Paycheck Calculator
Use this Paycheck Calculator to estimate regular pay, overtime earnings and total gross pay based on your hourly rate and hours worked.
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About the Creator
MyCruncher — Founded by Bobby Dues
MyCruncher provides free online calculators designed to make everyday calculations easier to understand and use.
Meet Bobby Dues →Free Paycheck Calculator – Estimate Gross Pay and Overtime Earnings
Want to estimate how much money you earned during a work period? The free MyCruncher Paycheck Calculator helps calculate regular earnings, overtime pay, and total gross pay.
Whether you're checking an hourly paycheck, comparing work schedules, estimating overtime earnings, or reviewing your personal budget, this calculator makes gross-pay calculations easier.
Simply enter your hourly pay rate, regular hours, overtime hours, and overtime rate multiplier. The calculator estimates your earnings before taxes and other payroll deductions.
How to Use the Paycheck Calculator
The MyCruncher Paycheck Calculator uses four inputs to estimate regular and overtime earnings.
- Enter your hourly pay rate. Start with your regular hourly wage, such as $20, $25, or $30.
- Enter regular hours. Provide the number of hours paid at your regular rate during the work period.
- Enter overtime hours. Include the hours that qualify for the overtime rate you have selected.
- Select the overtime rate. Choose the applicable multiplier, such as 1.5× for an illustrative time-and-a-half calculation.
- Click Calculate Paycheck. The calculator estimates your regular pay, overtime earnings, and combined gross pay.
- Review the results. Compare the regular and overtime portions of your estimated earnings.
- Calculate another paycheck. Change your inputs or use Reset to start a new calculation.
The calculator uses the regular and overtime hours you enter. It does not independently determine which hours legally qualify for overtime.
How Is a Paycheck Calculated?
A basic gross-pay calculation adds regular earnings and any applicable overtime earnings.
Regular Pay Formula
Multiply your hourly rate by the number of regular hours worked.
Overtime Rate Formula
Multiply the base hourly rate by the selected overtime multiplier.
Overtime Pay Formula
Multiply the overtime rate by the number of overtime hours.
Total Gross Pay Formula
Add the regular earnings and overtime earnings.
These formulas calculate basic gross earnings without subtracting taxes, insurance, benefits, or other paycheck deductions.
Paycheck Calculation Example
Example: Suppose you earn $25 per hour and work 40 regular hours plus five qualifying overtime hours during one workweek.
For this example, assume the overtime hours are paid at 1.5 times the hourly rate.
Example Paycheck Information
- Hourly Rate: $25.00
- Regular Hours: 40
- Overtime Hours: 5
- Overtime Multiplier: 1.5×
Step 1: Calculate Regular Pay
Multiply the $25 hourly rate by 40 regular hours.
Regular gross earnings equal $1,000.
Step 2: Calculate the Overtime Rate
Multiply the hourly rate by the 1.5 multiplier.
The illustrative overtime rate is $37.50 per hour.
Step 3: Calculate Overtime Earnings
Multiply the overtime rate by five overtime hours.
Estimated overtime earnings equal $187.50.
Step 4: Calculate Total Gross Pay
Add the regular pay and overtime earnings.
The estimated gross paycheck for this example is $1,187.50 before payroll deductions.
Paycheck Calculation Summary
| Calculation | Estimated Amount |
|---|---|
| Hourly Rate | $25.00 |
| Regular Hours | 40 |
| Overtime Hours | 5 |
| Total Hours | 45 |
| Regular Pay | $1,000.00 |
| Overtime Rate | $37.50 |
| Overtime Pay | $187.50 |
| Gross Pay | $1,187.50 |
This example demonstrates how regular and overtime hours combine to produce an estimated gross paycheck.
This example assumes five hours qualify for 1.5-times pay. Actual overtime eligibility, the legally defined regular rate, and payroll calculations may vary.
How Do Overtime Hours Affect Your Paycheck?
Working additional qualifying overtime hours can increase gross earnings.
The amount of additional pay depends on the hourly rate, overtime hours, and applicable overtime multiplier.
