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Overtime word problems — worked examples

Last checked against official sources: (dol.gov)

Homework-style overtime questions with full solutions. Every answer is computed from the same weekly overtime maths used on the custom-multiplier calculator—no hand-typed totals.

Browse the worked examples below. For real clock punches and U.S. state rules, use the overtime calculator and overtime laws by state pages.

Disclaimer: Results are estimates for planning only. They are not payroll, tax, or legal advice.

These are generic maths practice problems with invented names. They are not legal advice and do not describe any real employer's policy. For U.S. state overtime rules, use overtime laws by state.

Open the weekly overtime calculator to enter your own rate, multiplier, and hours with a full breakdown.

Biweekly pay with a 1.9× overtime rate

A retail clerk earns $18.70 per hour. In the past two weeks they worked 41 hours and 46 hours. Their regular workweek is 40 hours and overtime is paid 1.9 times the regular hourly rate. What is total gross pay for both weeks combined?

Answer: $1,744.71 gross (before tax).

Solution

Base hourly rate: $18.70. Regular-hours threshold per week: 40 hours. Overtime multiplier: 1.9× (overtime rate $35.53 per hour).

Week 1: 41 hours worked → 40 regular + 1 overtime.

Week 1 regular pay: 40 × $18.70 = $748.00.

Week 1 overtime pay: 1 × $35.53 = $35.53.

Week 1 total: $783.53.

Week 2: 46 hours worked → 40 regular + 6 overtime.

Week 2 regular pay: 40 × $18.70 = $748.00.

Week 2 overtime pay: 6 × $35.53 = $213.18.

Week 2 total: $961.18.

Combined regular pay: $748.00 + $748.00 = $1,496.00 (80 regular hours).

Combined overtime pay: $35.53 + $213.18 = $248.71 (7 OT hours).

Total gross pay: $1,744.71.

One week at time and a half

A warehouse associate makes $20.00 per hour. Last week they worked 45 hours. Overtime after 40 hours is paid at time and a half. How much gross pay is that week?

Answer: $950.00 gross (before tax).

Solution

Base hourly rate: $20.00. Regular-hours threshold per week: 40 hours. Overtime multiplier: 1.5× (overtime rate $30.00 per hour).

Week 1: 45 hours worked → 40 regular + 5 overtime.

Week 1 regular pay: 40 × $20.00 = $800.00.

Week 1 overtime pay: 5 × $30.00 = $150.00.

Week 1 total: $950.00.

Total gross pay: $950.00.

Two weeks with different overtime hours

A caregiver is paid $22.00 per hour. Week one was 38 hours and week two was 52 hours. The regular workweek is 40 hours and overtime is 1.5× the base rate. Find combined biweekly gross.

Answer: $2,112.00 gross (before tax).

Solution

Base hourly rate: $22.00. Regular-hours threshold per week: 40 hours. Overtime multiplier: 1.5× (overtime rate $33.00 per hour).

Week 1: 38 hours worked → 38 regular + 0 overtime.

Week 1 regular pay: 38 × $22.00 = $836.00.

Week 1 total: $836.00.

Week 2: 52 hours worked → 40 regular + 12 overtime.

Week 2 regular pay: 40 × $22.00 = $880.00.

Week 2 overtime pay: 12 × $33.00 = $396.00.

Week 2 total: $1,276.00.

Combined regular pay: $836.00 + $880.00 = $1,716.00 (78 regular hours).

Combined overtime pay: $0.00 + $396.00 = $396.00 (12 OT hours).

Total gross pay: $2,112.00.

A week with no overtime hours

A tutor charges $30.00 per hour. They logged 36 hours in the week. The schedule treats 40 hours as regular with 1.5× after that. What is gross pay?

Answer: $1,080.00 gross (before tax).

Solution

Base hourly rate: $30.00. Regular-hours threshold per week: 40 hours. Overtime multiplier: 1.5× (overtime rate $45.00 per hour).

Week 1: 36 hours worked → 36 regular + 0 overtime.

Week 1 regular pay: 36 × $30.00 = $1,080.00.

Week 1 total: $1,080.00.

Total gross pay: $1,080.00.

Double-time premium on four overtime hours

A festival stagehand earns $15.00 per hour. They worked 44 hours in the week. All hours over 40 are paid at double time. What is total gross?

Answer: $720.00 gross (before tax).

Solution

Base hourly rate: $15.00. Regular-hours threshold per week: 40 hours. Overtime multiplier: 2× (overtime rate $30.00 per hour).

Week 1: 44 hours worked → 40 regular + 4 overtime.

Week 1 regular pay: 40 × $15.00 = $600.00.

