Overtime Threshold Calculator
Instantly find how many overtime hours an employee has worked once they exceed the standard weekly threshold. Use it during payroll processing to calculate overtime pay accurately.
About this calculator
Overtime hours are the hours worked beyond a defined regular-hours threshold in a given pay period. The formula is: Overtime Hours = max(0, Hours Worked − Regular Hours Threshold). The max(0, …) function ensures the result is never negative—if an employee works fewer hours than the threshold, the overtime value is simply zero. In the United States, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) sets the standard threshold at 40 hours per week, requiring overtime pay at 1.5× the regular rate for hours beyond that. Other jurisdictions or union contracts may set daily thresholds (e.g., 8 hours/day) or different weekly limits. Knowing the exact overtime hours is the first step in computing the additional pay owed, since those hours are multiplied by the overtime rate rather than the base rate.
How to use
An employee worked 47 hours this week. Their contract specifies a regular-hours threshold of 40 hours. Enter 47 in Hours Worked This Week and 40 in Regular Hours Threshold. The calculator computes: max(0, 47 − 40) = max(0, 7) = 7 overtime hours. If their regular hourly rate is $20, the overtime rate is $20 × 1.5 = $30/hour. Their total pay is: (40 × $20) + (7 × $30) = $800 + $210 = $1,010 for the week.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate overtime pay once I know the overtime hours?
Once you have the number of overtime hours, multiply them by the overtime pay rate. In most US jurisdictions, the overtime rate is 1.5 times the employee's regular hourly rate, often called 'time and a half.' For example, if an employee earns $18/hour and works 5 overtime hours, their overtime pay is 5 × ($18 × 1.5) = 5 × $27 = $135. Add this to their regular pay (regular hours × base rate) to get total gross wages for the period.
What is the standard overtime threshold under US federal law?
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the standard threshold is 40 hours in a single workweek. Any non-exempt employee who works more than 40 hours must receive at least 1.5× their regular rate for those additional hours. Some states like California have stricter rules, including daily overtime triggered after 8 hours in a single day. Always check both federal and state regulations, as employees are entitled to whichever rule is more favorable to them.
Do salaried employees qualify for overtime pay calculations?
It depends on whether the employee is classified as exempt or non-exempt under the FLSA. Salaried non-exempt employees—those earning below the salary threshold (currently $684/week federally as of recent rules) or whose job duties don't meet exemption criteria—are entitled to overtime pay. Salaried exempt employees, such as many managers and professionals earning above the threshold, are not entitled to overtime under federal law. Misclassifying employees as exempt when they are not is a common and costly compliance mistake.