12 hours in a day.
- Canada: thresholds are set by province – commonly 1.5× after 8 hours a day and/or 40 or 44 hours a week.
- United Kingdom & Australia: there is no single statutory overtime premium; rates come from employment contracts, awards or enterprise agreements, with 1.5× and 2× being common.
This information is general and not legal advice – check your contract or local labor authority. To total a week of clock-in and clock-out times first, use the time card calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is time and a half for $15 an hour?
Time and a half for $15 an hour is $22.50 per overtime hour ($15 × 1.5).
What is time and a half for $20 an hour?
$30 per hour. Ten overtime hours would add $300 to your gross pay.
Is overtime calculated before or after taxes?
Overtime is calculated on gross (before-tax) pay. Taxes and deductions are then applied to the total, so the take-home amount will be lower.
Do salaried employees get overtime?
Salaried employees who are classified as exempt usually do not. Salaried non-exempt employees do, based on a regular hourly rate worked out from their salary.