Harvest
Time Tracking
Sign up free

Overtime Calculator for Washington

Harvest offers a user-friendly solution for calculating overtime pay according to Washington State laws, simplifying compliance with local regulations.

Try Harvest Free

What will your overtime pay be?

Calculate regular and overtime earnings based on your hours and rate. Supports standard time-and-a-half and double-time multipliers.

$
Standard is 40 hours/week (FLSA threshold)
1.5x
1.5x = time and a half (most common). 2x = double time (CA after 12h, holidays).
Some states require 2x pay after 12 hours/day or on 7th consecutive day.
Total gross pay $0
Regular pay $0
Overtime pay (1.5x) $0
Double-time pay (2x) $0
Effective hourly rate $0

Track overtime hours with Harvest

Walk through the entire flow below. Start a timer, check your reports, and create a real invoice — all in three clicks.

Go ahead — start tracking!

One click and you're timing. Try it right here: start a timer, add an entry, edit the details. This is exactly how it feels in Harvest.

  • One-click timer from browser, desktop & mobile
  • Works inside Jira, Asana, Trello, GitHub & 50+ tools
  • Duration or start/end — your call
  • Day, week & calendar views to stay on top of it all
  • Friendly reminders so no hour gets left behind
Acme Corp
Website Redesign
Homepage layout revisions
1:24:09
Content Strategy
Blog calendar planning
1:30:00
SEO Audit
Technical audit report
0:45:00
Brand Guidelines
Color system documentation
2:15:00
Logo Concepts
Initial sketches round 1
1:00:00
Today's total 6:54:09

Understanding Washington State Overtime Basics

Washington State requires overtime pay at a rate of 1.5 times the regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Unlike some states, Washington does not mandate daily overtime for hours worked over eight in a single day, except for certain public works projects. This workweek can be any seven consecutive days, determined by the employer. If not specified, it defaults to Sunday through Saturday.

Washington's overtime laws often provide greater employee protections compared to federal regulations. For instance, employees cannot waive their right to overtime pay, ensuring compensation even if the company is small. As of 2025, the state's minimum wage will be $16.66 per hour, rising to $17.13 in 2026, affecting the salary thresholds for overtime exemptions. These thresholds are calculated as a multiple of the minimum wage, reaching 2.5 times by 2028 for all employers.

Who is Eligible? Navigating Overtime Exemptions

Most hourly, piece-rate, and commissioned employees in Washington are eligible for overtime pay. However, salaried employees can be exempt if they meet specific criteria, including job duties and salary thresholds. For 2025, the exemption threshold for small employers is $1,332.80 per week, while for large employers, it's $1,499.40 per week. By 2026, this will increase to $1,541.70 per week for all employers.

Exemptions also apply to executive, administrative, and professional roles, along with certain industries like computer professionals and outside sales. Special categories, such as railroad workers and casual domestic laborers, may also be exempt. Understanding these distinctions can help businesses ensure compliance and avoid costly errors.

Calculating Overtime Pay Accurately

Calculating overtime pay in Washington involves determining an employee's regular hourly rate, which must include all compensation such as non-discretionary bonuses. The regular rate is then multiplied by 1.5 for each hour worked over 40 in the workweek. For example, if an employee works 44 hours at a $20 per hour rate, their overtime pay would be calculated as follows: Regular pay for 40 hours is $800, overtime for 4 hours at $30 per hour totals $120, making the total weekly pay $920.

Accurate record-keeping of daily hours is essential for compliance. Employers should review wage classifications regularly, especially with rising minimum wage and salary thresholds, to avoid misclassification and ensure all eligible employees receive overtime pay.

Special Considerations: Industry-Specific Rules and Local Variations

Washington's overtime laws extend to various industries with specific rules. For instance, agricultural workers became eligible for overtime after 40 hours per week starting January 1, 2024. In healthcare, specific employees are protected from mandatory overtime, except in emergencies, and must be given at least eight hours off after working more than 12 consecutive hours.

Local ordinances in cities like Seattle and Bellingham may enforce higher minimum wages than the state, impacting overtime pay calculations. Moreover, public employees can opt for compensatory time off instead of overtime pay, credited at 1.5 hours off for each overtime hour worked, while private employers cannot offer this option.

Overtime Calculator with Harvest

The preview shows Harvest's interface for calculating overtime pay according to Washington State laws. Easily manage compliance with local regulations.

Harvest overtime calculator interface for Washington State

Overtime Calculator for Washington FAQs

  • In Washington, the standard overtime pay rate is 1.5 times the employee's regular hourly rate for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek. This law applies to most employees, ensuring fair compensation for overtime work.

  • To calculate overtime for hourly employees in Washington, first determine their regular hourly rate, including bonuses and commissions. Multiply this rate by 1.5 for each hour worked over 40 in a workweek. Accurate record-keeping of hours is crucial for compliance.

  • Yes, certain employees are exempt from overtime pay, including those in executive, administrative, or professional roles who meet specific salary thresholds. Other exemptions exist for specific industries like agriculture and certain public works projects.

  • Washington's overtime laws offer greater protections than federal regulations, mandating overtime pay for hours over 40 per week without allowing employees to waive this right. Additionally, state-specific exemptions and salary thresholds are more stringent.

  • To use an overtime calculator effectively, input the employee's regular hourly rate, total hours worked in the week, and any additional earnings such as bonuses. This ensures accurate calculation of overtime pay according to state laws.

  • Yes, remote employees in Washington are entitled to overtime pay for any hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Employers must track hours accurately to ensure compliance and fair compensation for remote work.

  • Harvest offers flexible manual tracking for overtime, allowing businesses to set custom rates for overtime tasks. This feature helps reflect higher pay rates accurately, ensuring compliance and streamlined payroll processes.