How is overtime pay calculated?

Most hourly workers earn 1.5 times their regular rate for each hour over 40 in a workweek. Some employers also pay double time past a set number of hours.

Overtime Paycheck Calculator

Q: Is overtime counted per week or per paycheck?

Under federal law (the FLSA), overtime is counted per workweek. On a bi-weekly paycheck, 50 hours one week and 30 the next still earns 10 hours of overtime, even though the total is 80.

Q: Why does my overtime check seem to be taxed so much?

Payroll withholding treats each paycheck as if you earned that much every pay period, so a big overtime check is withheld at a higher rate. Some of it can come back as a refund, and the 2025-2028 overtime deduction can lower your federal income tax.

Your gross pay with overtime counted the way federal law requires: week by week, even on a bi-weekly paycheck.

Hourly rate ($) Paid Week 1 hours Week 2 hours Overtime starts after (hours a week) Overtime rate

My job pays double time after a number of hours

Gross pay this paycheck $0.00

Week	Hours	Regular	Overtime	Double time	Pay

Every paycheck, before it lands

IncomeSync works this out for every paycheck in your household, adds withholding and the year-end refund estimate, and keeps it all on your computer.

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How this calculator works

Each week is split into regular hours (up to your overtime threshold), overtime and, if you turn it on, double time.
Overtime is never averaged across a two-week paycheck. Federal law counts it per workweek.
It shows gross pay before taxes and deductions. Some states, like California, also require daily overtime; this calculator uses weekly overtime only.
It runs in your browser. Nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere.

Common questions

Is overtime counted per week or per paycheck?

Per workweek. On a bi-weekly check, 50 hours one week and 30 the next still earns 10 hours of overtime, even though the total is 80.

Why does my overtime check seem to be taxed so much?

Withholding treats each paycheck as if you earned that much every pay period, so a big overtime check is withheld at a higher rate. Some of it can come back as a refund, and the overtime deduction for 2025–2028 can lower your federal income tax. Estimate your overtime deduction.

An estimate for planning, not payroll or tax advice. Your employer's pay stub is the official record.