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Overtime Calculator

Two models, one tool. Measure overtime the standard weekly way (hours over 40) or the FLSA 7(k) public-safety way (a 7 to 28 day work period against the 212-hour fire cap). Pick your rotation or type your average weekly hours to see overtime per week and per year.

Where your hours come from

1 on-days per 3-day cycle averages 56 h/week.

Overtime model

Ordinary rule: overtime accrues on hours above a weekly cap.

The weekly hours before overtime starts. The standard FLSA week is 40.

Result

Standard weekly overtime

Over threshold
Overtime / week16h
Overtime / year835h
Avg work week56h
OT cap40h/wk

Averaging about 56 hours a week puts you roughly 16 hours over a 40-hour week, about 16 hours of overtime weekly (835 h/year).

This is a 24-hour fire rotation. The standard weekly model overstates firefighter overtime. Switch to FLSA 7(k) for the number your department actually pays.

FLSA thresholds follow 29 CFR 553.230 (fire protection employees). An estimate for planning, not legal or payroll advice. EMS-only agencies under the law-enforcement 7(k) category use a different cap.

Pick the right rule

The same hours, two very different overtime numbers

Overtime is not one calculation. The rule that covers you decides whether a 24-hour rotation looks like brutal overtime or a manageable schedule. Choose the model that matches your job, not a generic 40-hour default.

Standard weekly

Most workers

Every hour above 40 in a week is overtime, paid at 1.5x. This is the default FLSA rule for the vast majority of hourly workers, including most general-industry shift rotations. Set a different weekly cap if your contract does.

FLSA 7(k) work period

Fire & EMS

The public-safety exemption. Fire and EMS employers declare a 7 to 28 day work period and pay overtime only on hours above a set cap for that period, 212 hours for a 28-day fire period. This is the honest number for a 24-hour rotation.

The 7(k) numbers

Where the fire overtime cap comes from

FLSA Section 7(k) lets fire and EMS employers declare a work period of 7 to 28 days and pay overtime only on hours above a cap for that period, instead of a standard 40-hour week.

For fire protection employees, a 28-day work period caps straight time at 212 hours (29 CFR 553.230). Shorter periods scale down. That is why the FLSA 7(k) model in the calculator returns far less overtime on a 24-hour rotation than the weekly model does.

Switch the calculator to FLSA 7(k), set your declared work period, and it measures your rotation against the right cap.

FLSA 7(k) straight-time caps (fire)

Maximum non-overtime hours by declared work-period length. Source: 29 CFR 553.230(c).

Work periodStraight-time cap
7 days53 h
14 days106 h
21 days159 h
27 days204 h
28 days212 h

An estimate for planning, not legal or payroll advice. EMS-only agencies that fall under the law-enforcement 7(k) category use a different cap.

Overtime questions

Common questions

How do you calculate overtime for shift work?

It depends which rule covers you. Under the standard weekly rule, overtime is every hour above 40 in a week, paid at 1.5x. Under the FLSA 7(k) public-safety exemption, fire and EMS employers measure overtime across a 7 to 28 day work period against a set cap instead, so hours above that period cap are overtime. This calculator does both: pick your model, choose a rotation or type your average weekly hours, and it returns overtime hours per week and per year.

What is the difference between weekly overtime and FLSA 7(k)?

The standard weekly rule counts overtime hour by hour over a single 40-hour week. FLSA Section 7(k) lets police and fire employers declare a longer work period, 7 to 28 days, and only pay overtime on hours above a cap for that whole period. A 28-day fire work period caps straight time at 212 hours. Measuring a 24-hour fire rotation against a 40-hour week overstates its overtime roughly four to five times, which is why fire departments use 7(k).

What is the FLSA 7(k) overtime threshold?

For fire protection employees, a 28-day work period tops out at 212 straight-time hours (29 CFR 553.230). Shorter work periods scale down proportionally: about 106 hours for 14 days, 53 hours for 7 days. Hours above the cap for your declared work period are overtime. EMS-only agencies that fall under the law-enforcement 7(k) category use a different cap.

Why does a 24/48 rotation show so much built-in overtime?

A straight 24/48 rotation averages about 56 hours a week, or roughly 224 hours in a 28-day period. Against a 40-hour week that looks like 16 hours of overtime every week. Against the correct 212-hour FLSA 7(k) cap it is about 12 hours per 28-day period. The rotation has not changed, only the rule you measure it against. Use the FLSA 7(k) model for fire and EMS.

Can I use this without a fixed pattern?

Yes. Switch the source to average weekly hours and type the number you usually work. The standard weekly model then compares it to your overtime-after threshold, and the FLSA 7(k) model scales it across your declared work period against the fire cap. This is handy when your schedule varies week to week.

Is this calculator free, and do I need an account?

It is completely free and needs no signup. Create a free RescueShift account only if you want to track your real hours, trades, and coverage against these thresholds automatically across your phone and the web.

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Beyond the calculator

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