Overtime pay under California rules and the federal FLSA, with every rule applied shown step by step.
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