Hourly Paycheck & Overtime Calculator

Enter your hourly rate, regular hours, and overtime hours to calculate a detailed paycheck breakdown. The calculator applies your overtime multiplier (1.5× time-and-a-half by default, with options for double and triple time), deducts estimated federal and state taxes, and subtracts other deductions to show your net take-home pay.

Supports four pay frequencies — weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, and monthly — and annualizes the totals so you can see your projected yearly gross and net income. It also computes your effective hourly rate (gross pay divided by total hours worked), which shows the true per-hour value when overtime is included.

**Understanding Overtime Pay**

Overtime pay compensates workers at a higher rate for hours worked beyond the standard work week. The most common overtime multiplier is 1.5× (time-and-a-half), meaning you earn 1.5 times your regular hourly rate for each overtime hour. Double time (2×) is often paid for holidays or excessive overtime, and triple time (3×) may apply in specific industries or under certain collective agreements.

The overtime formula is straightforward: Overtime Pay = Hourly Rate × Overtime Multiplier × Overtime Hours. For example, at R150/hour with 10 hours of overtime at 1.5×: R150 × 1.5 × 10 = R2,250 in overtime pay. Your gross paycheck would be: (R150 × 40 regular hours) + R2,250 = R8,250.

**Overtime Regulations by Region**

In South Africa, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) sets overtime at 1.5× the normal rate for work beyond 45 hours per week or 9 hours per day (for a 5-day worker). Sunday work is paid at 2× the normal rate, and public holiday work is also paid at 2× (or 2.5× if the employee does not normally work on that public holiday but is required to).

In the United States, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires 1.5× pay for hours worked over 40 in a workweek for most non-exempt employees. Some states like California have additional daily overtime rules (1.5× after 8 hours/day, 2× after 12 hours/day). In the UK, there is no statutory overtime rate — it depends on the employment contract, though the average pay must not fall below the National Minimum Wage.

**Real-World Scenarios**

A South African factory worker earning R80/hour works 45 regular hours and 10 overtime hours at 1.5×. Regular pay: R80 × 45 = R3,600. Overtime pay: R80 × 1.5 × 10 = R1,200. Gross: R4,800. Effective hourly rate: R4,800 ÷ 55 hours = R87.27/hour.

A US retail worker earning $18/hour works 40 regular hours and 8 hours of overtime at 1.5× during the holiday season. Regular pay: $720. Overtime pay: $216. Gross: $936. Annualized at 50 weeks: $46,800.

**Tips for Overtime and Paycheck Planning**

Use the annualized totals to understand your true yearly income with regular overtime. Be cautious about relying on overtime for essential expenses — overtime is never guaranteed and can be reduced or eliminated by your employer. Track your actual hours worked against your pay stubs to ensure correct overtime calculations. If you are paid monthly, divide your annual gross by 12 to budget accurately. Consider the tax implications of higher overtime pay — it may push you into a higher tax bracket, meaning less of each overtime rand ends up in your pocket.

Useful for hourly workers evaluating overtime offers, shift workers comparing schedules, job seekers comparing hourly versus salaried offers, and managers estimating labor costs. All calculations happen in your browser — no payroll data is transmitted anywhere.