Payroll Hours Calculator
Convert work hours into gross employee earnings. Enter daily shift times, subtract unpaid lunch breaks, and calculate regular and overtime wages instantly.
Quick Answer: Payroll Gross Wage Formula
Payroll gross wages are calculated by multiplying regular hours by your base rate, plus overtime hours at 1.5x your base hourly rate:
• Worked Example: 44 hours worked at $30.00/hr = (40 × $30) + (4 × $45) = $1,380.00 Gross Pay.
Total Work Hours
35:00
35.00 decimal hrs
Regular Hours
35:00
35.00 decimal hrs
Overtime Hours
0:00
0.00 decimal hrs
Days Worked
5 days
Avg: 7:00/day (7.00h)
Weekly overtime threshold: 40 hours/week (Multiplier: 1.5x). Based on standard US FLSA rules; specific state or contract rules (e.g. CA daily overtime) may apply.
Step-by-Step Payroll Calculation Example
Scenario: Bi-Weekly or Weekly Pay Period
- • Hourly Wage Rate: $30.00 / hour
- • Overtime Rate (1.5x): $45.00 / hour
- • Total Hours Worked: 44.0 hours
- • Regular Earnings (40h): 40.0 × $30.00 = $1,200.00
- • Overtime Earnings (4h): 4.0 × $45.00 = $180.00
- • Total Gross Paycheck: $1,380.00
Department of Labor Overtime Regulations
Federal law establishes statutory minimums for non-exempt hourly payroll computations:
- General Overtime Standard: Under 29 CFR § 778.107, overtime must be paid at not less than one and one-half times the regular rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek.
- Regular Rate Principles: As outlined in 29 CFR § 778.109, the regular rate is an hourly rate calculated by dividing total weekly earnings (minus statutory exclusions) by the total hours worked.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you calculate payroll hours from clock times?
Convert daily clock-in and clock-out times into elapsed hours, subtract unpaid meal breaks, and sum all daily hours for the pay period. Multiply regular hours (up to 40) by the hourly rate and overtime hours by 1.5 times the hourly rate to compute total gross wages.
What is the FLSA 'Regular Rate of Pay' for overtime?
Under federal law (29 CFR § 778.109), the regular rate of pay is determined by dividing total remuneration for employment in any workweek (excluding statutory exclusions) by total hours worked. Overtime is paid at 1.5 times this regular rate.
Does gross pay include taxes and payroll deductions?
No. This calculator computes gross earnings (pre-tax wages). It does not calculate employee income taxes, FICA (Social Security & Medicare), health insurance premiums, or voluntary 401(k) deductions.
How do decimal hours affect payroll accuracy?
Payroll software requires time in decimal format (e.g. 7 hours 45 minutes = 7.75 hours) so wages can be multiplied directly by wage rates. Converting minutes (minutes ÷ 60) avoids rounding discrepancies that trigger wage-and-hour compliance penalties.
Can I customize the overtime rate multiplier?
Yes. In Advanced Settings, you can modify the overtime multiplier (such as 1.5x for standard overtime, or 2.0x for double-time agreements) and set custom weekly overtime thresholds.
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