How is overtime calculated in the US?

Under the US Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), non-exempt employees must receive overtime pay of at least 1.5× their regular rate for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Some states like California apply daily overtime rules (over 8 hours/day). The FLSA overtime threshold was updated in 2026 to cover employees earning up to $43,888/year.

Does the UK have mandatory overtime pay?

The UK does not have a statutory minimum overtime rate. The Working Time Regulations 1998 cap working at 48 hours per week (averaged over 17 weeks), but workers can opt out in writing. Overtime pay rates depend entirely on employment contracts. Workers must still receive at least minimum wage for all hours worked including overtime.

What is the overtime rate in Australia?

Under Australia's National Employment Standards (NES), full-time employees can only be required to work reasonable additional hours beyond 38 per week. Award rates (Modern Awards) typically specify 1.5× for the first 2–3 hours of overtime and 2× for hours beyond that. The specific rate depends on the employee's industry award or enterprise agreement.

🇺🇸 1.5× after 40hrs (FLSA)🇬🇧 UK no statutory rate🇦🇺 NES 38-hr week🇨🇦 Federal Labour Code

Overtime Calculator

Calculate your total earnings including overtime. Overtime rules differ dramatically by country — the US mandates 1.5×, the UK has no legal minimum rate, and Australia applies award-based rates.

Quick Answer

US law (FLSA) requires overtime of at least 1.5× the regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a week. The UK has no statutory overtime rate — only a 48-hour weekly cap under the Working Time Regulations 1998 — while Australian awards typically pay 1.5× for the first hours and 2× beyond a 38-hour week.

⏰ FLSA requires 1.5× pay for hours over 40/week. Some states (CA) require daily overtime over 8 hrs.

Regular Hourly Rate ($)

Overtime Multiplier

Regular Hours

Overtime Hours

Overtime Laws Compared

Country	Law	Overtime Threshold	Min Overtime Rate
🇺🇸 United States	FLSA	40 hrs/week	1.5× (time and a half)
🇬🇧 United Kingdom	Working Time Regulations 1998	48 hrs/week (avg)	No statutory minimum
🇨🇦 Canada	Canada Labour Code	40 hrs/week (fed)	1.5× (federal employees)
🇦🇺 Australia	NES + Modern Awards	38 hrs/week	1.5× (first 2hrs), 2× after
🇩🇪 Germany	Arbeitszeitgesetz	8 hrs/day (48/week)	No statutory rate (contract-based)

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Sources & Methodology

Overtime entitlements are set by national labor law: the US uses a statutory 1.5× multiplier above 40 hours, while the UK and Australia rely on contracts, awards and weekly-hours caps rather than a fixed national rate.

Standards and figures reviewed 2026.