1.5xTime and a Half Calculator

Overtime Pay in Kentucky

Kentucky follows the federal time-and-a-half rule — 1.5x pay after 40 hours in a workweek. Enter your rate and overtime hours to see your pay instantly.

Overtime multiplier
Pay period
Time and a half rate
$30.00
per overtime hour
Overtime pay
$300.00
Total overtime
$300.00

Does Kentucky have daily overtime?

No. Like most states, Kentucky follows the federal standard: overtime is owed only after 40 hours in a workweek, not for long single days, weekends, or holidays by themselves. Four states — California, Alaska, Nevada, and Colorado — add daily overtime; Kentucky is not one of them. Employer policy or a union contract can still provide extra premiums.

The federal rule that always applies in Kentucky

Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), covered non-exempt employees in Kentucky must be paid at least 1.5 times their regular rate for every hour worked over 40 in a workweek. The math is two steps: overtime rate = regular rate × 1.5, then overtime pay = overtime rate × overtime hours. The authoritative federal reference is the U.S. Department of Labor overtime page. Rules change — confirm anything time-sensitive with Kentucky's state labor department before relying on it.

No tax on overtime in Kentucky

Overtime has never had a special higher tax rate — it is ordinary income. And under the 2025 federal law commonly called “no tax on overtime,” eligible workers in Kentucky can deduct the premium portion of FLSA overtime (the extra 0.5x) from federal taxable income, up to annual caps, for tax years 2025 through 2028. Because it is federal, it applies in Kentucky the same as every other state. Estimate what it is worth with the no tax on overtime calculator.

Run your Kentucky numbers

Use the calculator above for a quick 1.5x figure, add double-time hours in the overtime calculator if your schedule qualifies, and compare every state's rules on the overtime rules by state page. This site does the math; your Kentucky labor department and the U.S. DOL are the authorities on classification and eligibility.

Kentucky overtime FAQ

Does Kentucky require overtime after 8 hours in a day?
No. Kentucky follows the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, which triggers overtime only after 40 hours in a workweek — not after a long single day. Weekend, holiday, or long-day premiums in Kentucky come from employer policy or a union contract, not a state daily-overtime law.
What is the overtime rate in Kentucky?
Overtime in Kentucky is time and a half — 1.5 times your regular hourly rate — for every hour that qualifies. At $20 an hour that is $30 per overtime hour. The rate math is the same nationwide; only which hours qualify can differ by state.
Is there no tax on overtime in Kentucky?
The 2025 federal "no tax on overtime" law lets eligible workers in Kentucky deduct the premium (extra 0.5x) portion of FLSA overtime from federal taxable income, up to annual caps, for tax years 2025 through 2028. It is a federal deduction, so it applies to workers in Kentucky the same as everywhere else. Overtime is still ordinary income otherwise — there is no special overtime tax rate.