[US] Overtime guidelines

Wave's payroll feature helps make it easy to record and pay overtime hours to help you stay compliant with employment standards. Below you’ll find an overview of overtime requirements and links to more information directly from government agencies. Remember to confirm which regulations apply to you, as different situations and industries may be subject to different rules, even in the same jurisdiction.

In the United States, employers must follow the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and may also be subject to state and/or local regulations. If state and/or local rules differ from FLSA, follow the rules that most benefit the employee. 

Remember to check if your local government has overtime requirements.

General overtime rules from the Federal FLSA

  • Covered nonexempt employees must receive overtime pay for hours worked over 40 per workweek.
  • Overtime is calculated as rate times one and a half. Enter these hours into timesheets as overtime for overtime pay to be automatically calculated.
  • There is no limit on the number of hours employees 16 years or older may work in any workweek.
  • Employers only have to pay overtime for work on weekends, holidays, or regular days of rest if the number of hours worked during the workweek exceeds the maximum 40 hours.

More information

Exempt employees include two general types of professional employment, learned and creative. Learn more in this government resource: Overtime Pay 

The following states have additional overtime requirements. Click a state to learn more.

Alaska

Under the Alaska Wage and Hour Act, nonexempt employees receive overtime pay if they meet one of the following requirements:

  • Work more than 40 hours in a workweek
  • Work more than eight hours in a day

The state law does not apply to employers who typically employ fewer than four employees. Alaska also has additional exemptions on top of the FLSA. The full list of exemptions under the Alaska Wage and Hour Act can be found in the link below.

If state rules differ from FLSA, follow the rules that most benefit the employee. 

Learn more in this government resource: Minimum wage standard and overtime hours 

Arkansas

Arkansas has additional exemptions for employers not federally regulated. For a full list of exemptions, check out the Minimum Wage and Overtime Rules here.

There are also special overtime provisions for certain employers like firefighters and residential care facilities.

Learn more in this government resource: Minimum wage and overtime – Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing 

California

California’s overtime law requires employers to provide overtime to nonexempt employees for any time worked beyond:

  • 40 hours in a workweek
  • Eight hours in a workday
  • Six days in a workweek

Additionally, California has a double-time law.Employers must give employees double their regular pay for any hours worked beyond:

  1. 12 hours in workday
  2. Eight hours on the seventh consecutive day of work in a workweek

Enter these hours into timesheets as double time for overtime pay to be automatically calculated. 

California lists both exceptions to the general overtime law and exemptions from overtime laws.

Learn more in this government resource: Overtime

Colorado

Colorado’s overtime law requires employers to provide overtime to nonexempt employees for any time worked beyond:

  • 40 hours in a workweek
  • 12 hours in a workday 
  • 12 consecutive hours without regard to the starting and ending time of the workday

Whichever of the three results in a higher calculation.

Learn more in this government resource: Overtime – Department of Labor & Employment 

Hawaii

There may be cases where an exempt employee under the FLSA may be entitled to overtime under state law. More information here.

Learn more in this government resource: Wage Standards Division – Minimum Wage and Overtime 

Illinois

  • Illinois has the One Day Rest In Seven Act (ODRISA) that mandates a 24 hour rest period in each calendar week. This means employers cannot require overtime if it violates the ODRISA.
  • Illinois allows the employer to define a workweek.

Learn more in this government resource: Minimum wage/overtime FAQ 

Kansas

If you are not covered by the FLSA, you must follow Kansas’s overtime rules for nonexempt employees. This requires employers to provide overtime to employees for hours worked beyond 46 hours in a workweek.

Learn more in this government resource: Workplace laws and requirements FAQs 

Kentucky

Workplace standards also dictate that if an employee must work 7 days in any week, the employee is entitled to overtime pay for the seventh day worked of one and a half times the regular rate of pay. This does not apply to employees who aren’t permitted to work more than 40 hours in a week. Kentucky workplace poster 

Learn more in this government resource: Wages and Hours – Labor Cabinet – Kentucky 

Maine

Maine limits mandatory overtime to no more than 80 hours in a consecutive two week period, with some exceptions.

Learn more in this government resource: MDOL: Summary of labor laws 

Maryland

Maryland’s Wage and Hour Law has additional exceptions:

Learn more in this government resource: Maryland Minimum Wage and Overtime Law – Employment Standards Service – Division of Labor and Industry

Michigan

If not federally regulated, Michigan’s overtime law applies to employers with two or more employees.

Learn more in this government resource: Bureau of Employment Relations – Wage and Hour Division 

Minnesota

If you are not covered by the FLSA, you may still be subject to Minnesota’s Fair Labor Standards Act requiring all employers to provide overtime to employees for hours worked beyond 48 hours in a workweek.

Learn more in this government resource: A guide to Minnesota's overtime laws

Montana

Montana has some additional exemptions that apply if a business is not federally regulated.

Learn more in this government resource: Montana wage and hour labor law reference guide

Nevada

Nevada’s state overtime requirements depend on the rate of pay an employee receives. 

  • If the employee makes less than one and one-half times the minimum wage per hour, the employee must receive the overtime rate if more than 8 hours are worked in a 24 hour period  (unless the employee agreed to work four, 10-hour shifts).
  • Otherwise, overtime is owed if the employee work more than 40 hours in a workweek.

Learn more in this government resource: Frequently asked questions 

New Jersey

New Jersey has an exemption for some motor bus company employees.

Learn more in this government resource: Wage and hour compliance – Laws and regulations 

New York

Employees who are exempt from overtime under the FLSA may be covered by the state law. 

New York’s state overtime law requires overtime pay at a rate of one and a half times the state minimum wage for hours worked beyond 40 for these FLSA-exempt individuals.

Learn more in this government resource: Get details on labor standards 

North Dakota

North Dakota has additional exemptions.

Learn more in this government resource: ND minimum wage and work conditions summary

Oregon

Oregon has additional requirements for workers under the age of 18, as well as for some manufacturing employees.

Learn more in this government resource: Overtime for employers: State of Oregon

Pennsylvania

State law may cover workers exempt from overtime under the FLSA, such as certain employees in computer-related occupations.

Learn more in this government resource: Overtime rules in Pennsylvania 

Vermont

If not federally regulated, Vermont’s overtime law applies to employers with two or more employees.

Learn more in this government resource: A summary of Vermont wage and hour laws 

Washington

Washington has additional overtime requirements, including special rules for certain public works projects. Additionally, while most employers can mandate overtime, this is not allowed for registered or licensed practical nurses.

Cities within Washington may have additional rules, for example Seattle employees’ right to refuse hours if not originally scheduled.

Learn more in this government resource: Overtime and exemptions 

West Virginia

Follow FLSA guidelines. If not covered, follow state guidelines if the following apply: 

  • The business does not qualify for federal “enterprise” coverage
  • Eighty percent of the company’s employees do not qualify individually for federal overtime coverage based on work duties considered as interstate commerce activity
  • The business has the required six nonexempt employees working in a permanent business location 

West Virginia’s state overtime law requires overtime wages to nonexempt employees for any hours worked beyond 40. 

Learn more in this government resource: West Virginia Division of Labor state overtime requirements 

Wisconsin

Wisconsin has additional rules for minors. Employees 16 or 17 years of age are to receive overtime for hours worked beyond 10 in a day, or 40 in a workweek, whichever is greater.

Learn more in this government resource: Hours of work and overtime - Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development