How to Calculate Overtime Pay: FLSA Formula and Examples

Federal overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires employers to pay non-exempt employees at least 1.5 times their regular rate for all hours worked beyond 40 in a single workweek. The workweek is a fixed, recurring 7-day period: not a calendar week or pay period.

Hourly Employee OT

Regular rateHourly wage
OT rate (1.5×)Hourly × 1.5
OT payOT hrs × (rate × 1.5)
Example ($22.50)7 hrs × $33.75 = $236.25
Total weekly(40 × $22.50) + $236.25

Salaried Non-Exempt OT

Regular rateWeekly salary ÷ 40
Example ($600/wk)$600 ÷ 40 = $15.00/hr
OT rate (1.5×)$15.00 × 1.5 = $22.50
OT pay (8 hrs)8 × $22.50 = $180.00
Total weekly$600 + $180 = $780.00

Worked example: $22.50/hr, 48 hours worked in one week

Regular hours (40)40 × $22.50 = $900.00
Overtime hours48 − 40 = 8 overtime hours
Overtime rate (1.5×)$22.50 × 1.5 = $33.75/hr
Overtime pay8 × $33.75 = $270.00
Total weekly gross$900 + $270 = $1,170.00
Overtime premium earned8 × ($22.50 × 0.5) = $90.00 (OBBBA deductible portion)
Annual OT income (52 weeks)$270 × 52 = $14,040/year extra

2026 Overtime Tax Deduction: How the OBBBA Reduces Your Overtime Tax

2026 Overtime Tax Deduction New for 2026

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) created a new federal income tax deduction for qualified overtime compensation starting with the 2025 tax year, continuing in 2026. This deduction reduces your federal taxable income by the overtime premium: the extra 0.5× portion above straight time.

What qualifies: The overtime premium paid above the regular rate: specifically the 0.5× portion for FLSA-required overtime. If you earn $22/hr and work 10 overtime hours: total overtime pay = $330 (10 × $33). Qualified deduction amount = $110 (the 0.5× premium: 10 × $22 × 0.5). This $110 is deductible from federal taxable income per IRS Notice 2025-69.

2026 OBBBA overtime deduction: weekly impact at various hourly rates and overtime hours
Hourly rateOT hours/weekTotal OT payDeductible premium (0.5×)Federal tax saved (22%)
$18.00/hr5 hrs$135.00$45.00$9.90/week
$22.50/hr8 hrs$270.00$90.00$19.80/week
$28.00/hr10 hrs$420.00$140.00$30.80/week
$35.00/hr10 hrs$525.00$175.00$38.50/week
$45.00/hr15 hrs$1,012.50$337.50$74.25/week

Tax savings assume 22% marginal federal rate. Actual savings vary by bracket. Annual deduction = weekly premium × weeks with overtime. Consult a tax professional for filing guidance.

Overtime Pay Chart 2026: How Much Time and a Half Pays at Every Rate

All figures use the FLSA standard 1.5× overtime rate for hours over 40 per week. Gross pay before taxes. For net pay after FICA and federal income tax use the take-home pay calculator. For regular paycheck net pay, use the paycheck calculator.

Weekly pay at various overtime hours: regular rate + overtime (1.5×), 2026
Regular rate Regular pay (40 hrs) +5 OT hrs +8 OT hrs +10 OT hrs +15 OT hrs
$15.00/hr$600$712.50$780$825$937.50
$18.00/hr$720$855$936$990$1,125
$20.00/hr$800$950$1,040$1,100$1,250
$22.50/hr$900$1,068.75$1,170$1,237.50$1,406.25
$25.00/hr$1,000$1,187.50$1,300$1,375$1,562.50
$29.90/hr (US median)$1,196$1,420.25$1,554.80$1,643.50$1,868
$35.00/hr$1,400$1,662.50$1,820$1,925$2,187.50
$40.00/hr$1,600$1,900$2,080$2,200$2,500
$50.00/hr$2,000$2,375$2,600$2,750$3,125

Does a Bonus Affect Overtime Pay? Regular Rate of Pay Explained

Most overtime calculators ignore one of the most commonly litigated FLSA issues: non-discretionary bonuses must be included in the regular rate before calculating overtime. If you receive a bonus that employees are led to expect: production bonuses, attendance bonuses, safety bonuses, shift differentials: it must be factored into the overtime calculation.

Bonus rate adjustment example: $20/hr base, 45 hours, $200 attendance bonus

Hours worked45 hours (40 regular + 5 overtime)
Base straight-time pay45 × $20 = $900.00
Plus attendance bonus+$200.00
Total straight-time earnings$1,100.00
Adjusted regular rate$1,100 ÷ 45 hours = $24.44/hr
Additional OT premium owed5 hrs × ($24.44 × 0.5) = $61.10
Total weekly pay owed$1,100 + $61.10 = $1,161.10
Without bonus adjustment (wrong)$1,100 + $50 = $1,150: $11.10 short
Discretionary vs non-discretionary bonuses Only discretionary bonuses: those given at the employer's sole discretion with no prior promise: are excluded from the regular rate. Production bonuses, attendance bonuses, safety bonuses, and any bonus employees expect to receive based on established criteria are non-discretionary and must be included. The DOL Wage and Hour Division recovers millions annually from employers who fail to include non-discretionary bonuses in overtime calculations.

Am I Exempt from Overtime? FLSA Salary Threshold 2026 Explained

The FLSA exempts certain employees from overtime requirements when they meet all three tests simultaneously. Meeting only one or two tests is not sufficient for exemption.

