Ohio Overtime Laws: Threshold, Rate and Exemptions — Best Proven Guide (2026)

✓ Verified October 2026

Under Ohio overtime laws you earn after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate, and no daily overtime in Ohio — only the weekly total counts. The minimum wage is $11.00 (employers with $405,000 or more in gross receipts; $7.25 below that). This guide gives the exact ohio overtime laws rule with the date we verified it, the statute, and what to do next.

Rules verified against Ohio Department of Commerce, Bureau of Wage and Hour Administration on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Ohio Department of Commerce, Bureau of Wage and Hour Administration or an attorney before you rely on it.

Ohio Overtime Laws at a Glance

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Minimum wage $11.00 (employers with $405,000 or more in gross receipts; $7.25 below that)
Weekly overtime After 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate
Daily overtime No daily overtime in Ohio — only the weekly total counts
Rate 1.5 times the regular rate (double time only where the row says so)
State overtime statute Yes

Ohio Overtime Laws: The Rules

After 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate. No daily overtime in Ohio — 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.

⚠ Ohio overtime laws in one line: after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate. no daily overtime in Ohio — only the weekly total counts.

How to Calculate Overtime Under Ohio 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 $11.00 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.

Ohio Overtime Laws at a Glance

Rules verified against Ohio Department of Commerce, Bureau of Wage and Hour Administration on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Ohio Department of Commerce, Bureau of Wage and Hour Administration or an attorney before you rely on it. The statute row is where to check it yourself.

Minimum wage $11.00 (employers with $405,000 or more in gross receipts; $7.25 below that)
Weekly overtime After 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate
Daily overtime No daily overtime in Ohio — 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 Ohio Overtime Laws

Ohio’s overtime law uses the federal Fair Labor Standards Act exemptions. That means most salaried executives, administrators, learned or creative professionals, and outside sales workers are exempt, along with agricultural workers. White-collar exemptions generally apply only when the worker is paid a set salary at or above the federal salary test and does exempt duties. The employer has to prove an exemption applies.

Daily Overtime and Ohio Overtime Laws

Ohio 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 Ohio generally may not give comp time off instead of paying overtime. Comp time is mostly limited to public employers, under set guidelines.

Is Overtime Taxed Differently Under Ohio 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. Ohio allows employers to take a tip credit, but tips cannot be used to reduce what is owed for overtime.

Overtime for tipped workers is generally based on the full state minimum wage, not the lower cash wage, so confirm the calculation with the state agency.

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How to Claim Unpaid Overtime Under Ohio Overtime Laws

An Ohio worker can file an unpaid overtime complaint at no cost with the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Wage and Hour Administration, using its online complaint application. The worker can also go to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, or bring a private lawsuit, but cannot run the state complaint and a private case at the same time.

Back pay is generally limited to the state and federal look-back periods, so confirm the current deadline with the agency before filing.

Other Ohio Overtime Laws Rules to Know

Ohio law does not cover very small employers below a gross annual sales threshold, though those workers may still be covered by federal law. Since 2022 (Senate Bill 47), Ohio follows the federal rules that exclude normal commuting and certain preliminary and postliminary activities from paid time. Group overtime lawsuits must be opt-in, so each worker has to consent in writing to join.

Think you are owed overtime? The wage-claim agency takes the complaint for free.

Contact Ohio Department of Commerce, Bureau of Wage and Hour Administration

Ohio — the bottom line

  • Ohio 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 ohio overtime laws the rate is 1.5 times the regular rate, and the regular rate includes your bonuses and differentials.
  • Ohio 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 Ohio overtime laws?

After 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate. No daily overtime in Ohio — only the weekly total counts.

What is the overtime rate in Ohio?

One and a half times your regular rate of pay, which includes non-discretionary bonuses and shift pay.

Does Ohio have daily overtime?

No daily overtime in ohio — only the weekly total counts.

Can my employer give comp time instead of overtime pay in Ohio?

Private employers in Ohio generally may not give comp time off instead of paying overtime. Comp time is mostly limited to public employers, under set guidelines.

How do I claim unpaid overtime in Ohio?

An Ohio worker can file an unpaid overtime complaint at no cost with the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Wage and Hour Administration, using its online complaint application. The worker can also go to the U.S.

Official Ohio Sources & Resources

This ohio overtime laws guide was last verified against official Ohio sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current figure with the state agency or a licensed attorney.

More Ohio Workplace Rights Guides

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.

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