How do you calculate overtime pay in Missouri?

April 25th 2025

Overtime rules in Missouri are closely tied to federal law but also have specific state requirements that employers and employees must understand.

This article provides a clear overview of overtime in Missouri, including applicable laws, how to define a workweek, calculating overtime pay for different types of employees, and overtime exemptions. It also covers additional considerations such as compensatory time and how paid time off affects overtime calculations.

This Article Covers:

Understanding Overtime in Missouri
Overtime for Hourly Rate, Two or More Hourly Rates, and Salaried Employees in Missouri
Overtime for Complex Pay Structures in Missouri
Additional Considerations for Missouri Overtime

Understanding Overtime in Missouri

Which Overtime Laws Apply in Missouri?

Overtime laws that apply to Missouri are outlined in the Missouri Revised Statutes and closely follow the guidelines set by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Under Missouri law, employers must pay at least 1.5 times an employee’s regular hourly rate for all hours worked beyond 40 hours in a workweek. 

Employees cannot waive their right to overtime pay in exchange for straight-time wages. Any employer that asks an employee to do so is violating the law. If an employer fails to pay the required overtime, employees have the right to file a wage complaint with the appropriate state or federal labor authorities.

What is the Regular Rate of Pay in Missouri?

In Missouri, the regular rate of pay refers to the hourly wage an employee earns for their normal workweek, before overtime.

Regular Rate for the workweek = Total compensation in the workweek (except for statutory exclusions) ÷ Total hours worked in the workweek

It is not simply the agreed-upon wage, but is based on the employee’s total actual earnings, including hourly wages, salaries, commissions, and certain bonuses, unless specifically excluded by law.

How Do You Define a Workweek in Missouri?

A workweek in Missouri is a fixed period of seven straight days that repeats regularly, according to federal regulations. Employers can set custom workweeks for employees. Once established, the workweek remains the same regardless of how many hours an employee works.

However, employers can change the workweek if the change is permanent and not intended to avoid overtime rules.

How Much is Overtime Pay in Missouri?

Overtime pay in Missouri can be calculated using the following formula:

Overtime Pay = Regular Rate of Pay x 1.5

With the current Missouri minimum wage of $13.75 per hour, that would put the minimum overtime pay at $20.63 per hour.

Who is Eligible for Overtime Pay in Missouri?

Most hourly employees in Missouri are eligible for overtime pay, but the rules depend on state and federal laws. Salaried employees can also be eligible for overtime unless they meet specific exemption criteria outlined by Missouri overtime laws or the FLSA.

Who is Exempt from Overtime Pay in Missouri?

Overtime rules do not apply to employees in Missouri who are exempt from federal minimum wage or overtime laws. These exemptions include:

  • Salaried employees earning over $684 per week or $35,568 per year
  • Executives managing at least two employees and involved in hiring decisions
  • Administrators performing office work related to business operations
  • Professionals requiring advanced education, such as teachers, lawyers, and artists
  • Highly compensated employees earning over $107,432 per year
  • Outside salespeople regularly working away from the employer’s office
  • Computer professionals earning $684 per week or $27.63 per hour
  • Seasonal and recreational workers, including those in amusement parks and fishing operations
  • Transportation workers, such as taxi drivers, railroad employees, and seamen
  • Live-in domestic workers residing in the employer’s home
  • Employees of movie theaters, recreation centers, and small farms
  • Commissioned employees in retail or service businesses
  • Broadcast employees, including announcers, news editors, and chief engineers in rural areas
  • Hospital and care facility workers under a 14-day overtime period rule
  • Public safety employees, such as firefighters and police officers, on flexible schedules
  • Agricultural and bulk petroleum workers with limited overtime exemptions
  • Employees in remedial education training for up to 10 hours per week without overtime

    Can Employers Mandate Overtime Work in Missouri?

    Yes, employers in Missouri can mandate overtime work. As long as employees are paid overtime for any hours over 40, it is legal.

    However, certain industries may have specific regulations limiting excessive work hours for safety reasons, such as transportation or healthcare.

    Overtime for Hourly Rate, Two or More Hourly Rates, and Salaried Employees in Missouri

    How Do You Calculate Overtime for Hourly Employees in Missouri?

    To understand overtime calculations for hourly employees in Missouri, let’s take the following example.

    John is an hourly employee and earns $15 per hour. He has worked 48 hours in a specific week and is eligible to earn overtime pay. To determine his overtime wages, we can use the following steps:

    • Determine the regular rate of pay

    Given that John is an hourly worker, his $15 rate per hour will automatically serve as his regular rate of pay.
    • Calculate the overtime rate

    To get the overtime rate, multiply the regular pay rate by 1.5. This would put John’s overtime rate at: $15 × 1.5 = $22.50 per overtime hour.
    • Identify overtime hours

    John worked 48 hours this week and since anything over 40 hours is considered overtime in Missouri, his overtime hours would be: 48 hours – 40 hours = 8 overtime hours.

