How Much Is Time and a Half Overtime in the United States
Ever worked more than 40 hours in a week and wondered how much that overtime is worth? “Time and a half” is the everyday term for the FLSA overtime multiplier: 1.5 times your regular rate of pay, applied to every hour worked over 40 in a workweek. It’s the single most important number in US wage law for non-exempt workers.
The Basic Calculation
Time and a half is simply your regular rate multiplied by 1.5. For common hourly rates:
- At $15/hour, time and a half is $22.50/hour
- At $20/hour, time and a half is $30/hour
- At $25/hour, time and a half is $37.50/hour
- At $30/hour, time and a half is $45/hour
So a $20/hour worker who logs 48 hours in a week earns $800 for the first 40 hours (40 × $20) plus $240 for the 8 overtime hours (8 × $30), totaling $1,040. The 8 extra hours added $240 beyond straight time — money that would be lost if the worker accepted a flat day rate.
The Regular Rate Is Not Always Your Base Wage
This is where many workers (and employers) get tripped up. The “regular rate” under FLSA is not simply your hourly wage if you earn bonuses, commissions, or shift differentials. The law folds these into your total weekly compensation, then divides by total hours worked, producing a blended regular rate.
Let me share a real example: a worker earns $20/hour for 40 hours ($800) plus a $200 weekly production bonus. Total compensation is $1,000. The regular rate becomes $1,000 ÷ 40 = $25/hour, not $20. If the worker also put in 5 overtime hours, overtime is owed at 1.5 × $25 = $37.50/hour, not 1.5 × $20 = $30/hour. That difference — $7.50 per overtime hour — is a frequent source of back-wage claims.
Actually, I had a client who worked in manufacturing and earned monthly performance bonuses. His overtime rate was always higher than his base wage, but his employer wasn’t accounting for those bonuses. He ended up with a $15,000 back pay settlement.
When Time and a Half Applies
Federal time and a half applies after 40 hours in a workweek. There’s no federal daily overtime trigger. State rules can be stricter: California pays 1.5× after 8 daily hours, and 2× after 12. New York’s hospitality industry pays 1.5× after 10 daily hours.
What Time and a Half Does Not Include
Time and a half applies to hours actually worked. Paid time off, holidays, and sick leave don’t count toward the 40-hour threshold — only worked hours do. If you take 8 hours of vacation and work 38 hours, you haven’t hit overtime, even though your paycheck reflects 46 paid hours.
Double Time vs. Time and a Half
Double time (2×) is a separate, higher tier. Federal law doesn’t require it. It appears in California (hours over 12 in a day), in some union contracts, and in employer holiday policies. If you’re owed both, the Double Time Pay Calculator combines regular, 1.5×, and 2× tiers into one total.
For a fast, accurate time-and-a-half calculation with the regular-rate derivation built in, use the Time and a Half Calculator. It runs entirely in your browser, free with no signup.
