Ohio Overtime Laws 2026: Pay Calculator & 40-Hour Rule

Ohio Overtime Pay Rules in 2026

Ohio's overtime law (ORC 4111.03) mirrors the federal FLSA: non-exempt employees are owed 1.5× their regular rate for every hour worked over 40 in a single workweek. There is no daily overtime requirement in Ohio.

Ohio Minimum Wage in 2026

Effective January 1, 2026, Ohio's minimum wage is $10.70/hour for non-tipped employees and $5.35/hour for tipped employees at businesses grossing $385,000+ annually. Smaller employers (under $385,000 gross) may pay the federal $7.25/hour.

This dual threshold matters: if you work for a small Ohio business under the $385,000 line, federal FLSA still applies if your employer is engaged in interstate commerce (almost all are) — so you're still entitled to the federal $7.25 minimum and 40-hour overtime rule.

How to Calculate Ohio Overtime

Overtime Pay = Regular Hourly Rate × 1.5 × Overtime Hours

Example — A Columbus manufacturing tech earning $19/hour works 47 hours:

• Regular: 40 × $19 = $760
• Overtime: 7 × $28.50 = $199.50
• Total: $959.50

Our Ohio Overtime Pay Calculator handles shift differentials, non-discretionary bonuses, and the 2026 No Tax on Overtime deduction automatically.

Who Is Exempt from Ohio Overtime?

Ohio incorporates the federal FLSA exemptions wholesale:

• Executive, administrative, professional (EAP) — must earn $684+/week AND pass the duties test
• Outside sales — primary duty is making sales away from employer's location
• Computer professionals — $27.63/hour or $684/week salary
• Highly compensated employees — $107,432+/year with at least one EAP duty

Ohio also exempts: agricultural workers, certain transportation workers (DOT-regulated), and live-in domestic employees.

Industries with the Most Ohio Overtime Violations

The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division regularly recovers back wages in Ohio for:

• Healthcare and home care — auto-deducted meal breaks employees worked through
• Restaurants — improper tip pooling that drops effective wage below $7.25/hour
• Logistics (Cincinnati/Columbus distribution hubs) — off-the-clock prep and security screening time
• Construction — 1099 misclassification of laborers who should be W-2

How to Recover Unpaid Ohio Overtime

You have 2 years under FLSA (3 for willful violations) and 2 years under Ohio law to file. Options:

• . File with the Ohio Bureau of Wage and Hour Administration
• . File with the federal DOL Wage and Hour Division
• . Sue directly in state or federal court (often with attorney fees recoverable)

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Ohio have daily overtime?

No. Time and a half only kicks in after 40 hours in a single workweek.

Are salaried Ohio employees entitled to overtime?

Yes, if your weekly salary is under $684 or your duties don't meet an EAP exemption test. Job titles don't determine exemption — actual duties do.

Does the federal No Tax on Overtime deduction apply in Ohio?

Yes. Ohio workers can claim the federal above-the-line deduction (up to $12,500 single / $25,000 joint) for qualifying FLSA overtime 2025–2028. Ohio state income tax (currently a flat 3.5% on income above $26,050) still applies to the full overtime amount.

What if my Ohio employer pays a "salary" but I'm really hourly?

Salaried-misclassified workers are extremely common in Ohio retail and healthcare. If you fail the duties test, you're owed retroactive overtime regardless of how you were paid.