Verified against official state labor departments Updated for 2026

Kentucky Overtime Laws (2026)

How overtime pay works in Kentucky: 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

In Kentucky, non-exempt employees must be paid time and a half for hours worked over 40 in a workweek, matching the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. Kentucky does not add a daily overtime rule.

Kentucky's separate 7th-day law requires time and one-half for hours worked on the 7th day when an employee works all 7 days in a week (and works over 40 hours).

Overtime rules in Kentucky

TypeRequirement
Weekly40 hours (1.5x)
7th day7th consecutive day (1.5x)

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

Kentucky 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

Kentucky overtime FAQ

How is overtime calculated in Kentucky?
Overtime is required after 40 hours (1.5x) in a week, and on the 7th consecutive day (1.5x). Kentucky's separate 7th-day law requires time and one-half for hours worked on the 7th day when an employee works all 7 days in a week (and works over 40 hours).
Is overtime paid after 8 hours or 40 hours in Kentucky?
Kentucky follows the 40-hour weekly standard. There is no daily overtime rule, so overtime starts after 40 hours in a week.
Who is exempt from overtime in Kentucky?
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 Kentucky?
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 Kentucky overtime rules?
The Kentucky Labor Cabinet 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.