Texas overtime rules
Texas does not have its own overtime law. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act sets the rule: non-exempt employees earn at least 1.5× their regular rate for every hour over 40 in a workweek. There is no daily overtime in Texas, so a 12 hour day inside a 40 hour week pays no overtime.
Each workweek stands alone
A workweek is a fixed, recurring stretch of 7 days. On a biweekly paycheck, each week is still counted on its own: 50 hours one week and 30 the next is 10 hours of overtime, not an 80 hour average. The biweekly timesheet splits the weeks for you.
Example
$18 an hour, 52 hours in a week: 40 regular hours ($720) and 12 overtime hours at $27 ($324): $1,044 before tax.
Where to ask
Overtime complaints go to the Wage and Hour Division of the US Department of Labor. The Texas Workforce Commission handles other unpaid wage claims under the Texas Payday Law.
Other states
California, Alaska, Colorado, Nevada, Florida, New York, or the federal overtime calculator. This calculator is a helper, not legal advice: rules have exceptions, so check your employer's policy and the state labor department.
Questions
Does Texas have daily overtime?
No. Texas follows the federal rule, which only counts hours over 40 in a workweek.
Can my employer average two weeks to avoid overtime?
No. Under federal law each workweek is counted on its own, even if you are paid every two weeks.