2026 Pennsylvania Overtime Laws & Minimum Wage
Calculating your paycheck in Pennsylvania requires navigating the state's strict adherence to older minimum wage rules, while also enforcing incredibly strong protections against modern payroll loopholes. For detailed time tracking before calculation, you can generate a printable timesheet.
The $7.25 Wage Floor
Unlike neighboring states (like New York or Maryland) that have pushed their base pay to $15 or higher, Pennsylvania legislation has continuously failed to raise its minimum wage. As of 2026, Pennsylvania still follows the absolute federal minimums:
- Standard Minimum Wage: $7.25 per hour.
- Tipped Minimum Wage: $2.83 per hour (Employers must make up the difference if tips don't push the average to $7.25).
Overtime is strictly weekly. The Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act (PMWA) requires employers to pay 1.5 times the regular rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 in a single workweek. There is no daily overtime requirement.
The PA Supreme Court Ban on "Half-Time" Overtime
If you are paid a fixed weekly salary but are NOT a highly paid executive (making you a "Salaried Non-Exempt" worker), Pennsylvania is one of the best states in the country to work overtime.
In many U.S. states, federal law allows employers to use the Fluctuating Workweek (FWW) method. Under FWW, your fixed salary covers all hours worked. Your regular rate drops the more you work, and the boss only has to pay you an extra 0.5x (half-time) for overtime hours.
In the landmark case Chevalier v. General Nutrition Centers, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled the Fluctuating Workweek method strictly illegal under state law.
In Pennsylvania, your overtime rate must be calculated by dividing your weekly salary by exactly 40 hours, and then multiplying that stable rate by 1.5x for every hour over 40.
| Calculation Step | Federal FWW Method (Illegal in PA) | PA Legal Method (Used in our tool) |
|---|---|---|
| Base Hourly Rate | $600 ÷ 50 hours = $12.00/hr | $600 ÷ 40 hours = $15.00/hr |
| Overtime Multiplier | 0.5x (Half-Time) | 1.5x (Time-and-a-half) |
| Overtime Pay Owed | 10 hrs × $6.00 = $60.00 | 10 hrs × $22.50 = $225.00 |
| Total Paycheck | $660.00 | $825.00 |
If you suspect your employer is calculating your salary overtime incorrectly, run your numbers through the "Fixed Salary" tab in the calculator above. If the numbers don't match your paycheck, you may be a victim of wage theft.