How time and a half is calculated
Time and a half pay = hourly rate × 1.5 × overtime hours. Your regular hours are paid at the normal rate, and only the extra hours get the higher rate.
| Hourly rate | Time and a half | Double time |
|---|---|---|
| $12.00 | $18.00 | $24.00 |
| $15.00 | $22.50 | $30.00 |
| $18.00 | $27.00 | $36.00 |
| $20.00 | $30.00 | $40.00 |
| $25.00 | $37.50 | $50.00 |
| $30.00 | $45.00 | $60.00 |
Example: 45 hours in a week at $20 an hour is 40 × $20 = $800 regular pay plus 5 × $30 = $150 overtime, so $950 before tax.
Who gets time and a half
In the United States, the Fair Labor Standards Act requires at least time and a half for non-exempt employees for hours over 40 in a workweek. Some states add daily rules; California, for example, pays time and a half after 8 hours in a day and double time after 12. Salaried employees can still be owed overtime unless they pass the exemption tests on salary level and duties.
In the UK and many other countries there is no legal overtime premium; your contract or a collective agreement sets the rate. For weekly schedules with daily rules, use the full overtime calculator, and read how overtime pay works for the details by country.
Check your payslip
Compare your payslip with this calculator: the overtime hours, the rate used and the total. Common mistakes are paying overtime on the wrong hours (for example averaging two weeks together, which US law does not allow), leaving bonuses out of the regular rate, or rounding hours down. If the numbers differ, ask payroll to show how they were worked out. This calculator gives an estimate before tax and deductions, not legal or payroll advice.