Utah Overtime Law — calculator

Frequently Asked Questions

• Does Utah have its own overtime law?

  No. Utah does not have a state-specific overtime law for private-sector employees. Overtime in Utah is governed entirely by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which requires 1.5 times the regular rate for all hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek.

• When does overtime kick in for Utah workers?

  For private-sector employees, overtime begins after 40 hours in a single workweek. Unlike California, Utah does not have a daily overtime rule. A workweek is any fixed, regularly recurring 7-day period established by the employer — it does not need to align with the calendar week.

• What is the overtime rate in Utah?

  Utah follows the federal FLSA standard: overtime is paid at 1.5 times (time-and-a-half) the employee's regular rate of pay. If an employee earns $20/hr, their overtime rate is $30/hr for each hour beyond 40 in that workweek.

• Is daily overtime required in Utah?

  No. Utah law does not require daily overtime. Overtime is calculated on a weekly basis only. An employee working 10 hours in one day and 0 hours the next four days has not triggered overtime if total weekly hours stay at or below 40.

• Who is exempt from overtime in Utah?

  Workers exempt from FLSA overtime include executive, administrative, and professional employees earning at least $684 per week ($35,568/year), highly compensated employees earning $107,432 or more annually, certain computer professionals earning at least $27.63/hour, and outside salespeople. Job titles alone do not determine exemption — duties and salary tests both apply.

• Can Utah employers offer comp time instead of overtime pay?

  For private-sector employers, comp time in lieu of overtime pay is not permitted under the FLSA — employees must receive cash at 1.5 times the regular rate. State and local government employers in Utah may offer compensatory time at a 1.5:1 ratio under approved written agreements, with a maximum accrual of 240 hours (480 hours for public safety and emergency workers).

• How is overtime calculated for tipped employees in Utah?

  Tipped employees' overtime is based on the full minimum wage ($7.25/hr), not the reduced cash wage of $2.13/hr. The overtime rate for a tipped employee earning exactly minimum wage would be $10.875/hr (1.5 × $7.25), minus any allowable tip credit.

• What happens if my Utah employer doesn't pay overtime?

  You can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) or pursue a private lawsuit. The FLSA allows recovery of unpaid wages, an equal amount in liquidated damages, and attorney fees. The statute of limitations is 2 years for non-willful violations and 3 years for willful violations.

• Where do I report unpaid overtime in Utah?

  Private-sector overtime claims in Utah are filed with the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (dol.gov/agencies/whd). State and local government employee complaints may also be filed with the Utah Labor Commission's Wage Claim division at laborcommission.utah.gov.

• Does the workweek have to start on Monday in Utah?

  No. A workweek can begin on any day of the week as long as it is a fixed, regularly recurring 168-hour period (7 consecutive days). Once established, the workweek cannot be changed to avoid overtime obligations.