Week 1 overtime pay: 4 × $30.00 = $120.00.

Week 1 total: $720.00.

Total gross pay: $720.00.

37.5-hour regular cap

A lab aide makes $16.00 per hour on a 37.5-hour regular workweek. They worked 40 hours this week at 1.5× for overtime. Calculate gross pay.

Answer: $660.00 gross (before tax).

Solution

Base hourly rate: $16.00. Regular-hours threshold per week: 37.5 hours. Overtime multiplier: 1.5× (overtime rate $24.00 per hour).

Week 1: 40 hours worked → 37.5 regular + 2.5 overtime.

Week 1 regular pay: 37.5 × $16.00 = $600.00.

Week 1 overtime pay: 2.5 × $24.00 = $60.00.

Week 1 total: $660.00.

Total gross pay: $660.00.

44-hour regular cap with 2× overtime

A groundskeeper is paid $28.00 per hour. Their regular workweek is 44 hours. They worked 50 hours and overtime is paid 2 times the regular rate. What is gross pay?

Answer: $1,568.00 gross (before tax).

Solution

Base hourly rate: $28.00. Regular-hours threshold per week: 44 hours. Overtime multiplier: 2× (overtime rate $56.00 per hour).

Week 1: 50 hours worked → 44 regular + 6 overtime.

Week 1 regular pay: 44 × $28.00 = $1,232.00.

Week 1 overtime pay: 6 × $56.00 = $336.00.

Week 1 total: $1,568.00.

Total gross pay: $1,568.00.

Biweekly hours at double time

A film extra earns $12.50 per hour. They worked 41 hours in week one and 39 hours in week two. Overtime over 40 hours per week is double time. What is combined gross?

Answer: $1,012.50 gross (before tax).

Solution

Base hourly rate: $12.50. Regular-hours threshold per week: 40 hours. Overtime multiplier: 2× (overtime rate $25.00 per hour).

Week 1: 41 hours worked → 40 regular + 1 overtime.

Week 1 regular pay: 40 × $12.50 = $500.00.

Week 1 overtime pay: 1 × $25.00 = $25.00.

Week 1 total: $525.00.

Week 2: 39 hours worked → 39 regular + 0 overtime.

Week 2 regular pay: 39 × $12.50 = $487.50.

Week 2 total: $487.50.

Combined regular pay: $500.00 + $487.50 = $987.50 (79 regular hours).

Combined overtime pay: $25.00 + $0.00 = $25.00 (1 OT hours).

Total gross pay: $1,012.50.

Custom 1.75× multiplier

A call-center agent makes $19.20 per hour. They worked 47 hours in the week. The regular cap is 40 hours and the overtime multiplier is 1.75. Find gross pay.

Answer: $1,003.20 gross (before tax).

Solution

Base hourly rate: $19.20. Regular-hours threshold per week: 40 hours. Overtime multiplier: 1.75× (overtime rate $33.60 per hour).

Week 1: 47 hours worked → 40 regular + 7 overtime.

Week 1 regular pay: 40 × $19.20 = $768.00.

Week 1 overtime pay: 7 × $33.60 = $235.20.

Week 1 total: $1,003.20.

Total gross pay: $1,003.20.

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FAQ

Do these examples follow U.S. federal law?
No. They are generic maths drills with invented workers and the rates or multipliers stated in each problem. For overtime from real clock punches, use the main overtime calculator; for state rules see overtime laws by state.
Can I use my own numbers?
Open the weekly overtime calculator to enter rate, multiplier, and weekly hours with the same maths as these examples.
Why is overtime calculated per week on biweekly problems?
Most payroll word problems apply the regular-hour cap inside each week, not on a fourteen-day total. The solutions show week-by-week regular and OT pay before adding the biweekly gross.

How this calculator works

Each example on this page is a self-contained word problem with invented names and no real employers. Answers are generated at build time from the same weekly overtime module as the weekly overtime calculator, so the step-by-step lines always match the stated total.

Problems vary multipliers (time and a half, 1.9×, double time), weekly regular-hour caps (40, 37.5, 44), single-week and biweekly hours, and weeks with no overtime. They are practice maths—not citations of any state or federal rule.

Open the weekly overtime calculator to enter your own rate, multiplier, and hours with the same maths.

People also ask

Are the answers on this page hand-calculated?
No. Each solution is generated from the weekly overtime pay module at build time so the breakdown always matches the stated total.
Can I use my own numbers?
Open the weekly overtime calculator to enter rate, multiplier, and weekly hours with the same maths.

Totals shown here are estimates for checking a pay stub or time sheet. They are not official payroll, tax, or legal advice.

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