Overtime Hours Comparison
The following table assumes $25 per hour, 40 regular hours, and 1.5-times pay for the listed overtime hours.
| Overtime Hours | Overtime Pay | Gross Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $0.00 | $1,000.00 |
| 2 | $75.00 | $1,075.00 |
| 5 | $187.50 | $1,187.50 |
| 8 | $300.00 | $1,300.00 |
| 10 | $375.00 | $1,375.00 |
For this example, five qualifying overtime hours increase the gross paycheck by $187.50.
Actual overtime hours should be determined using the applicable workweek, employment classification, and wage rules.
Hourly Rate Paycheck Comparison
Different hourly wages produce different paycheck amounts, even when the working schedule remains the same.
The following comparison assumes 40 regular hours, five qualifying overtime hours, and a 1.5 overtime multiplier.
| Hourly Rate | Regular Pay | Overtime Pay | Gross Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15 | $600.00 | $112.50 | $712.50 |
| $20 | $800.00 | $150.00 | $950.00 |
| $25 | $1,000.00 | $187.50 | $1,187.50 |
| $30 | $1,200.00 | $225.00 | $1,425.00 |
| $35 | $1,400.00 | $262.50 | $1,662.50 |
This table illustrates how changes in the hourly rate affect estimated gross earnings.
On narrow mobile screens, swipe across the table to view every column.
How to Calculate Time-and-a-Half Pay
Time-and-a-half is a common overtime rate equal to 1.5 times the applicable regular rate.
For example, if your hourly rate is $25:
Three qualifying overtime hours at that rate would produce:
For this simplified example, the overtime earnings would be $112.50.
How to Calculate Double-Time Pay
Double-time pay means twice the applicable hourly rate.
For example, a $25 hourly rate multiplied by 2 produces:
Five qualifying hours at double-time would produce $250.
With 40 regular hours, total gross pay would be:
Federal law does not universally require double-time pay. State laws, contracts, and other employment rules may provide additional premium-pay requirements.
Time-and-a-Half vs. Double-Time Comparison
| Hourly Rate | 1.5× Rate | 2× Rate |
|---|---|---|
| $15 | $22.50 | $30.00 |
| $20 | $30.00 | $40.00 |
| $25 | $37.50 | $50.00 |
| $30 | $45.00 | $60.00 |
| $40 | $60.00 | $80.00 |
These are mathematical rate comparisons. They do not determine which workers qualify for a particular multiplier.
When Does Overtime Pay Apply?
Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, covered, nonexempt employees generally must receive overtime pay of at least 1.5 times their regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek.
However, overtime requirements can vary based on employee classification, industry, state law, and other circumstances.
Some states have additional daily overtime requirements or other special rules.
The legal regular rate may also include certain additional compensation, not merely the base hourly wage.
MyCruncher uses the regular hours, overtime hours, hourly rate, and multiplier you provide.
It does not automatically determine overtime eligibility or enforce every employment law.
For official guidance, visit the U.S. Department of Labor .
Gross Pay vs. Net Pay
Gross pay and net pay are two different paycheck amounts.
What Is Gross Pay?
Gross pay represents earnings before payroll taxes and other applicable deductions.
For hourly workers, it may include regular pay, overtime pay, bonuses, commissions, and other compensation.
The MyCruncher Paycheck Calculator estimates regular and overtime gross earnings.
What Is Net Pay?
Net pay, also called take-home pay, is the amount remaining after applicable payroll withholding and deductions.
Gross vs. Net Pay Example
Suppose your gross paycheck is $1,187.50 and hypothetical payroll deductions total $250.
The illustrative take-home amount would be $937.50.
The $250 deduction amount is hypothetical, not a tax-rate estimate.
Actual deductions depend on withholding elections, income, location, benefits, retirement contributions, and other circumstances.
The main MyCruncher Paycheck Calculator shown above calculates gross pay. It does not automatically subtract payroll taxes or calculate net pay.
What Deductions Can Affect Take-Home Pay?
Actual paycheck deductions depend on the worker's employment and payroll circumstances.
Common examples include:
- Federal income tax withholding. The withheld amount depends on applicable tax rules and payroll information.
- State or local income taxes. These may apply depending on where the employee works or lives.
- Social Security and Medicare. Applicable payroll taxes reduce many employees' take-home earnings.
- Health insurance premiums. Employee benefit contributions may be deducted through payroll.
- Retirement contributions. 401(k) or other eligible retirement-plan contributions may reduce deposited pay.
