Under Kentucky overtime laws you earn after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate, and no daily overtime in Kentucky — only the weekly total counts. The minimum wage is $7.25. This guide gives the exact kentucky overtime laws rule with the date we verified it, the statute, and what to do next.
Rules verified against Kentucky Labor Cabinet, Division of Wages and Hours on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Kentucky Labor Cabinet, Division of Wages and Hours or an attorney before you rely on it.
Kentucky Overtime Laws at a Glance
| Minimum wage | $7.25 |
| Weekly overtime | After 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate |
| Daily overtime | No daily overtime in Kentucky — only the weekly total counts |
| Rate | 1.5 times the regular rate (double time only where the row says so) |
| State overtime statute | Yes |
In This Kentucky Overtime Laws Guide:
Kentucky Overtime Laws: The Rules
After 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate. No daily overtime in Kentucky — only the weekly total counts. The overtime rate is one and a half times your regular rate of pay — the regular rate includes non-discretionary bonuses and shift differentials, not just the base wage.
A separate 7th-day law pays time and a half for hours on the seventh day when you work all seven days of a workweek.
How to Calculate Overtime Under Kentucky Overtime Laws
Take your total pay for the week, divide by the hours you worked to get the regular rate, and multiply the overtime hours by 1.5 times that rate. A worker paid $7.25 an hour who works 48 hours in a 40-hour state is owed 8 hours at time and a half.
Salary does not mean exempt: a salaried worker below the exemption tests still gets overtime on the hours over the threshold.
Kentucky Overtime Laws at a Glance
Rules verified against Kentucky Labor Cabinet, Division of Wages and Hours on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Kentucky Labor Cabinet, Division of Wages and Hours or an attorney before you rely on it. The statute row is where to check it yourself.
| Minimum wage | $7.25 |
| Weekly overtime | After 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate |
| Daily overtime | No daily overtime in Kentucky — only the weekly total counts |
| Rate | 1.5 times the regular rate (double time only where the row says so) |
| State overtime statute | Yes |
Who Is Exempt From Kentucky Overtime Laws
Most workers in salaried executive, administrative and professional jobs are exempt from overtime in Kentucky, and so are outside salespeople, but only if their actual duties match the exemption. The state generally follows the federal test: the worker must be paid a fixed salary at or above the required minimum and mainly do exempt-level work. A job title alone does not make someone exempt.
Daily Overtime and Kentucky Overtime Laws
Kentucky has no daily overtime rule: a 12-hour day in a 36-hour week earns no premium, because only the weekly total counts. Private employers in Kentucky generally may not give comp time in place of overtime pay. State law lets only certain public employees, such as county employees, take comp time.
They must ask for it in writing of their own free will, and both sides must sign an agreement before the work is done.
Is Overtime Taxed Differently Under Kentucky Overtime Laws?
No — overtime is ordinary wages and is taxed at the same income-tax rates as the rest of your pay; it can push more of your pay into a higher withholding bracket on one check, but the annual tax rate does not change. Kentucky follows the federal tip-credit model. Overtime for a tipped worker is generally figured on the full minimum wage, not just the reduced cash wage.
Tips the worker actually received cannot be used to lower the overtime rate below what the law requires, so confirm the exact calculation with the agency.
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How to Claim Unpaid Overtime Under Kentucky Overtime Laws
A Kentucky worker can file an unpaid overtime complaint with the Kentucky Labor Cabinet’s Division of Wages and Hours using its online Employment Complaint Form, or the paper form mailed to the Division in Frankfort. You can also file with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division under federal law.
The look-back period is set by statute, so check the deadline shown on this page and confirm with the agency before you file. Pay stubs and your own record of hours make the claim stronger.
Other Kentucky Overtime Laws Rules to Know
Kentucky has a seventh-day rule: if an employer lets you work all seven days of a workweek, the hours on the seventh day are generally paid at time and a half, unless you are not allowed to work more than 40 hours that week. The state overtime law leaves out some retail, restaurant, hotel and motel workers, but federal overtime law may still cover them.
Each workweek counts on its own, and hours cannot be averaged across weeks.
Think you are owed overtime? The wage-claim agency takes the complaint for free.
Kentucky — the bottom line
- Kentucky overtime laws start the premium after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate — count the week, not the day.
- Under kentucky overtime laws the rate is 1.5 times the regular rate, and the regular rate includes your bonuses and differentials.
- Kentucky overtime laws are enforced by a free wage claim — you do not need a lawyer to recover unpaid overtime.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I get overtime under Kentucky overtime laws?
After 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate. No daily overtime in Kentucky — only the weekly total counts.
What is the overtime rate in Kentucky?
One and a half times your regular rate of pay, which includes non-discretionary bonuses and shift pay.
Does Kentucky have daily overtime?
No daily overtime in kentucky — only the weekly total counts.
Can my employer give comp time instead of overtime pay in Kentucky?
Private employers in Kentucky generally may not give comp time in place of overtime pay. State law lets only certain public employees, such as county employees, take comp time.
How do I claim unpaid overtime in Kentucky?
A Kentucky worker can file an unpaid overtime complaint with the Kentucky Labor Cabinet’s Division of Wages and Hours using its online Employment Complaint Form, or the paper form mailed to the Division in Frankfort. You can also file with the U.S.
Official Kentucky Sources & Resources
- Kentucky Labor Cabinet, Division of Wages and Hours: https://labor.ky.gov/standards/Pages/Wages-and-Hours.aspx
- Kentucky statute: A separate 7th-day law pays time and a half for hours on the seventh day when you work all seven days of a workweek.
- Verified source: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/state
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — state payday requirements: dol.gov
This kentucky overtime laws guide was last verified against official Kentucky sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current figure with the state agency or a licensed attorney.
More Kentucky Workplace Rights Guides
- Kentucky Break Laws: Meal and Rest Breaks
- Kentucky Final Paycheck Law: Deadlines and Penalties
- Kentucky Labor Laws: Every Rule in One Place
- Kentucky Unemployment Benefits: How Much and How Long
- Unemployment and Workplace Rights Guides for All 50 States
Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. My Unemployment Rights is an independent educational resource, not a government agency and not a law firm. Final-paycheck deadlines, penalties and non compete rules change — every figure here carries the date we verified it. Confirm the current rule with your state labor department or a licensed attorney before you act.