FLSA overtime exemption three-part test: 2026
TestRequirement2026 threshold
Salary level testMust earn at least the minimum salary threshold on a salary or fee basis$684/week ($35,568/year)
Salary basis testMust be paid a predetermined, fixed salary not subject to reduction based on quality or quantity of workSalary must not be docked for partial-day absences
Duties testPrimary job duties must meet the criteria for executive, administrative, professional, outside sales, or computer employee exemption per 29 CFR §541No dollar threshold: based on actual job duties
2026 threshold status: $684/week confirmed In November 2024, a federal district court in Texas vacated the DOL's 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold to $1,128/week ($58,656/year), reverting it to the prior $684/week ($35,568/year). The DOL's appeal was pending as of early 2026. Check the DOL FLSA overtime page for current status. Some states set higher thresholds: California at $66,560, New York and Washington higher still.

California and State Overtime Rules That Beat Federal FLSA 2026

Federal FLSA sets the minimum overtime standard. States may provide greater protection: employees are entitled to whichever standard is more beneficial. Several states have daily overtime requirements that the federal FLSA does not have.

California: Most Protective

Daily overtime: 1.5× for hours 8 to 12 in a day; 2× for hours over 12 in a day. Weekly: 1.5× for hours 41 to 48; 2× for hours 49+. 7th consecutive workday: 1.5× first 8 hours, 2× above 8 hours. Tip credit prohibited: full minimum wage for overtime base.

Nevada

Daily overtime: 1.5× for hours over 8 in a day for employees earning below 1.5× the state minimum wage. Employees earning above that threshold are exempt from daily overtime but still subject to the 40-hour weekly rule.

Alaska

Daily overtime: 1.5× for hours over 8 in a workday, in addition to the standard weekly overtime threshold of 40 hours. Employees receive whichever produces the greater overtime earnings.

All Other States

Follow the federal FLSA standard: 1.5× for hours over 40 per workweek. No daily overtime requirement. Some states have higher minimum wages that affect the base for overtime calculations: always use the applicable state minimum wage where higher than $7.25/hr federal.

How Much Does Overtime Add to Annual Income? Complete Projection

If you regularly work overtime, the annual earnings impact is significant. The table below shows how much overtime adds to yearly gross income at common hourly rates. These are gross figures before taxes: for net impact see the take-home pay calculator with your new gross.

Annual overtime income: additional gross earnings beyond base salary
Hourly rate5 OT hrs/week × 528 OT hrs/week × 5210 OT hrs/week × 52
$15.00/hr+$5,850/yr+$9,360/yr+$11,700/yr
$18.00/hr+$7,020/yr+$11,232/yr+$14,040/yr
$22.50/hr+$8,775/yr+$14,040/yr+$17,550/yr
$29.90/hr (median)+$11,661/yr+$18,658/yr+$23,322/yr
$35.00/hr+$13,650/yr+$21,840/yr+$27,300/yr
$40.00/hr+$15,600/yr+$24,960/yr+$31,200/yr

Assumes 52 overtime weeks per year. Real annual overtime earnings depend on actual weeks worked. Add overtime earnings to base salary using the annual salary calculator for a combined annual income figure.

Overtime Pay Questions: Time and a Half, Double Time, Exemptions

How much is time and a half at $15 an hour?

Time and a half at $15/hr = $22.50 per overtime hour ($15 × 1.5). If you work 5 overtime hours per week: 5 × $22.50 = $112.50 extra per week, $5,850 extra per year. After FICA and federal income tax (approximately 30% combined at this income level), net annual overtime earnings from 5 hours per week is approximately $4,095.

How much is time and a half at $18 an hour?

Time and a half at $18/hr = $27 per overtime hour. At 5 OT hours per week: $135 extra per week, $7,020 extra per year gross. Common for warehouse workers, retail staff, and food service workers in states with active OT opportunities. Net annual overtime after taxes: approximately $4,914.

How much is time and a half at $20 an hour?

Time and a half at $20/hr = $30 per overtime hour. At 5 OT hours per week: $150/week extra, $7,800/yr extra gross. At 10 OT hours per week: $300/week extra, $15,600/yr extra gross. Net after taxes at $20/hr base: approximately $10,920 net from 10 OT hours per week.

How much is time and a half at $22 an hour?

Time and a half at $22/hr = $33 per overtime hour. At 5 OT hours per week: $165/week, $8,580/yr gross. Common for skilled trades workers, experienced warehouse leads, and medical support staff. Net annual overtime (5 hrs/week): approximately $6,006.

How much is time and a half at $25 an hour?

Time and a half at $25/hr = $37.50 per overtime hour. At 5 OT hours per week: $187.50/week, $9,750/yr gross. At 10 hours OT per week: $375/week, $19,500/yr gross. After taxes, 10 OT hours per week at $25/hr adds approximately $13,650 annually.

Can a salaried employee get overtime pay?

Yes, if the salaried employee is non-exempt. Two tests must both be met for overtime exemption: (1) salary must be at least $684/week ($35,568/year) and (2) job duties must qualify for executive, administrative, or professional exemption under FLSA. If either test fails, the employee is entitled to overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours above 40 per week, regardless of being called salaried or a manager.

What are California overtime rules?

California requires overtime (1.5x) for hours over 8 in a single workday and hours over 40 in a workweek. California also requires double time (2x) for hours over 12 in a single workday and for all hours worked on the 7th consecutive day of work in a workweek. This is stricter than federal FLSA which only triggers OT after 40 hours in a week. California's rules apply to non-exempt employees regardless of whether they work in-office or remotely.

How is overtime taxed differently from regular pay?

Overtime pay is taxed as ordinary income, not at a special higher rate. However, because overtime adds to your total income, it can push earnings into a higher federal bracket on the portion above the threshold. The new OBBBA 2026 overtime tax deduction reduces federal taxable income by the overtime premium (the 0.5x above straight time), effectively lowering the tax burden on qualifying overtime pay. FICA (7.65%) still applies to all overtime wages.