Alaska Overtime Calculator — daily & weekly rules

Frequently Asked Questions

• Does Alaska require overtime pay for more than 8 hours in a single workday?

  Yes. Under Alaska Statute AS 23.10.060, overtime pay at 1.5× the regular rate is required for any hours over 8 in a single workday — even if the weekly total is 40 hours or less. This daily overtime threshold is one of Alaska's most significant labor-law protections above the federal FLSA floor, which only requires overtime after 40 hours per week (as of 2026).

• How does Alaska's overtime law differ from the federal FLSA?

  The federal FLSA (29 USC §207) requires overtime only after 40 hours in a workweek. Alaska adds a daily threshold: more than 8 hours in any single day triggers 1.5× pay. So an employee working 10 hours on Monday and 6 hours the remaining four days (total 34 hours) still earns 2 overtime hours under Alaska law — something the FLSA would not require.

• How is Alaska overtime calculated when both the daily and weekly thresholds are triggered?

  Daily overtime hours (hours over 8 per day) are counted first. The remaining regular hours (up to 8 per day, across all days) are summed for the week; if this weekly regular subtotal exceeds 40 hours, the excess becomes additional weekly overtime. The two amounts are added for total overtime hours. No hours are counted twice.

• Does Alaska have a double-time rule like California?

  No. Alaska's overtime rate is 1.5× the regular rate only. There is no 2× (double-time) tier. California's double-time provision (over 12 hours/day, or on the 7th consecutive day of a workweek) is a California-specific rule and does not apply in Alaska.

• Which employers are exempt from Alaska overtime requirements in 2026?

  Employers with 3 or fewer employees in the regular course of business are entirely exempt from Alaska's overtime law and may pay straight-time for all hours. Additional exemptions exist for certain agricultural workers, small mining operations (12 or fewer employees), some fishing industry roles, and other categories listed under AS 23.10.060. The federal FLSA exemptions (executive, administrative, professional duties tests) also apply.

• Can my Alaska employer give me comp time instead of overtime pay?

  No. Compensatory time off cannot be substituted for overtime wages in Alaska. Overtime must be paid as cash wages on the regular paycheck, and the overtime hours and amount must appear on the pay stub. Accepting comp time instead of overtime pay is not a valid agreement under Alaska law.

• What is the minimum salary threshold for overtime exemption in Alaska in 2026?

  To qualify as exempt from overtime under Alaska's salary test, an employee must earn at least two times the state minimum wage for a 40-hour workweek. Before July 1, 2026, this is 2 × $13.00/hr × 40 hrs = $1,040 per week. On or after July 1, 2026, when the minimum wage rises to $14.00/hr, the threshold increases to $1,120 per week. Meeting the salary test alone is not sufficient — the employee must also meet a duties test.

• How long do I have to file an unpaid overtime claim in Alaska?

  Under the Alaska Wage and Hour Act, you have 2 years from the date the overtime was earned to file a claim for unpaid overtime. For other types of unpaid wages (straight-time wages or promised benefits), the statute of limitations is 3 years. File a complaint with the Alaska Department of Labor, Wage and Hour section: (907) 269-4900 or statewide.wagehour@alaska.gov.

• Are salaried employees entitled to overtime pay in Alaska?

  Salaried employees may be exempt from overtime only if they satisfy both a salary-level test (at least $1,040/wk before July 1, 2026; $1,120/wk on or after) and a duties test (executive, administrative, or professional duties). Simply being paid on a salary basis does not exempt an employee. If the duties test is not met, the employee is entitled to overtime regardless of salary.

• Does Alaska overtime apply to part-time workers?

  Yes. Part-time employees are entitled to overtime under Alaska law if they exceed either 8 hours in a single day or 40 hours in a week for employers with 4 or more employees. There is no minimum hours-per-week threshold that must be met before overtime rules apply — the daily and weekly thresholds operate the same way for part-time and full-time workers.