- Other deductions. Additional authorized or legally required deductions may appear on a paycheck.
These items are not individually calculated by the four-field gross-pay calculator.
Weekly, Biweekly and Monthly Pay Estimates
A paycheck calculator can help you understand gross earnings for the hours entered.
For longer-term planning, you can also estimate average earnings using a recurring weekly schedule.
Suppose our example $1,187.50 weekly gross pay continues for 52 paid weeks per year.
Estimated Annual Gross Pay
Estimated Biweekly Gross Pay
Average Monthly Gross Pay
Illustrative Pay Period Comparison
| Pay Period | Gross Pay Estimate |
|---|---|
| Weekly | $1,187.50 |
| Biweekly | $2,375.00 |
| Average Monthly | $5,145.83 |
| Annual | $61,750.00 |
These figures are separate planning estimates that assume the same working schedule and pay rate continue throughout the year.
Actual paychecks may vary due to changing hours, overtime, unpaid leave, holidays, and payroll adjustments.
The main calculator does not require you to select a pay frequency. Enter the hours for the period you want to estimate.
How to Estimate a Biweekly Paycheck
Biweekly pay generally means an employee receives a paycheck every two weeks.
A two-week pay period usually contains two separate workweeks.
For overtime purposes, covered nonexempt employees generally must have qualifying weekly overtime calculated for each workweek separately.
For example, working 45 hours in Week 1 and 35 hours in Week 2 does not automatically eliminate the qualifying overtime from Week 1.
Do not assume that averaging 80 hours across two weeks satisfies applicable weekly overtime rules.
When estimating a biweekly paycheck, calculate the appropriate regular and overtime earnings for each workweek, then combine them.
How Do Unpaid Breaks Affect Paychecks?
Time spent on qualifying unpaid meal breaks is generally excluded from compensable working hours.
For example, an employee who is present from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM has nine elapsed hours.
If the employee takes a qualifying unpaid 60-minute meal break, the resulting work time is eight hours.
The Paycheck Calculator does not separately collect clock-in times, clock-out times, or break minutes.
To calculate working hours before estimating pay, use the MyCruncher Work Hours Calculator.
Only exclude breaks that are properly classified as unpaid under applicable rules.
Why Might Your Actual Paycheck Be Different?
A basic gross-pay estimate may differ from an employer's official payroll record.
Possible reasons include:
- Different reported hours. Official time records may differ from estimated working hours.
- Overtime eligibility. Not all employees qualify for overtime in the same way.
- Regular-rate calculations. Certain bonuses or additional compensation may affect the legally required overtime rate.
- Payroll rounding. Employers may use applicable rounding methods for time records.
- Different pay periods. A payroll period may contain more than one workweek.
- Additional earnings. Bonuses, commissions, shift differentials, or other compensation may increase gross pay.
- Payroll deductions. Taxes, benefits, and other deductions reduce take-home pay.
- Special wage rules. Federal, state, or local requirements may affect actual payroll.
Always compare important pay estimates with your employer's official time and pay records.
When Is a Paycheck Calculator Useful?
Hourly Employees
Estimate regular and overtime earnings for a given work period.
Comparing Work Schedules
See how changes in regular hours or qualifying overtime hours may affect gross earnings.
Budget Planning
Use projected gross earnings as a starting point when developing a monthly or weekly budget.
Job Offer Comparisons
Compare hypothetical hourly rates and overtime schedules between job opportunities.
Reviewing Pay Statements
Estimate the regular and overtime components of a paycheck before comparing them with actual payroll records.
Small Business Planning
Use gross-pay estimates for preliminary labor expense calculations. Actual payroll compliance requires additional information and review.
Helpful Tips for Estimating Your Paycheck
- Use the correct hourly rate. Check your most recent pay records.
- Separate regular and overtime hours. Do not count the same hours twice.
- Verify your overtime multiplier. Use the appropriate rate for the circumstances.
- Check your workweek. Overtime rules may depend on a defined seven-day workweek.
- Record hours accurately. Review time cards, breaks, and schedules.
- Distinguish gross from net pay. The amount deposited into your bank account may be lower than gross earnings.
- Account for variable schedules. Do not assume overtime hours will remain consistent every week.
- Review payroll deductions. Taxes and benefits affect your take-home amount.
