Overtime Payroll Requirements You Need to Know for Your State

Are you more of a visual learner? Check out this Overtime Infographic, complete with A Map of Overtime Requirements by State.

Most employers and employees are familiar with the word “overtime” — but when it comes to payroll there are specific regulations that apply. As with minimum wage, it’s the employer’s responsibility to calculate and provide overtime when it’s due to employees. It also affects the payroll taxes that are calculated each time you run payroll.

What is overtime?

Overtime is the additional rate of pay that applies when an employee works more than 40 hours in a given workweek.

The national standard for the United States is determined by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). As such, federal law defines overtime as any hours that are worked after the employee has already worked 40 hours in the specific workweek.

The rate of pay specified by the FLSA is time and a half, which is one and half times the employee’s regular rate of pay.

Which states have their own overtime laws?

Most states follow the FLSA guidelines, with the following exceptions:

• Alaska, California and Nevada require overtime for any hours worked over 8 hours in a day.
• In Colorado, overtime applies for any hours worked over 12 hours in a day.
• In Kentucky, workers who work seven consecutive days in the same workweek, must be paid overtime on the 7th day.
• In California, workers are eligible for double overtime after working 12 hours in a day.

Many states also have specific guidelines that apply to various industries and workers. In cases were both federal and state laws apply, employers should follow the requirements that benefit the employees the most.

We’ve created a comprehensive table of overtime pay requirements and rules by state, and we’ve alphabetized it so you can easily find your state below. (The name of each state is also linked to the state’s department of labor for further information.)

The information contained in the chart above was sourced and fact-checked on a number of websites, including state-specific government sites. Payroll rules change and include many exceptions and special circumstances when it comes to overtime requirements. Readers should consult with legal and human resource professionals or other regulatory governing bodies as required in their particular circumstances.

Written by Erika Yohn

Erika is a savvy Millennial formerly on Wagepoint's marketing team. Now a retired soccer player, she spends a lot of time browsing Twitter to stay updated on the current trends - especially when it comes to memes. With a hand in all things marketing, she liked to keep things fun and useful for Wagepoint's customers.

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