Verified against official state labor departments Updated for 2026

Federal Overtime Laws (2026)

How overtime pay works in the U.S. under the FLSA: the hourly threshold, the time-and-a-half and double-time rules, who is covered, and a calculator.

Updated for 2026 Last verified: Jul 6, 2026 40-hour week

Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, covered non-exempt employees must be paid one and one-half times their regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek. There is no federal daily overtime requirement.

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, covered nonexempt employees must receive overtime at one and one-half times their regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek.

Overtime rules in the U.S.

TypeRequirement
Weekly40 hours (1.5x)

At the federal minimum wage of $7.25, the overtime rate is $10.88 an hour (1.5×).

Federal overtime calculator

Enter your rate and hours to see your overtime and total pay for the week.

Regular pay
$0
Overtime pay
$0
Total (this week)
$0
Note: figures are gross pay before taxes. Some states (like California) require daily overtime, so a long single day can add more than the weekly total shown here.

Who is covered

Most hourly employees are non-exempt, which means they must be paid overtime. The main exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act are bona fide executive, administrative, professional, outside sales, and certain computer employees who are paid on a salary basis above the federal threshold. Job title alone does not decide it, the actual duties and pay do.

Common questions

Federal overtime FAQ

How is overtime calculated in the U.S.?
Overtime is required after 40 hours (1.5x) in a week. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, covered nonexempt employees must receive overtime at one and one-half times their regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek.
Is overtime paid after 8 hours or 40 hours in the U.S.?
Federal law requires overtime after 40 hours in a workweek. There is no federal daily overtime rule.
Who is exempt from overtime in the U.S.?
Common exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act include bona fide executive, administrative, professional, outside sales, and certain computer employees who are paid on a salary basis above the federal threshold. Many hourly workers are non-exempt and must be paid overtime.
Can my employer make me work overtime in the U.S.?
In most cases yes. Employers can generally require overtime, but non-exempt employees must be paid the overtime rate for it.
Where can I find the official federal overtime rules?
The U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division publishes the official rules, linked on this page.

David Scott compiles and verifies minimum wage rates, tipped wages, and overtime rules from official state and federal labor department sources, and re-checks every page when rates change. See how the data is sourced.