Federal FLSA requirements, Alaska-specific overtime rules, exempt employee classifications, and how to calculate and protect your overtime pay.
Last updated: April 2026 · Data: IRS, BLS, state sources
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires covered employers to pay non-exempt employees at least 1.5 times their regular rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 in a single workweek. This is commonly called "time and a half." The FLSA sets the federal floor for overtime protections; states can and often do provide stronger rules.
A "workweek" under the FLSA is any fixed, regularly recurring 168-hour period (seven consecutive 24-hour days). Overtime is calculated per workweek, not per pay period. You cannot average hours across two weeks to avoid overtime pay.
The FLSA does not require overtime for work on weekends or holidays unless those hours push the weekly total above 40. Extra pay for weekend or holiday work is a matter of employer policy or employment contract, not federal law.
Alaska requires overtime pay for hours worked beyond 8 in a single workday, in addition to the federal 40-hour weekly threshold.
Calculation example: An Alaska worker earning $18/hour who works 10 hours in one day earns: (8 x $18) + (2 x $27) = $144 + $54 = $198 for that day.
For hourly employees: multiply the regular hourly rate by 1.5, then multiply by the number of overtime hours.
Example: A worker in Alaska earning $18/hour who works 48 hours in a week:
For salaried non-exempt employees, divide the weekly salary by actual hours worked to determine the regular rate, then pay 0.5x that rate for each overtime hour (since the salary already covers the straight-time portion).
Not all employees are entitled to overtime pay. Employees classified as "exempt" under the FLSA's white-collar exemptions are not covered. To qualify for an exemption, employees must generally meet both a salary test and a duties test.
Salary threshold (2026): Exempt employees must earn at least $684 per week ($35,568 annually). Highly compensated employees earning $107,432+ are exempt if they perform at least one executive, administrative, or professional duty.
The three main white-collar exemptions:
If you believe your employer has violated overtime laws, you have several options:
Employers who are found to have willfully violated overtime laws may also face civil money penalties up to $2,074 per violation.
Use our free overtime calculator to compute exact overtime pay for hourly and salaried workers in Alaska, including state-specific rules where applicable.
Open Alaska Overtime CalculatorUnder both federal FLSA and Alaska state law, overtime is triggered by both daily and weekly thresholds. Alaska requires overtime pay for hours worked beyond 8 in a single workday, in addition to the federal 40-hour weekly threshold.
Private-sector employees covered by the FLSA must receive cash overtime pay. Comp time in lieu of overtime is only permitted for state and local government employees. Private employers who substitute comp time for overtime pay are violating the FLSA, and any such agreement is unenforceable.
Alaska requires overtime pay for hours worked beyond 8 in a single workday, in addition to the federal 40-hour weekly threshold. An Alaska worker earning $18/hour who works 10 hours in one day earns: (8 x $18) + (2 x $27) = $144 + $54 = $198 for that day.