Work Hours & Pay Guides

Plain-English answers to the questions behind our calculators: how overtime really works, which states pay daily overtime, what comes out of your paycheck, and how freelancers handle taxes. Every rule is cited to the statute or regulation it comes from, and every guide links to the free tool that does the math for you.

Overtime & Pay Rules

Overtime Laws by State (2026) Every state’s overtime rule in one table — the four daily-OT states, special thresholds (KS, MN, KY, OR) and the federal baseline. How Overtime Pay Works (FLSA) The 1.5× rule, what counts in your "regular rate of pay" (bonuses, shift differentials), worked examples and common employer violations. Daily Overtime States: CA, AK, CO & NV Deep dive on the only four states where a long day — not just a long week — triggers overtime, with pay examples for each. Do Salaried Employees Get Overtime? Exempt vs non-exempt, the FLSA salary threshold, the duties tests, and what to do if you’ve been misclassified. Time Clock Rounding Rules (the 7-Minute Rule) When quarter-hour rounding is legal under 29 CFR §785.48, how the 7-minute rule works, and the de minimis doctrine.

Timesheets & Time Tracking

How to Fill Out a Timesheet Step-by-step: clock-in/out format, breaks, decimal hours and avoiding the mistakes that delay paychecks. How to Calculate Payroll Hours Converting punches to paid hours: decimal conversion, rounding, unpaid breaks and weekly totals — the way payroll actually does it.

Paychecks & Taxes

Paycheck Deductions, Explained Federal income tax, FICA, state tax and pre-tax benefits — why your take-home pay is smaller than your gross, line by line.

Freelance & 1099

1099 vs W-2: How Taxes Differ Self-employment tax, withholding, deductions and what an equivalent hourly rate really is for contractors vs employees. Quarterly Estimated Taxes Guide Who must pay estimated taxes, the IRS due dates, safe-harbor rules and how to calculate each payment.

Prefer to skip straight to the math?

Overtime Calculator · Paycheck Calculator · Timesheet Calculator · Time & a Half · Overtime by State · Minimum Wage by State