Texas Overtime Calculator
Enter your hourly wage, regular hours, and overtime hours to calculate your gross and net overtime pay in Texas. Because Texas has no state income tax, only federal tax and FICA apply. The calculator uses 2026 IRS withholding rules, lets you switch pay frequency (weekly to monthly), and shows a full breakdown of regular pay, overtime pay, and every deduction so you can see exactly what lands in your pocket.
How overtime pay works in Texas
Texas does not have its own overtime law. Instead, it follows the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which requires employers to pay non-exempt employees at least 1.5 times their regular rate for every hour worked beyond 40 in a single workweek. There is no daily overtime rule, no mandatory double-time, and no 7th-consecutive-day premium - those rules exist in California but not in Texas. The workweek for overtime purposes is any fixed recurring period of 168 consecutive hours, and each workweek stands alone: you cannot average hours across two weeks to avoid the overtime obligation. Exempt employees (executive, administrative, professional, and certain other categories earning at least $684 per week as of 2025) are not entitled to overtime pay under the FLSA, regardless of how many hours they work. If you are classified as exempt, verify that your duties and salary actually meet the legal test, because misclassification is one of the most common wage and hour violations.
How to calculate your Texas overtime pay and take-home
The gross overtime calculation has three steps: (1) multiply your regular hourly rate by the overtime multiplier (at least 1.5x) to get the overtime rate; (2) multiply that rate by your overtime hours; (3) add that to your regular pay. For example, if you earn $20 per hour and work 50 hours in a week, your overtime rate is $30 per hour, your regular pay is $20 x 40 = $800, your overtime pay is $30 x 10 = $300, and your gross pay is $1,100. To convert gross to take-home, subtract FICA taxes (6.2% Social Security on wages up to $176,100 for 2026, plus 1.45% Medicare with a 0.9% surtax if your annualised wages exceed $200,000) and estimated federal income tax. Because Texas levies no state income tax, no state amount is withheld. Federal withholding is calculated using the annualisation method: your per-period gross is multiplied by the number of pay periods in the year to estimate an annual income, the standard deduction and any pre-tax deductions are subtracted, and the 2026 marginal brackets are applied to find the annual tax, which is then divided back to the pay period.
Why overtime is taxed at a higher rate
Your overtime earnings are not taxed at a flat "overtime tax rate" - rather, they push your total income into a higher portion of the progressive federal tax brackets. Because the annualisation method projects your higher weekly pay across the full year, a one-off overtime week can temporarily suggest a higher bracket and trigger more withholding than you would ultimately owe. When you file your annual return, any over-withholding is refunded. Pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions and HSA deposits reduce your taxable income and therefore reduce the bite of federal tax, which is why the calculator includes that input. For 2026, the seven federal rates are 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%. A single filer earning $20 per hour at 50 hours per week annualises to about $57,200 gross (52 weeks), which falls in the 22% marginal bracket after the standard deduction. Adding overtime income shifts more earnings into that bracket but does not change the lower-bracket rates on the first portion of income.
Texas overtime and FLSA enforcement
The US Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division enforces the FLSA in Texas. Workers who are owed unpaid overtime can file a complaint with the WHD or pursue a private lawsuit. Damages can include back wages for up to two years (three years for willful violations) plus an equal amount in liquidated damages, meaning a successful claim can double the unpaid wages. Texas also allows civil suits under state common law for breach of contract if the employment agreement promised overtime pay. Common Texas overtime disputes involve misclassification as exempt (especially in the oil and gas, trucking, and construction sectors), failure to include bonuses and commissions in the regular rate before computing overtime, and off-the-clock work. If you believe you have been denied overtime, consult a Texas employment attorney or contact the WHD.
Texas overtime rules at a glance
| Rule | Texas / FLSA standard | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Overtime threshold | After 40 hours in a workweek | No daily OT rule in Texas |
| Minimum OT rate | 1.5x regular rate | Employers may pay more voluntarily |
| Double time | Not legally required | Employer policy only |
| State income tax | $0 (no state tax) | Texas has no individual income tax |
| 7th-day rule | None | Only applies in California |
| Daily OT threshold | None | Only applies in California/some states |
| Exempt salary minimum | $684/week (FLSA 2025) | Salaried exempt employees - no OT |
| FICA - Social Security | 6.2% up to $176,100 (2026) | Employee share |
| FICA - Medicare | 1.45% (+ 0.9% above $200k) | Additional Medicare Tax if high earner |
Texas follows the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). There is no Texas-specific overtime statute that adds to federal requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Does Texas have its own overtime law?
No. Texas relies entirely on the federal Fair Labor Standards Act for overtime rules. That means the overtime threshold is 40 hours per workweek, the minimum premium is 1.5x, there is no daily overtime rule, and there is no mandatory double-time. Employers may offer more generous terms in their employment agreements or company policy, but the legal floor is set by the FLSA.
Is overtime pay taxed differently in Texas?
Texas has no state income tax, so only federal taxes and FICA apply. Your overtime earnings are not subject to a separate "overtime tax rate" - they are simply added to your regular pay and the combined total is taxed progressively. Because overtime pushes your weekly income higher, the annualisation method used by payroll software may withhold more federal tax during an overtime week, but any excess is refunded when you file your annual tax return.
How do I calculate my overtime rate?
Multiply your regular hourly rate by the overtime multiplier. The federal FLSA minimum is 1.5x. So if you earn $18 per hour, your overtime rate is $18 x 1.5 = $27 per hour. If your employer pays double time (2x), the rate would be $36 per hour. Apply that rate to every hour worked beyond 40 in the same workweek.
Can my employer average hours across two weeks to avoid paying overtime?
No. Under the FLSA, each workweek stands alone. If you work 50 hours one week and 30 the next, you are entitled to 10 hours of overtime for the first week even if your two-week average is 40 hours. The only exception is for hospitals and residential care facilities, which may use a fixed 14-day period under a special FLSA agreement.
Do bonuses count when calculating my regular rate for overtime?
Many non-discretionary bonuses, commissions, and shift differentials must be included in the regular rate before computing overtime. For example, if you earned a $100 production bonus in a 50-hour week, that $100 is divided by 50 hours to add $2 per hour to your regular rate, and overtime is then calculated on the adjusted rate. Purely discretionary bonuses given at the employer's sole discretion do not need to be included.
What is the minimum salary for an exempt employee in Texas in 2026?
Under the FLSA, employees classified as exempt from overtime must earn at least $684 per week (equivalent to $35,568 per year) as of the 2025 rule update. They must also satisfy the relevant duties test for executive, administrative, professional, or other exemptions. Meeting only the salary threshold is not sufficient - both the salary level and the duties test must be met.
How much overtime pay will I actually take home after taxes?
It depends on your total income, filing status, and deductions, but as a rough guide, someone earning $20 per hour and single-filing will keep roughly 70-75 cents of each overtime dollar after FICA and federal income tax. Texas's lack of a state income tax means you keep more than a comparable worker in California or New York. Use this calculator with your actual filing status and pre-tax deductions for a personalised estimate.