Work
Pay for the standard band
Cap the hours at the threshold and pay them at the base rate. If hours worked never reach the threshold, the whole week is standard pay.
The Formula
Regular pay = min(H, T) x R
Cap the hours at the threshold and pay them at the base rate. If hours worked never reach the threshold, the whole week is standard pay.
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| H | Hours worked in the period | hours | Usually hours actually worked, not paid leave or holidays. |
| T | Threshold before overtime starts | hours | 40 in many places, but it varies and is sometimes applied per day. |
| R | Base hourly rate | currency per hour | Recovered from a salary by dividing by the annual hours it covers. |
What Each Symbol Means
Hhours
Hours worked in the period
Usually hours actually worked, not paid leave or holidays.
Thours
Threshold before overtime starts
40 in many places, but it varies and is sometimes applied per day.
Rcurrency per hour
Base hourly rate
Recovered from a salary by dividing by the annual hours it covers.
See It Worked With Real Numbers
A formula on its own does not tell you which number goes where. The how to calculate overtime pay page applies this equation to a concrete case, shows every intermediate step, and names the mistakes that produce a wrong answer even when the algebra is right.
Where This Formula Appears
This equation is the working core of How To Calculate Overtime Pay, filed under Everyday Life. Every number the guide produces comes from substituting into this one line.