Example 1: Standard 41-hour week
Sarah earns $22/hour and worked 41 hours.
- Regular: 40 × $22 = $880.00
- Overtime: 1 × ($22 × 1.5) = 1 × $33 = $33.00
- Gross pay: $913.00
Example 2: Heavier overtime week
Marcus earns $18/hour and worked 52 hours.
- Regular: 40 × $18 = $720.00
- Overtime: 12 × $27 = $324.00
- Gross pay: $1,044.00
Example 3: California-style daily overtime
Priya earns $25/hour. In one day she worked 13 hours straight (no other shifts that week):
- Regular: 8 × $25 = $200.00
- Time and a half: 4 × $37.50 = $150.00 (hours 9-12)
- Double time: 1 × $50 = $50.00 (hour 13)
- Day total: $400.00
Example 4: Holiday double-time (employer policy)
Diego earns $20/hour. His employer pays double-time for the four hours he worked on Thanksgiving, plus he worked 36 regular hours that week.
- Regular: 36 × $20 = $720.00
- Holiday double-time: 4 × $40 = $160.00
- Gross pay: $880.00
Example 5: Blended overtime rate
Anna works two jobs at the same employer: cashier at $17/hour and shift lead at $22/hour. In one workweek she worked 30 hours as cashier and 15 as shift lead, 45 total.
- Straight-time pay: (30 × $17) + (15 × $22) = $510 + $330 = $840
- Regular rate of pay: $840 ÷ 45 = $18.67/hour
- Overtime premium: 5 × ($18.67 × 0.5) = 5 × $9.33 = $46.67
- Gross pay: $840 + $46.67 = $886.67
Quick reference
| Hourly rate | 1.5× OT rate | 2× rate |
|---|---|---|
| $15.00 | $22.50 | $30.00 |
| $20.00 | $30.00 | $40.00 |
| $25.00 | $37.50 | $50.00 |
| $32.00 | $48.00 | $64.00 |
| $40.00 | $60.00 | $80.00 |
Example 6: Working into a holiday week
Jamal earns $24/hour. He worked 38 regular hours plus 8 hours on Memorial Day. His employer pays time and a half for federal holidays.
- Regular: 38 × $24 = $912.00
- Holiday premium: 8 × $36 = $288.00
- Total payroll hours: 46. But because the 8 holiday hours are paid at premium and the regular 38 are below 40, no FLSA overtime applies.
- Gross pay: $1,200.00
Example 7: Overtime with a non-discretionary bonus
Lin earns $18/hour and worked 45 hours in a workweek. She also earned a $90 production bonus for hitting a weekly target. Because the bonus is non-discretionary, it must be folded into the regular rate of pay before overtime is calculated.
- Straight-time pay: 45 × $18 = $810. Add bonus: $900.
- Regular rate of pay: $900 ÷ 45 = $20.00/hour.
- Overtime premium owed: 5 × ($20.00 × 0.5) = $50.00.
- Total: $810 + $90 + $50 = $950.00
Spot-checking your overtime line
To confirm an overtime line on a pay stub, multiply your hourly rate by 1.5 and compare to the rate shown on the OT line. If the rates do not match, ask payroll to walk through the calculation with you. Common reasons the OT rate looks "off" include a non-discretionary bonus being included, a shift differential adjusting the regular rate, or a state-specific daily overtime rule kicking in.
State rules to know
- California, Alaska, Nevada: Daily overtime over 8 hours.
- California: Double-time after 12 hours in a day or after 8 hours on the seventh consecutive day.
- Colorado: Overtime after 12 hours in a day, in addition to the 40-hour weekly rule.
- Kentucky: Overtime on the seventh consecutive day, even if total hours are under 40.
For your specific situation, run the numbers through the Overtime Calculator and compare with your pay stub. If the difference is more than rounding noise, raise it with your employer.
Important note
Overtime rules vary by federal law, state law, employer policy, and union contract. These examples are for general understanding, always confirm specifics with your employer or payroll provider.