How to Calculate Overtime Pay: Time and a Half Rates & Formulas
Learn how to calculate overtime pay using the standard time and a half multiplier. See worked examples for hourly wages, gross earnings, and blended rates.
Interactive Overtime Calculator
1. What Is Time and a Half?
The 1.5× Multiplier Explained
"Time and a half" refers to paying an employee their standard base hourly wage ("time") plus an additional 50% ("half") for eligible hours worked. Mathematically, this equals 1.5 times the regular hourly rate.
Overtime Hourly Rate = Base Hourly Rate × 1.5
Example: If an employee earns $24.00 per hour, their overtime rate is $24.00 × 1.5 = $36.00 per hour.
2. The Complete Gross Pay Formula
Combining Base Earnings and Overtime Premiums
Total estimated gross earnings for an overtime-eligible week are computed by adding regular earnings to overtime earnings:
Gross Pay = (Regular Hours × Base Rate) + (Overtime Hours × Base Rate × Multiplier)
Worked Example: An employee works 46 hours in a week at an hourly rate of $20.00/hr with a 40-hour threshold at 1.5×.
• Regular Earnings: 40 hours × $20.00 = $800.00
• Overtime Hours: 46 - 40 = 6 hours
• Overtime Rate: $20.00 × 1.5 = $30.00/hr
• Overtime Earnings: 6 hours × $30.00 = $180.00
• Total Estimated Gross Pay: $800.00 + $180.00 = $980.00
3. Reference Table: Hourly Rates and Overtime Pay
Standard Wage Rates at 1.5× and 2.0× Multipliers
Consult this reference chart to find common overtime pay rates based on standard hourly wages:
| Base Wage | Time & a Half (1.5×) | Double Time (2.0×) | Gross Pay for 45h (40 Reg + 5 OT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00/hr | $22.50/hr | $30.00/hr | $712.50 |
| $20.00/hr | $30.00/hr | $40.00/hr | $950.00 |
| $25.00/hr | $37.50/hr | $50.00/hr | $1,187.50 |
| $30.00/hr | $45.00/hr | $60.00/hr | $1,425.00 |
| $35.00/hr | $52.50/hr | $70.00/hr | $1,662.50 |
| $40.00/hr | $60.00/hr | $80.00/hr | $1,900.00 |
4. Critical Boundary: Gross Pay vs Net Pay
Why Your Paycheck Differs from Calculator Results
Calculators on TimeCardWorks determine gross earnings—the total compensation earned before any deductions.
Your actual net paycheck will be lower due to mandatory payroll taxes (federal, state, and local income taxes), FICA (Social Security and Medicare), and voluntary deductions such as health insurance or retirement contributions.