Direct answer
To calculate overtime after 40 hours, add actual worked hours for the workweek, count the first 40 as regular hours, and treat the remaining hours as overtime.
The common formula is: regular pay = 40 hours times regular hourly rate, overtime pay = hours over 40 times regular hourly rate times overtime multiplier. Total gross pay equals regular pay plus overtime pay.
For example, if you worked 46 hours at $20 per hour and overtime is time and a half, regular pay is $800 and overtime pay is 6 times $30, or $180. The gross estimate is $980 before taxes and deductions.
Formula and example
The overtime calculation starts with hours, not dollars. If lunch breaks are unpaid, subtract them before checking whether weekly hours exceed 40.
The overtime multiplier is often 1.5, but the threshold and rate can change by location, job type, policy, contract, or daily overtime rule.
Comparison table
| Weekly hours | Regular hours | Overtime hours | Example at $20/hour, 1.5x |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 40 | 0 | $800 gross regular pay |
| 42 | 40 | 2 | $800 + $60 = $860 |
| 46 | 40 | 6 | $800 + $180 = $980 |
| 50 | 40 | 10 | $800 + $300 = $1,100 |
Step-by-step calculation
Key checks
- Total actual worked hours for the workweek after subtracting unpaid meal breaks or other unpaid time.
- Separate regular hours from overtime hours using the rule that applies to your situation, commonly 40 weekly hours.
- Multiply regular hours by the base hourly rate before calculating any overtime premium.
- Multiply overtime hours by the overtime rate, such as 1.5 times the base rate for time and a half.
- Add regular pay and overtime pay, then treat the result as gross pay before taxes, deductions, and benefits.
Worked example
A useful example is easier to trust when each assumption is visible. The sample below follows the same order you should use for your own numbers.
Key checks
- If you worked 46 hours, the first 40 hours are regular hours in a basic weekly example.
- The remaining 6 hours are overtime hours before checking policy or local rules.
- At $20 per hour with 1.5x overtime, overtime pay is 6 x $30, or $180.
What can change the result
Forty hours is common, but some situations use daily overtime, double time, special holiday rules, or different treatment for bonuses and shift premiums.
Exempt status can change the answer. Some salaried or professional roles may not qualify for overtime in the same way hourly roles do.
If the estimate is for a real paycheck dispute, use the calculator for arithmetic and then check the applicable rule or payroll record.
Common mistakes to avoid
Key checks
- Do not calculate overtime from scheduled hours if actual worked hours were lower or higher.
- Do not include unpaid lunch breaks in worked hours before checking whether the week passed 40 hours.
- Do not multiply every hour by the overtime rate; usually only overtime hours receive the multiplier.
- Do not treat take-home pay as overtime pay, because taxes and deductions happen after gross pay is calculated.
- Do not ignore local or employer-specific rules when daily overtime, holidays, or shift differentials are involved.
When to use the calculator
Use the overtime calculator when hours are close to 40, lunch breaks vary, or you want to compare regular pay and overtime pay separately.
A good workflow is to answer the narrow question first, then open Overtime Pay Calculator when you need to test different inputs or carry the result into another work decision.
Open Overtime Pay Calculator