Federal law only counts overtime by the week, but a few states also require overtime after a set number of hours in a single workday. This calculator starts with California’s rules — 1.5× after 8 hours and 2× after 12 hours in a day — and lets you switch states.
Total pay for the workweek
$960.00 for 45:00 hours (45.00)
- Regular hours
- 39:00
- Overtime hours (1.5×)
- 6:00
- Double-time hours (2×)
- 0:00
- Regular rate
- $20.00/hr
- Overtime premium
- $60.00
| Pay line | Hours | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | 39:00 (39.00) | $20.00/hr | $780.00 |
| Overtime (1.5×) | 6:00 (6.00) | $30.00/hr | $180.00 |
How it’s calculated
Regular rate = (all straight-time pay + nondiscretionary bonus) ÷ all hours worked in the workweek.
Overtime pay = straight time for every hour + 0.5 × regular rate × overtime hours (1.5× in total; double time adds 1.0 × regular rate).
8/80 overtime hours = hours over 8 in each workday + hours over 80 in the 14-day period that were not already counted as daily overtime.
Employers may use the 8/80 system only for hospital and residential care employees, by prior agreement.
Regular rate = weekly salary ÷ hours worked that week (changes every week).
Overtime premium = 0.5 × regular rate × hours over 40 (the salary already paid straight time for every hour).
Only allowed when hours truly fluctuate, the salary is fixed, both sides agree, and the regular rate never falls below minimum wage. Some states do not allow this method.
Rules applied
- Weekly: hours over 40:00 in a fixed 7-day workweek at 1.5× the regular rate.
- Daily: hours over 8:00 in a workday at 1.5×; over 12:00 at 2×.
- Seventh consecutive day in the workweek: first 8:00 at 1.5×, beyond that at 2×.
Worked example with your numbers
- Workweek Jan 4, 2026 – Jan 10, 2026: 45:00 (45.00 h) worked.
- Daily rule (Mon, Jan 5): 10:00 (10.00 h) worked → 8:00 (8.00 h) regular, 2:00 (2.00 h) over 8:00 at 1.5×.
- Daily rule (Tue, Jan 6): 9:00 (9.00 h) worked → 8:00 (8.00 h) regular, 1:00 (1.00 h) over 8:00 at 1.5×.
- Daily rule (Thu, Jan 8): 11:00 (11.00 h) worked → 8:00 (8.00 h) regular, 3:00 (3.00 h) over 8:00 at 1.5×.
- Weekly rule: 39:00 (39.00 h) of regular hours — not over 40:00, so no weekly overtime.
- Straight-time pay = 45.00 h × $20.00/hr = $900.00.
- Overtime (1.5×): 6:00 (6.00 h) × 1.5× × $20.00/hr = $180.00.
- Total for the workweek: $960.00.
Exempt salaried employees are not owed overtime. State law can be more generous than the FLSA; when both apply, you get the rule that pays more.
Official sources
- U.S. DOL Fact Sheet #23 — Overtime pay requirements of the FLSA
- 29 CFR 778.115 — Employees working at two or more rates
- U.S. DOL Fact Sheet #56A — Regular rate of pay
- U.S. DOL Fact Sheet #56C — Bonuses under the FLSA
- 29 CFR 778.114 — Fluctuating workweek method
- 29 CFR 778.601 — Hospital and residential care 8/80 system
- U.S. DOL Fact Sheet #54 — Health care industry and overtime
States with daily overtime
| State | Daily overtime | Daily double time | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 1.5× after 8 h | — | Overtime at 1.5× the regular rate after 8 hours in a day and after 40 hours in a week. Applies to employers with four or more employees; some exemptions differ from federal law. |
| California | 1.5× after 8 h | 2× after 12 h | Daily overtime: 1.5× after 8 hours and 2× after 12 hours in a workday. Seventh consecutive day worked in a workweek: 1.5× for the first 8 hours and 2× after 8 hours. Weekly: 1.5× after 40 hours. How a flat-sum bonus enters the regular rate is still being verified. |
| Colorado | 1.5× after 12 h | — | Overtime at 1.5× the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek, after 12 hours in a workday, or after 12 consecutive hours regardless of the workday (the calculator applies the workday and workweek limits). |
| Nevada | 1.5× after 8 h | — | 1.5× the regular rate after 40 hours in a scheduled week. Employees paid less than 1.5 times the state minimum wage (under $18.00 an hour from July 1, 2026) also get 1.5× after 8 hours in a workday — a 24-hour period that starts when the employee begins work — unless they agreed to a 4-day, 10-hour schedule. Businesses with gross sales under $250,000 a year and several job categories are exempt. The calculator applies the federal rules because the daily rule depends on the pay rate. |
Frequently asked questions
Does federal law require daily overtime?
No. Under the FLSA, overtime is owed for hours over 40 in a workweek, no matter how the hours fall within the week.
How does daily overtime work in California?
Non-exempt employees earn 1.5 times the regular rate after 8 hours in a workday and 2 times after 12 hours, plus special rules for the seventh consecutive day in a workweek. Weekly overtime after 40 hours also applies; hours are not paid twice.
Which states have daily overtime?
The table above lists the states with a verified daily overtime rule in our data, with links to each state’s page and official sources.