Work Hours Calculator
Work Summary
Work Hours Calculator
Track your daily and weekly work hours with ease using our free Work Hours Calculator. This tool helps you calculate total hours worked, break time, regular hours, and overtime. Whether you’re a freelancer, employee, or business owner, this calculator makes managing time cards simple, accurate, and efficient.
Wages and Overtime (FLSA Guidelines)
Minimum Wage and Overtime Pay
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour as of January 2025. However, many states have their own minimum wage laws—when state and federal rates differ, employees are entitled to the higher of the two.
For non-exempt employees, the FLSA mandates overtime pay at 1.5 times the regular hourly rate for any hours worked over 40 hours in a workweek. A workweek is defined as any fixed, recurring period of 168 hours (7 consecutive 24-hour days).
The FLSA also includes specific rules on:
What counts as “hours worked”
Recordkeeping obligations for employers
Child labor regulations
Exempt vs. Non-Exempt Employees
Employees are categorized as either exempt or non-exempt, and this classification determines their eligibility for minimum wage and overtime protections.
Non-Exempt Employees
Entitled to minimum wage and overtime pay.
Typically paid hourly.
Most U.S. workers fall into this category.
If not paid proper overtime, they may file a claim with the U.S. Department of Labor.
Exempt Employees
Exempt employees are not entitled to overtime pay under the FLSA. This classification is typically based on:
Earning a minimum salary of $684 per week ($35,568 per year)
Being paid on a salary basis (not hourly)
Performing exempt job duties (see below)
Categories of Exempt Job Duties
1. Executive Exemption
Manages a business or department
Directly supervises at least two employees
Has input on hiring, firing, or promotions
2. Administrative Exemption
Performs non-manual office work
Work must be directly related to management or business operations
Examples: HR professionals, accountants, payroll staff, PR managers
3. Professional Exemption
Includes two types:
Learned professionals: Work requiring advanced, specialized knowledge (e.g., doctors, lawyers, teachers)
Creative professionals: Work requiring imagination, originality, or talent in fields like music, writing, or acting
Other Common Exemptions
Computer Employees: Paid at least $684 per week or $27.63 per hour (includes programmers, software engineers, systems analysts)
Outside Sales Employees: Primary duty is making sales or securing contracts away from the employer’s business location
Employees Who Are Not Exempt
The following categories are generally not exempt, even if they earn high salaries:
“Blue-collar” workers: Manual laborers and skilled tradespeople such as carpenters, electricians, plumbers, mechanics, and construction workers
First responders: Police officers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, correctional officers, and park rangers
These workers are entitled to minimum wage and overtime pay, regardless of job title or income level.
A Brief History of Time Tracking
Origins of Time Clocks
Time cards and timekeeping systems emerged in the late 19th century to support the growing needs of industrialized labor.
Early Innovations
Rochester Time Recorder (1894): Invented by Daniel M. Cooper, this machine stamped the exact clock-in/out time on a card when inserted by the employee.
Bundy Key Recorder (1888): Created by William Bundy, it stamped time and a key number on a tape when an employee inserted a unique key.
Dey’s Dial Recorder (1888): Invented by Alexander Dey, employees would select their number on a dial to print the time next to their ID.
These inventions aimed to improve accuracy and reduce manual errors in tracking hours worked.
20th Century Developments
As demand grew, large companies like IBM (then known for time equipment) began developing more sophisticated timekeeping systems. IBM’s Time Recorder Division, led by Thomas J. Watson, produced advanced time recorders, including:
Attendance recorders
Time-stamp systems
Machines that printed late punches in red ink
Modern Time Tracking
While traditional time cards and mechanical clocks are still used in some industries, modern solutions now include:
RFID badges
Magnetic swipe cards
Biometric systems (fingerprint, facial recognition)
These technologies offer greater accuracy, efficiency, and integration with payroll systems.
Related Calculators:
Hours and Minutes Calculator, Time CalculatorExternal Resources:
Time Card Calculator on Calculator.net