Overtime Earnings Calculator for Trade Workers
Overtime is where tradespeople really boost their income. Plug in your numbers to see exactly what you can earn with regular and overtime hours factored in.
Quick Presets
Your Earnings
Based on $29.00/hr with 10hrs overtime at 1.5x
Annual Earnings
$79,750
50 weeks × $1,595.00/week
Regular Weekly
$1,160.00
40hrs × $29.00
Overtime Weekly
$435.00
10hrs × $43.50
Total Weekly
$1,595.00
Monthly Estimate
$6,646
Overtime adds $21,750 to your annual income (38% boost)
How Overtime Works in the Trades
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), most trade workers are entitled to overtime pay at 1.5 times their regular rate for any hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek. Some states and union contracts are even more generous, offering double time for hours beyond a certain threshold or for weekend/holiday work.
In the construction trades, overtime is extremely common during busy seasons. It's not unusual for electricians, plumbers, and other tradespeople to work 50-60 hour weeks when deadlines are tight. That extra 10-20 hours at time-and-a-half adds up fast -- often boosting annual income by 20-30%.
Union contracts often specify additional overtime rules, like double time on Sundays and holidays, or daily overtime (anything over 8 hours in a single day, not just 40 in a week). If you're in a strong union local, your overtime pay can be significantly higher than the federal minimum.