- Compare with your pay stub. Use official payroll documents when exact earnings matter.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate my paycheck?
Multiply your hourly rate by regular hours, then add the earnings from qualifying overtime hours.
The MyCruncher Paycheck Calculator performs this basic gross-pay calculation automatically.
How much is 40 hours at $25 per hour?
Forty hours multiplied by $25 equals $1,000 in gross pay before taxes and other deductions.
How much is 45 hours at $25 per hour?
Assuming 40 regular hours and five qualifying overtime hours at 1.5-times pay, estimated gross earnings are $1,187.50.
How much is five hours of overtime at $25 per hour?
With a 1.5 multiplier, the overtime rate is $37.50 per hour.
Five qualifying overtime hours produce $187.50.
What is time-and-a-half pay?
Time-and-a-half means 1.5 times the applicable regular hourly rate.
For example, $20 at time-and-a-half equals $30 per hour.
What is double-time pay?
Double-time is twice the applicable hourly rate.
For example, $25 at double-time equals $50 per hour.
Does the calculator include overtime?
Yes. Enter the overtime hours and select an overtime multiplier to estimate overtime earnings separately from regular pay.
Does it automatically determine overtime hours?
No. You enter regular and overtime hours separately.
The calculator does not independently determine legal overtime eligibility.
Is overtime always required after 40 hours?
For many covered, nonexempt employees, federal law generally requires overtime after 40 hours worked in a workweek.
Exceptions and additional state rules may apply.
Does working Saturday automatically qualify for overtime?
Not necessarily. Under general federal law, weekend work alone does not automatically require premium pay.
Other legal or contractual requirements may apply.
Does the Paycheck Calculator include income taxes?
The main calculator focuses on regular pay, overtime pay, and total gross earnings.
It does not automatically calculate income tax withholding or take-home pay.
What is gross pay?
Gross pay is earnings before applicable taxes and other payroll deductions.
What is net pay?
Net pay is the amount remaining after applicable payroll withholding and deductions.
Why is my take-home pay lower than gross pay?
Taxes, insurance, retirement contributions, and other applicable payroll deductions may reduce the amount deposited.
Can I calculate a paycheck with zero overtime?
Yes. Enter zero overtime hours.
The gross-pay estimate will then reflect the regular hourly rate multiplied by regular hours.
Can I calculate a part-time paycheck?
Yes. Enter the regular hours and hourly rate for the part-time work period.
Can I estimate a biweekly paycheck?
You can combine the appropriate regular and overtime earnings for both workweeks in a biweekly period.
Calculate qualifying overtime separately for each workweek when required.
Does the calculator include paid vacation or sick leave?
It uses the hours and rate you enter.
It does not separately determine paid-leave eligibility or employer-specific leave policies.
Can I use this calculator to verify my pay stub?
It can help compare basic regular and overtime gross earnings.
However, an official pay stub may include additional earnings, deductions, and special payroll calculations.
Does it calculate annual salary?
The main Paycheck Calculator estimates gross earnings for the hours entered.
For annual, monthly, and biweekly conversions, use the MyCruncher Salary / Hourly Pay Calculator.
Are the paycheck results guaranteed?
No. Results are educational estimates.
Actual payroll depends on hours, pay rates, employment rules, deductions, and employer records.
Is the MyCruncher Paycheck Calculator free?
Yes! The MyCruncher Paycheck Calculator is free to use for estimating regular pay, overtime earnings, and gross pay.
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Need a paycheck widget for your own website? Visit the Free Calculator Embeds Library to explore available free calculator widgets.
You can also view the Paycheck Calculator Embed , which includes additional estimated tax and deduction inputs for its separate take-home-pay calculation.
For official information about overtime pay, visit the U.S. Department of Labor .
Discover more free payroll, income, work hours, business, and everyday calculators at MyCruncher.com .
Important: The MyCruncher Paycheck Calculator provides general educational gross-pay estimates. Actual earnings, compensable hours, overtime eligibility, regular-rate calculations, payroll taxes, benefits, deductions, and employment rules may differ. Federal, state, and local laws and employer policies may affect actual pay. These results are not official payroll records, tax calculations, or legal determinations. Review actual pay statements and applicable employment requirements when accuracy matters.