Timecard & Payroll Guides

Clear, accurate answers on calculating work hours, overtime pay, and payroll rules for hourly workers in the US.

43%
of US workers are paid biweekly
$20B+
in overtime wages paid annually
40 hrs
federal OT threshold per workweek
1.5×
minimum overtime multiplier (FLSA)

Why Timecard Accuracy Matters

For hourly workers, an error of just 15 minutes per day adds up to 65 hours of lost pay per year. Understanding how to read a timecard, calculate overtime correctly, and verify your pay stub can make a meaningful difference to your take-home pay.

These guides cover the rules most workers don't know: when overtime starts in California vs. federal law, why biweekly timesheets aren't just "80 hours divided by two," how to convert military time without a chart, and what every deduction on your pay stub actually means.

All guides are updated for 2025 and cover current FLSA rules, state-specific overtime laws, and federal payroll tax rates.

Browse All Guides

Practical guides covering overtime rules, timesheet formats, pay period types, and more.

Overtime

How to Calculate Overtime Pay — Complete FLSA Guide

Step-by-step overtime formulas, worked examples, exempt vs. non-exempt status, and how bonuses affect your overtime rate. Includes state-specific rules for California, Alaska, Nevada, and Colorado.

10 min read Updated July 2025
Timesheets

Biweekly Timesheet Calculator: Hours, OT & Pay Periods

How biweekly pay periods work, why overtime is calculated per workweek (not per 80-hour period), how to convert minutes to decimal hours, and how to read a sample two-week timecard.

9 min read Updated July 2025

Free Online Timecard Calculator

Calculate work hours, overtime, and gross pay instantly. Supports federal, California, Alaska, and Nevada overtime rules.

Open the Calculator →