In Ontario, overtime kicks in after 44 hours in a week, so someone on $25 an hour who works 50 hours earns $225 of overtime. Pick where you work, then enter your wage and schedule, and the overtime calculator gives you the hours, the rate and the week’s pay.
When does overtime start where you live?
There’s no national rule. Some provinces look only at the weekly total and others also count long days, in which case you get whichever measure produces more overtime. Time and a half is the usual premium. British Columbia adds double time after 12 hours in one day.
| Where | Overtime starts after | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | 44 hours a week | 1.5 times |
| Quebec | 40 hours a week | 1.5 times |
| British Columbia | 8 hours a day or 40 a week | 1.5 times, 2 times after 12 hours a day |
| Alberta | 8 hours a day or 44 a week | 1.5 times |
| Saskatchewan | 8 hours a day or 40 a week | 1.5 times |
| Manitoba | 8 hours a day or 40 a week | 1.5 times |
| New Brunswick | 44 hours a week | 1.5 times the minimum wage |
| Nova Scotia | 48 hours a week | 1.5 times |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 40 hours a week | 1.5 times the minimum wage |
| Federal employers | 8 hours a day or 40 a week | 1.5 times |
How much is a week at $25 an hour?
Start with the default: five 10-hour days in Ontario. That’s 50 hours, 44 regular and 6 overtime. Regular pay is $1,100, overtime is $225 at $37.50 an hour, and the week comes to $1,325.
Same schedule in Alberta? Every day past 8 hours counts, so 10 hours are overtime, not 6. Overtime pay is $375 and the week is $1,375. Now try British Columbia with four 13-hour days. That’s 52 hours: 32 regular, 16 at time and a half and 4 at double time. Overtime pay is $800 and the week totals $1,600.
Does the province change a plain 45-hour week?
It does, and it’s worth seeing because the numbers look so close. Sam works five 9-hour days at $25 an hour, which is 45 hours.
- In Ontario the limit is 44 a week, so only 1 hour is overtime. Pay is $1,100 plus $37.50, or $1,137.50.
- In Manitoba the limit is 40 a week and 8 a day. Each day has an hour over 8, so overtime is 5 hours. Pay is $1,000 plus $187.50, or $1,187.50.
Same wage, same hours, and a $50 swing on the paycheque.
Why might your paycheque differ?
The tool applies the plain statutory rule to a single week. Real payrolls bend it.
- An averaging agreement spreads hours over several weeks, so a long week may carry no overtime at all.
- Time off in lieu can replace cash in many provinces, if you agree in writing.
- Managers, some professionals and certain farm or sales roles are often excluded from the rules.
- A union contract can set a lower threshold or a higher premium.
Ontario’s guide to overtime pay under the Employment Standards Act spells out how that works there. Banked time is paid at 1.5 hours off for every overtime hour, and an averaging agreement can spread hours over two to four weeks. A fortnight of 50 hours and then 38 averages out at exactly 44 a week, so no overtime is owed at all, even though the first week looks long.
New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador are the odd ones. There the legal overtime rate is built on the minimum wage, not on your own wage, so a well-paid worker may see a lower rate than elsewhere. In New Brunswick that floor is $23.85 an hour (1.5 times $15.90), which is less than a $25 regular wage. Your employer can still pay more, by choice or by contract. So treat the result as a floor, not a ceiling.
What do you keep after tax?
Overtime is taxed like any other pay, so a big week can look smaller once deductions come off. Run the total through the take-home pay calculator to see what lands in your account. The minimum wage calculator checks the wage floor for your area. Working a public holiday? That’s a separate premium, and the holiday pay calculator covers it. And if you want a yearly figure from an hourly rate, try the hourly to salary calculator.
The sources behind this page
From the labour standards pages of each province and the federal labour code, as of 29 September 2026. Rules for Prince Edward Island and the territories are less certain, so check with the local labour office. Nova Scotia’s 48-hour limit is the rule in force today. This is an independent site, and no government body is behind it.
About this calculator
- What it does
- Work out overtime hours and pay for a week using the rules of your province or territory.
- Category
- Payroll and Salary
- Last checked
- September 30, 2026
- Result type
- Estimate for information only, not tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
How is overtime pay calculated in Canada?
Multiply your regular hourly wage by 1.5, then by the overtime hours. Most provinces use that rate, and British Columbia pays double after 12 hours in a day.
How many hours before overtime starts?
It's 44 hours a week in Ontario, 40 in Quebec and 48 in Nova Scotia. Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan also count hours over 8 in a day.
Do salaried employees get overtime?
Often, yes, unless the job is exempt, as many management roles are. Divide the salary by the hours you work to find the base rate.
Can my employer give time off instead of pay?
In many provinces that's allowed with a written agreement. Ontario, for example, requires 1.5 hours off for each overtime hour.
Why is the rate lower in New Brunswick?
The legal rate there is 1.5 times the minimum wage, which is $23.85 an hour, not 1.5 times your own wage.
Sources and updates
Updated: . How we check rates · Editorial team · Updates