How Overtime Pay Works in the U.S.
Under the federal FLSA, non-exempt employees must receive at least 1.5× their regular rate for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek. Some states go further — California, for example, requires daily overtime past 8 hours and double time past 12 hours in a day. Your employer or state labor site can confirm which rules apply to you.
Exempt vs Non-Exempt
Salaried doesn't automatically mean no overtime. Exemption depends on both salary level and job duties. Many salaried workers earning under the federal or state salary threshold are legally owed overtime and don't know it.
Overtime and Your Taxes
A common myth says overtime is "taxed more." Overtime dollars are taxed the same as regular dollars; a big overtime check just has more withholding taken upfront, which typically evens out at tax-filing time. Extra hours always leave you with more take-home pay, never less.