What Is Time and a Half?

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If you get paid hourly and work more than 40 hours in one week, you should receive overtime pay. Most employers pay time and a half for any overtime you work, so it’s important to know how to figure out what your time and a half wages are. In this article, you can learn about time and a half and how to calculate it for your own wages.

What is time and a half?

Time and a half is the common amount a company pays hourly employees for any time they work past 40 hours in a week. This means an employee gets the standard hourly amount plus one half of that number for all of the overtime they work. Employers are required to offer at least time and a half for employees who work overtime.

Companies may pay different amounts for overtime work, but time and a half is the standard in most workplaces. Additionally, some states may require employers to pay time and a half for employees who work a certain number of hours in one workday. Check your state’s regulations to see if you’re eligible for time and a half for working additional hours in one day. 

Who can receive time and a half?

Some businesses might offer time and a half for employees who work holidays or other shifts outside of normal business hours. If you want to know what your company’s overtime pay policy is, check your employee handbook or contact a human resources representative. 

Many salaried employees don’t receive time and a half because they’re classified as exempt from overtime and minimum wage regulations. Some salaried employees can still earn overtime if they make under a certain amount each week. Additionally, some employers offer time and a half to exempt salaried employees if they regularly work more than 40 hours per week. If you earn a salary and you want to know if you can receive time and a half, talk to your manager or HR representative. Even if you don’t get time and a half overtime pay, your employer may offer different benefits, like extra vacation days. 

How to calculate time and a half

Here’s how to figure out time and a half pay:

  1. Firstly, prepare to use the time and a half formula, which is your base hourly wage x 1.5.
  2. Secondly, write down your base hourly wage. For example, you could make $10 per hour. 
  3. Next, multiply your hourly wage by 1.5. For example, 10 multiplied by 1.5 is 15. Time and a half for $10 per hour is $15 per hour. 
  4. Then, multiply your base wage by 40 to find your regular weekly pay. For example, 10 x 40 = 400.
  5. After that, multiply your time and a half by the number of overtime hours worked. for example, if you worked 43 hours, then you would multiply three by 15, which is 45.
  6. Finally, add your regular weekly pay and weekly time and a half pay. For example, 400 + 45 = 445. Your pre-tax weekly pay would be $445.

An alternative to this formula is dividing your base hourly wage by two, then adding that sum to the base. Ten divided by two is five, and 10 + 5 = 15. You can use either method and get the same result. 

Examples of how to calculate time and a half

Review these examples for time and a half for different hourly wages:

What is time and a half for $14 per hour?

To find out what time and a half is for $14 per hour, you can multiply your hourly wage by 1.5.

Example formula for $14 per hour:

Hourly wage x 1.5

14 x 1.5 = 21

Time and a half for $14 per hour is $21 per hour. 

If you make $14 per hour and work 45 hours in one week, you’ll make $14 per hour for the first 40 hours and $21 for the five hours of overtime.

Example of calculations for your total weekly wages before taxes:

40 x 14 = 560

5 x 21 = 105

560 + 105 = 665

Your total pre-tax pay for the week would be $665 for that week.

What is time and a half for $15 per hour?

To find out what time and a half is for $15 per hour, you can multiply your hourly wage by 1.5.

Example formula for $15 per hour:

Hourly wage x 1.5

15 x 1.5 = 22.5

Time and a half for $15 per hour is $22.50 per hour. 

If you work 44 hours in one week and you make $15 per hour as a base wage, you’ll make $15 per hour for the first 40 hours and $22.50 for the additional four hours. 

Example of calculations for your total weekly wages before taxes:

40 x 15 = 600

4 x 22.5 = 90

600 + 90 = 690

Your total pre-tax pay would be $690 for that week. 

What is time and a half for $16 per hour?

To find out what time and a half is for $16 per hour, you can multiply your hourly wage by 1.5. 

Example formula for $16 per hour:

Hourly wage x 1.5

16 x 1.5 = 24

Time and a half for $16 per hour is $24 per hour. 

If your base hourly wage is $16 and you work 47 hours in one week, you’ll make $16 per hour for 40 hours and $24 per hour for the other seven hours. 

Example of calculations for your total weekly wages before taxes:

40 x 16 = 640

7 x 24 = 168

640 + 168 = 808

Your total pre-tax wages for that week would be $808. 

What is time and a half for $17 per hour?

To find out what time and a half is for $17 per hour, you can multiply your hourly wage by 1.5.

Example formula for $17 per hour:

Hourly wage x 1.5

17 x 1.5 = 25.5 

Time and a half is $25.50 per hour for $17 per hour. 

If you work 42.5 hours in one week and your base pay is $17 per hour, you’ll get paid $17 for the first 40 hours and $25.50 for 2.5 hours. 

Example of calculations for your total weekly wages before taxes:

40 x 17 = 680

2.5 x 25.50 = 63.75

Your total pre-tax weekly pay would be $743.75. 

How many hours is time and a half?

The Fair Labor Standards Act states employees can get overtime for any time worked more than 40 hours in a week. That means employers will pay you for every minute you spend clocked in if you’re an hourly employee. Whether you work 40 hours and 10 minutes or over 50 hours a week, you’re eligible for time and a half pay. If you receive a salary, check to see if you’re exempt or non-exempt to learn if you’re eligible for time and a half. If you’re non-exempt, you might be able to get overtime pay. 

To make sure you get paid for all the time you put into your work, it’s important for you to accurately track your workday. Make sure you clock in every day before work and after you come back from a lunch break. Remember to clock out at the end of the day so you don’t need to estimate when you left.