How to Calculate Time and a Half Overtime Pay (Formula + Examples)
If you've recently put in extra hours at work, you're probably asking: how do you calculate time and a half overtime pay?
Whether you're a nurse working consecutive 12-hour shifts, a warehouse worker on weekend duty, or an hourly employee double-checking a paycheck, overtime math shouldn't feel like rocket science.
In this guide we break down the exact time-and-a-half formula, walk through step-by-step examples, cover special state rules (like California's daily overtime), and share a quick-reference pay chart.
Instant 1.5× Overtime Calculator
Free · no signupWhat Is Time and a Half Pay?
Time and a half is an overtime compensation rate equal to 1.5 times your standard hourly base rate.
Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) in the United States:
- Non-exempt hourly employees are entitled to time and a half for every hour worked beyond 40 hours in a single 7-day workweek.
- It is the federal baseline — employers cannot legally pay less than 1.5× your regular rate for eligible overtime hours.
The Time and a Half Formula
Calculating your overtime pay takes three simple steps:
Step 1 — Overtime hourly rate
Overtime Rate = Regular Hourly Rate × 1.5
Step 2 — Total overtime earnings
Total Overtime Pay = Overtime Hours Worked × Overtime Rate
Step 3 — Total gross pay for the week
Total Gross Pay = (Regular Hours × Regular Rate) + Total Overtime Pay
Real-World Examples: How to Figure Out Time and a Half
Let's run through three realistic scenarios.
Example 1: Standard 45-Hour Week at $20/Hour
- Base rate: $20.00/hr
- Total hours worked: 45 (40 regular + 5 overtime)
- Overtime rate:
$20.00 × 1.5 = $30.00 per hour - Regular pay:
40 hours × $20.00 = $800.00 - Overtime pay:
5 hours × $30.00 = $150.00 - Total gross pay:
$800.00 + $150.00 = $950.00
Example 2: Heavy Overtime (52-Hour Week) at $26/Hour
- Base rate: $26.00/hr
- Total hours worked: 52 (40 regular + 12 overtime)
- Overtime rate:
$26.00 × 1.5 = $39.00/hr - Regular pay:
40 × $26.00 = $1,040.00 - Overtime pay:
12 × $39.00 = $468.00 - Total gross pay:
$1,040.00 + $468.00 = $1,508.00
Example 3: A 3h 30m Overtime Shift at $25/Hour (Real Shift Lengths)
Real shifts rarely land on whole hours. If you earn $25.00/hr and worked 3 hours 30 minutes of overtime:
- Overtime rate:
$25.00 × 1.5 = $37.50/hr - Overtime pay:
3h 30m × $37.50 = $131.25 - Add that to your regular 40 hours (
40 × $25.00 = $1,000.00) for a gross of $1,131.25.
Time and a Half Quick Reference Chart (Common Hourly Wages)
Use this cheat sheet to find your time-and-a-half rate instantly — it covers the hourly wages people ask about most, plus what an 8-hour overtime shift is worth.
Popular conversions (quick answers): $16/hr → $24.00/hr · $20/hr → $30.00/hr · $23/hr → $34.50/hr · $25/hr → $37.50/hr · $28/hr → $42.00/hr · $30/hr → $45.00/hr · $35/hr → $52.50/hr
| Regular Hourly Rate | Time and a Half Rate (1.5×) | 8-Hour Overtime Pay | Typical Job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00 / hr | $22.50 / hr | $180.00 | Retail / Fast Food |
| $16.00 / hr | $24.00 / hr | $192.00 | Warehouse Staff |
| $16.50 / hr | $24.75 / hr | $198.00 | Caregiver |
| $17.00 / hr | $25.50 / hr | $204.00 | Delivery / Driver |
| $18.00 / hr | $27.00 / hr | $216.00 | Barista / Server |
| $18.50 / hr | $27.75 / hr | $222.00 | CNA / Medical Assistant |
| $19.00 / hr | $28.50 / hr | $228.00 | Hospitality Staff |
| $20.00 / hr | $30.00 / hr | $240.00 | Construction / Trade |
| $22.00 / hr | $33.00 / hr | $264.00 | Warehouse / Logistics |
| $23.00 / hr | $34.50 / hr | $276.00 | Machine Operator |
| $25.00 / hr | $37.50 / hr | $300.00 | LPN / Freelance |
| $28.00 / hr | $42.00 / hr | $336.00 | Electrician / HVAC |
| $30.00 / hr | $45.00 / hr | $360.00 | Registered Nurse (RN) |
| $35.00 / hr | $52.50 / hr | $420.00 | Skilled Trade / Nurse |
8-hour overtime pay = time and a half rate × 8 hours, before tax.
Track your hourly wages, split overnight shifts and automatically calculate 1.5× overtime with Hours Tracker (by ShiftWorkLog) for iPhone and Android — then export a payroll-ready PDF or CSV timesheet.
👉 Download Hours Tracker free on the App Store (iOS) · Get it on Google Play (Android) · or try the free time and a half calculator.
Special Overtime Rules You Need to Know
Federal law isn't the only rulebook. Depending on where and how you work, you might earn even more.
1. California Daily Overtime (The 8-Hour Rule)
While federal law only looks at 40 hours per week, California mandates daily overtime:
- Over 8 hours in a workday: 1.5× regular rate (time and a half)
- Over 12 hours in a workday: 2.0× regular rate (double time)
- First 8 hours on the 7th consecutive workday: 1.5× regular rate
- Over 8 hours on the 7th consecutive workday: 2.0× regular rate
Other states with daily overtime rules include Alaska, Nevada and Colorado (with specific qualifiers).
