Methodology & Sourcing
Calculation & Sourcing Methodology
How OvertimeIQ calculates overtime estimates, which official sources are used, how pages are reviewed, and how corrections are handled.
Purpose
OvertimeIQ explains overtime formulas and estimates pay using user-entered values, federal overtime formulas, state wage-rule data, and official source references. The goal is to make overtime math easier to understand, not to replace payroll, tax, or legal advice.
Calculation formulas
Basic time and a half
Time and a half rate = regular hourly rate × 1.5
Overtime pay = overtime hours × time and a half rate
Total pay = regular pay + overtime pay
Double time
Double-time rate = regular hourly rate × 2
Regular rate of pay (RROP)
Regular rate of pay = total includable compensation ÷ total hours worked
Where the regular rate already includes straight-time compensation for overtime hours, the additional overtime premium may be calculated at 0.5× the regular rate depending on the pay scenario.
Federal overtime sources
Federal overtime content is based primarily on U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division guidance.
State wage-rule sources
State pages use state labor department sources where available, plus the U.S. DOL State Labor Offices directory when direct pages are unavailable or blocked.
International sources
International pages use official government, employment authority, and statutory sources where available. International overtime rules may depend heavily on contracts, awards, collective agreements, and local law. OvertimeIQ does not claim global accuracy in every jurisdiction.
Review cadence
- Federal core calculator pages: reviewed when federal overtime guidance changes, and at least quarterly.
- State wage/rule pages: reviewed when new annual wage rates are released, when official state guidance changes, and at least quarterly for priority states.
- Blog posts: reviewed when materially affected by legal/rate updates.
- Broken external links: checked through crawl reports and corrected when official source URLs move.
Editorial policy & use of automation
OvertimeIQ is maintained by M. Imtinan Farooq, a data engineer and web-tool creator. The project uses official labor sources, structured wage-rule data, and manual review steps to keep calculator explanations understandable and source-backed.
OvertimeIQ may use software tools and AI-assisted workflows to organize source notes, check repeated templates, and draft plain-English explanations. Final page logic, source links, and published calculator explanations are reviewed by the site maintainer before publication. Automation is not used as a substitute for official wage sources.
Corrections and updates
If you notice an outdated wage figure, broken source link, or unclear explanation, contact us with the page URL and the official source you believe should be reviewed.
Report a correction →Limitations
OvertimeIQ does not determine final legal eligibility, exemption status, damages, penalties, tax treatment, or enforceability of claims. Users should verify important decisions with official labor departments, payroll professionals, or qualified legal counsel.
This site is for educational estimation only and does not provide legal, tax, payroll, or financial advice.