How to Calculate Time and a Half Pay (2026 Formula + Examples)

What Is Time and a Half Pay?

Time and a half means 1.5 times your regular hourly rate for every hour worked beyond 40 in a workweek. It is the federal overtime rate required by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for all non-exempt employees in the United States in 2026.

The Time and a Half Formula

The math is simple:

• Time and a Half Rate = Hourly Rate × 1.5
• Overtime Pay = (Hourly Rate × 1.5) × Overtime Hours
• Total Weekly Pay = (Hourly Rate × 40) + Overtime Pay

Skip the math — use our free Overtime Pay Calculator to do it instantly.

Example 1 — Hourly Worker

Sarah earns $18/hour and worked 47 hours this week.

| Component | Calculation | Amount |

|---|---|---|

| Regular pay | 40 × $18 | $720.00 |

| Time and a half rate | $18 × 1.5 | $27.00 |

| Overtime pay | 7 × $27 | $189.00 |

| Total gross pay | | $909.00 |

Example 2 — Salaried Non-Exempt Worker

If you are paid a salary but are non-exempt (most workers earning under $684/week qualify), you still get time and a half.

Mike earns a $650/week salary for an expected 40-hour schedule and worked 50 hours.

• . Hourly rate = $650 ÷ 40 = $16.25/hour
• . Time and a half rate = $16.25 × 1.5 = $24.38/hour
• . Overtime pay = 10 × $24.38 = $243.80
• . Total weekly pay = $650 + $243.80 = $893.80

Example 3 — Tipped Worker

Overtime for servers and bartenders is calculated on the full minimum wage, not the $2.13 cash wage. A server in a $7.25 minimum-wage state working 45 hours earns an overtime rate of $7.25 × 1.5 = $10.88, minus the $5.12 tip credit = $5.76/hour cash for the 5 overtime hours.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Calculating OT on the wrong base rate — bonuses, shift differentials, and commissions must be folded in (the "regular rate of pay").
• Averaging two weeks — overtime is calculated per workweek, not per pay period.
• Paid time off counts toward 40 — it does not. Only hours actually worked.
• "Comp time" instead of OT — illegal for private employers.

When Time and a Half Does NOT Apply

• You are a bona-fide executive, administrative, or professional employee earning $684+/week (the EAP exemption).
• You are an outside salesperson or qualifying computer professional ($27.63+/hour).
• You are an independent contractor (be careful — many "contractors" are actually misclassified employees).

States with Daily Time and a Half

In four states, you can earn time and a half even if you don't hit 40 hours in a week:

• California — after 8 hours in a day
• Alaska — after 8 hours in a day
• Nevada — after 8 hours/day for workers under 1.5× minimum wage
• Colorado — after 12 hours in a day

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate time and a half for $20 an hour?

$20 × 1.5 = $30/hour for every overtime hour worked beyond 40.

Is time and a half always 1.5×?

Yes, under federal law. Some union contracts and state laws add double time (2×) for certain hours — California requires 2× after 12 hours/day.

Do bonuses change my time and a half rate?

Yes. Non-discretionary bonuses (production, attendance, safety) must be added to your regular rate before multiplying by 1.5.

Are 40 hours the only threshold?

Federally, yes. But state laws can lower the threshold (see daily-OT states above).

Run your own numbers

Rather than doing the arithmetic by hand, drop your wage into the time and a half calculator and it returns the 1.5x rate, the overtime dollars, and the weekly total. If you also want to see what lands after withholding, run the same figures through the overtime tax calculator.