Finance guide
Overtime Pay: How Premium Rates Work
Understand time-and-a-half, double time, and how overtime rules apply to hourly, salaried, and shift workers.
Written by James — Founder & Builder, BoringToolsKit · Published 2026 · Planning information, not professional advice.
The standard rule: time and a half
Under federal law, nonexempt workers earn at least 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. A $20-per-hour employee working 45 hours earns $800 for the first 40 hours plus $150 for 5 overtime hours — $950 total for the week.
The regular rate is more than the base wage
The overtime rate is based on the regular rate, which includes most bonuses, commissions, and piece rates divided by total hours. If a weekly $100 production bonus is earned during a 45-hour week, the regular rate rises and so does the overtime premium. State rules can add daily overtime thresholds and double time for long shifts.
Salaried doesn't automatically mean exempt
Salary alone does not make an employee exempt from overtime. Exemption depends on duties and the salary threshold. An exempt executive, administrative, or professional employee is paid a salary and is not owed overtime; a nonexempt salaried employee is still owed premium pay for hours over 40.
Shift differentials and double time
Many employers add a shift differential — a premium for nights or weekends — on top of the base rate, and some states require double time after 12 hours or 60 hours. The calculator lets you model a differential and a multiplier so the estimate matches your actual pay structure.
Check the estimate against your stub
An overtime estimate is a planning tool, not a wage claim. Compare it with your pay stub, and if the numbers differ, ask payroll how the regular rate and premium were computed. For disputes, the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division handles wage claims.
Daily overtime in some states
Federal law counts overtime weekly, but several states require daily overtime — typically time and a half after 8 hours and double time after 12. California is the best-known example. If you work in a state with daily rules, the calculator's multiplier model still works: set the threshold and multiplier to your state's rule.