    It’s important to note that the regular rate can change if the employee gets extra compensation or incentives during the week.

    How Do You Calculate Overtime for Employees with Two or More Hourly Rates in Missouri?

    If an employee in Missouri works multiple jobs at different pay rates in the same week, their regular hourly rate is calculated using a weighted average.

    To find this rate, add up the total earnings from all jobs, then divide it by the total hours worked. This gives the average hourly rate used for overtime calculations.

    For an employee in Missouri who worked 48 hours in a week and earned a total of $720, calculation for their overtime pay will be as follows:

    • Determine the regular pay rate

    Divide weekly earnings by the total hours worked: ($720 ÷ 48 hours = $15.00 per hour).
    • Calculate the overtime rate

    Multiply the regular pay rate by 1.5 to get the overtime rate. Here, the regular rate is $15, the overtime rate would then be: ($15.00 x 1.5 = $22.50 per overtime hour).
    • Identify the overtime hours

    The employee worked 48 hours, overtime hours would be eight (48 hours – 40 hours = 8 overtime hours).
    • Calculate the overtime pay

    Multiply the overtime rate by the overtime hours. In this example, the overtime pay would be: ($22.50 x 8 = $180).

    How Do You Calculate Overtime for Salaried Employees in Missouri?

    To calculate overtime for salaried employees in Missouri, it’s necessary to first find their regular hourly rate.

    If an employee is paid a weekly salary, their regular hourly rate is found by dividing the salary by the hours it covers.

    For example, a $630 weekly salary for a 35-hour workweek equals $18.00 per hour. If they work overtime, they receive $18.00 per hour for the first 40 hours and $27.00 per hour (1.5 times the regular rate) for overtime.

    For salaries covering longer periods, they must be converted to a weekly equivalent to get the regular hourly rate using the following methods:

    Monthly Salary

    • Regular Hourly Rate = (Monthly Salary x 12) ÷ 52

    Semimonthly Salary

    • Regular Hourly Rate = (Monthly Salary x 24) ÷ 52

    For instance, a $2,800 monthly salary or a $1,400 semimonthly salary for a 40-hour workweek equals $16.15 per hour. Employers may also calculate rates based on working days, as long as the rate meets minimum wage laws.

    Overtime for Complex Pay Structures in Missouri

    How Do You Calculate Overtime Pay for Piece Rate Employees in Missouri?

    For employees paid by piece rate, the regular hourly rate is calculated by adding total earnings from piecework, bonuses, and paid waiting time, then dividing by total hours worked in the week.

    For overtime, employees receive their regular weekly earnings plus an extra half of their regular hourly rate for any hours worked over 40.

    To calculate overtime pay for piece rate workers in Missouri let’s take an employee who earns a total of $690 from piecework for 46 hours.

    • Determine the regular pay rate

    Dividing the employee’s total earnings of $690 by 46 hours gives a regular hourly rate of $15.00.
    • Calculate the overtime rate

    Multiply the regular pay rate by 0.5 to get the overtime rate. If the regular pay is $15.00, the overtime rate would be: ($15.00 x 0.5 = $7.50 per overtime hour).
    • Identify the overtime hours

    If the employee worked 46 hours for the week, the overtime hours would be six (46 hours – 40 hours = 6 overtime hours).
    • Calculate the overtime pay

    For 6 overtime hours, the employee will receive an additional $7.50 per hour, totaling $45.00.

    Adding the overtime pay rate plus their regular piece rate earnings, their total pay would be: ($45.00 + $690 = $735)

    Additional Considerations for Missouri Overtime

    Can an Employee Choose Compensatory Time Instead of Overtime in Missouri?

    Compensatory time, or “comp time,” is paid time off given to an employee instead of overtime pay.

    Comp time is generally not allowed for private employees in Missouri under federal law.

    However, for Missouri state government employees, compensatory time may be allowed. A state employee who works overtime can choose to take time off instead of overtime pay, but only if both the employee and their supervisor agree and the leave time is available.

    Does Missouri Include Paid Time Off in Overtime Calculations?

    No, Missouri does not include paid time off (PTO) such as annual leave, sick leave, or holidays in overtime calculations.

    These types of leave are not considered actual hours worked, so they are not factored into the total hours worked when determining overtime eligibility. Overtime pay is only calculated based on the actual hours an employee works beyond the standard 40-hour workweek.

    Important Cautionary Note

    This content is provided for informational purposes only. While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information presented, we cannot guarantee that it is free of errors or omissions. Users are advised to independently verify any critical information and should not solely rely on the content provided.