Bi-Weekly Time Card Example: Overtime in Week 1 Only
October 23, 2026
A worked example showing the weekly-reset mechanic in action: 46 hours worked in week 1 of a bi-weekly period, 36 hours worked in week 2.
Skip the math and get your answer instantly:
Open the Bi-Weekly Time Card Calculator →Week 1 Calculation
- 46 total hours worked
- Regular hours: 40
- Overtime hours: 46 − 40 = 6 hours at 1.5× the regular rate
Week 2 Calculation
- 36 total hours worked
- All 36 hours are regular hours — no overtime, since this is under the 40-hour threshold
Why You Can't Average the Two Weeks
Averaging 46 and 36 gives 41 hours/week, which might suggest just 1 hour of overtime if calculated incorrectly across the combined 82-hour period — but since each week is evaluated independently, the correct result is 6 overtime hours from week 1 alone, a meaningfully different outcome. This averaging mistake is covered in more detail in a dedicated article elsewhere in this series.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much overtime applies in this example?
6 overtime hours, entirely from week 1 (46 hours worked minus the 40-hour threshold).
Does week 2 have any overtime in this example?
No — 36 hours is under the 40-hour threshold, so all 36 hours are regular hours.
Why can't the two weeks be averaged together?
Because overtime is calculated per individual workweek, not across the combined bi-weekly total — averaging would produce an incorrect, lower overtime figure.
What's the combined total hours in this example?
82 hours (46 + 36), but this combined figure isn't what overtime is calculated from.