Calculating Overtime When You Work at Two Different Pay Rates
October 23, 2026
Per DOL guidance, when a non-exempt employee works at two different pay rates for the same employer in one workweek, the overtime premium is generally calculated using a weighted-average (blended) regular rate across all hours worked at both rates, rather than applying either rate individually to overtime hours.
Skip the math and get your answer instantly:
Open the Overtime Calculator →Worked Example
20 hours at $25/hour and 25 hours at $19/hour in the same workweek (45 total hours).
- Total straight-time earnings: (20 × $25) + (25 × $19) = $500 + $475 = $975
- Blended regular rate: $975 ÷ 45 = $21.67
- Overtime premium: 5 overtime hours × ($21.67 × 0.5) = 5 × $10.83 = $54.17 (the additional 0.5× premium, since straight-time pay is already included above)
- Total pay for the week: $975 + $54.17 = $1,029.17
Why a Blended Rate, Not Either Individual Rate
Since both rates contributed to the total work performed in the week, blending them into a single weighted-average regular rate reflects the employee's actual overall compensation rate for that week — using just one of the two individual rates would either overstate or understate the correct overtime premium.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is overtime calculated for an employee with two different pay rates?
Using a weighted-average blended regular rate across all hours at both rates, not either individual rate applied directly.
What's the blended regular rate in this example?
$21.67/hour, from total straight-time earnings of $975 divided by 45 total hours.
What's the total pay for the week in this example?
$1,029.17, combining straight-time earnings and the additional overtime premium.
Why not just use one of the two individual rates for the overtime calculation?
Because both rates contributed to the week's total work — a blended rate accurately reflects the employee's overall compensation rate for that week.