2. Night Shift Differentials
If you receive a shift differential (for example, an extra $3.00/hr for overnight work), your time-and-a-half rate must include that differential:
- Regular rate:
$20.00 + $3.00 night differential = $23.00base - Overtime rate:
$23.00 × 1.5 = $34.50/hr(not $30.00 + $3.00)
3. Holiday Pay vs. Overtime
Federal law does not require private employers to pay 1.5× simply because you work on a holiday, unless those hours push you past 40 regular hours for the week. Many employers still offer holiday premium pay as company policy.
The Problem with Manual Overtime Calculations
Tracking time and a half by hand — or in a messy spreadsheet — often leads to errors:
- Unpaid break miscalculations: deducting 30-minute unpaid meal breaks incorrectly can rob you of hours.
- Midnight shift crossovers: if your shift starts at 10 PM and ends at 6 AM, tracking which day the hours belong to can cause payroll disputes.
- Shortchanged overtime rates: overtime is sometimes calculated on the base rate while mandatory shift differentials or non-discretionary bonuses are omitted.
Track Your Time and a Half Automatically with Hours Tracker
Tired of doing mental math every time you punch out?
Figure 1: How Hours Tracker automatically highlights and calculates 1.5× overtime for split and overnight shifts.
With Hours Tracker: Work Log & Pay for iOS and Android, tracking time and a half takes zero effort:
- ⏱️ One-tap shift logging: log regular shifts, overnight hours, split shifts and customized breaks.
- ⚡ Automated overtime & double time: automatically applies 1.5× (and 2.0×) rates based on weekly (40h) or daily (8h/12h) thresholds.
- 💰 Accurate pay predictions: see your gross earnings — including overtime premiums and differentials — before your paycheck arrives.
- 📄 Export clean reports: download professional PDF and CSV timesheets to verify your paycheck and resolve discrepancies with HR.
👉 Download Hours Tracker for free:
Never let your overtime go uncounted again — on any device.
Prefer to check the math first? Use the free time and a half calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is time and a half pay?
Time and a half is an overtime pay rate equal to 1.5 times your regular hourly wage. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), it is the mandatory minimum rate for non-exempt hourly employees who work more than 40 hours in a workweek.
How do you figure out time and a half?
Multiply your regular hourly pay rate by 1.5. If you earn $20 per hour: $20 × 1.5 = $30 per hour for every overtime hour worked.
Does time and a half apply after 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week?
Under federal US law (FLSA), overtime is based on working over 40 hours in a standard workweek. However, certain states — including California, Nevada and Alaska — require time and a half for hours worked beyond 8 hours in a single workday.
How does time and a half work?
Time and a half is an overtime pay rate equal to 1.5 times your regular hourly wage. Under federal law (FLSA), non-exempt employees must receive time and a half for all hours worked beyond 40 hours in a single workweek.
What is time and a half for $20 an hour?
Time and a half for $20 an hour is $30.00 per hour ($20 × 1.5 = $30). An 8-hour overtime shift at this rate pays $240.00 in gross overtime earnings.
What is time and a half for $25 an hour?
Time and a half for $25 an hour is $37.50 per hour ($25 × 1.5 = $37.50). For a 40-hour regular week plus 2.5 overtime hours, you would earn $1,093.75 before taxes. See the full $25 an hour time and a half breakdown for 45–60 hour weekly charts and take-home estimates.
What is time and a half of $18.50 an hour?
Time and a half for $18.50 an hour is $27.75 per hour ($18.50 × 1.5 = $27.75). An 8-hour overtime shift at this rate pays $222.00.
What is time and a half of $16.50 an hour?
Time and a half for $16.50 an hour is $24.75 per hour ($16.50 × 1.5 = $24.75). An 8-hour overtime shift at this rate pays $198.00.
Can salaried employees get time and a half?
Yes, if they are classified as non-exempt salaried employees earning under the federal salary threshold or not meeting the executive, administrative or professional exemption tests.
Is overtime taxed higher than regular pay?
No. Overtime pay is taxed at the same standard income tax brackets. A larger paycheck can temporarily push that pay period into a higher withholding bracket, so employers may withhold a higher percentage — but you receive any excess withholding back when you file your annual tax return.
What is time in a half of 25?
Time in a half of $25 an hour is $37.50 per hour ($25 × 1.5 = $37.50). An 8-hour overtime shift at that rate pays $300.00 in gross overtime earnings.
What is time and a half of $35 an hour?
Time and a half for $35 an hour is $52.50 per hour ($35 × 1.5 = $52.50). An 8-hour overtime shift at $35/hr pays $420.00 in gross overtime wages.
What is time and a half for $28 an hour?
Time and a half for $28 an hour is $42.00 per hour ($28 × 1.5 = $42.00). Working 5 hours of overtime at this rate adds $210.00 to your paycheck.
What is the difference between overtime and time and a half?
Overtime refers to the extra hours worked beyond the standard 40-hour limit, while time and a half refers to the specific pay rate (1.5× regular pay) required by law for those overtime hours.
What is time and a third pay?
Time and a third is a pay rate equal to 1.33× your regular hourly rate (regular rate × 1.333). While federal overtime in the US is 1.5×, some specialized industry agreements, Sunday shifts or union contracts use time and a third.