WageYardOvertime Calculator (Time-and-a-Half)
Overtime money looks big on a single paycheck and gets forgotten by next month. This page turns "a few extra shifts" into weekly, yearly, and after-tax numbers you can actually plan with.
The rule in one line
Under the federal FLSA, most hourly (non-exempt) employees must be paid 1.5× their regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a single workweek. A few states — California being the typical reported example — also count daily overtime and the 7th consecutive day. Exempt salaried employees are generally not owed overtime at all, which is why the same 50-hour week can pay very differently across two desks.
Examples at common rates
| Base rate | OT rate | Weekly gross | Yearly gross | Extra/year vs. straight time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $18.00 | $27.00 | $855.00 | $42,750 | $4,500 |
| $20.00 | $30.00 | $950.00 | $47,000 | $7,000 |
| $30.00 | $45.00 | $1,425.00 | $70,500 | $10,500 |
| $40.00 | $60.00 | $1,900.00 | $94,000 | $14,000 |
Double-time holidays and shift differentials change these numbers; the calculator's overtime preview uses the plain 5-hours-at-1.5× pattern because it matches how most shift workers describe their week.
Open the calculator with overtime preview
The calculator shows OT income after an estimated tax take (FICA + rough federal), since overtime is taxed at your marginal rate — "an extra $7,000 gross" is closer to "$5,600 in your pocket" at $20/hour.
Reading the preview honestly
Two habits keep OT money from disappearing: bank the overtime checks as a separate "OT account" so a slow season doesn't silently spend them, and expect roughly a fifth of the premium to go to FICA and federal tax rather than your pocket — what an overtime hour nets after taxes is the honest number to plan against. Overtime is the highest-paid hour most hourly workers ever sell — treat it like one. The overtime guide covers the regular-rate rule, which is what makes bonuses and shift differentials change your OT rate.
Related guides
Time-and-a-half, explained
FLSA scope, blended rates, and bonus effects.
$20/hour with OT
Full-year OT scenario.
$30/hour with OT
$70,500 with 5 OT h/week.