Under Tennessee overtime laws you earn no state weekly trigger — the federal FLSA rule: after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate, and no daily overtime in Tennessee — only the weekly total counts. The minimum wage is No state minimum wage; the federal $7.25 applies to FLSA-covered employers.
This guide gives the exact tennessee overtime laws rule with the date we verified it, the statute, and what to do next. Rules verified against Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Labor Standards Unit on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Labor Standards Unit or an attorney before you rely on it.
Tennessee Overtime Laws at a Glance
| Minimum wage | No state minimum wage; the federal $7.25 applies to FLSA-covered employers |
| Weekly overtime | No state weekly trigger — the federal FLSA rule: after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate |
| Daily overtime | No daily overtime in Tennessee — only the weekly total counts |
| Rate | 1.5 times the regular rate (double time only where the row says so) |
| State overtime statute | No |
In This Tennessee Overtime Laws Guide:
Tennessee Overtime Laws: The Rules
No state weekly trigger — the federal FLSA rule: after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate. No daily overtime in Tennessee — 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.
Tennessee has no state overtime law; the federal 40-hour rule applies.
How to Calculate Overtime Under Tennessee 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 No 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.
Tennessee Overtime Laws at a Glance
Rules verified against Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Labor Standards Unit on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Labor Standards Unit or an attorney before you rely on it. The statute row is where to check it yourself.
| Minimum wage | No state minimum wage; the federal $7.25 applies to FLSA-covered employers |
| Weekly overtime | No state weekly trigger — the federal FLSA rule: after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate |
| Daily overtime | No daily overtime in Tennessee — only the weekly total counts |
| Rate | 1.5 times the regular rate (double time only where the row says so) |
| State overtime statute | No |
Who Is Exempt From Tennessee Overtime Laws
Because Tennessee follows the federal FLSA, the main exempt jobs are salaried executives, administrative employees and learned or creative professionals, plus outside sales workers. Executives, administrative employees and professionals generally must pass both a duties test and the federal salary-basis and salary-level test under 29 CFR Part 541. Outside sales workers are exempt without a salary test. A job title alone does not make someone exempt.
Daily Overtime and Tennessee Overtime Laws
Tennessee 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 Tennessee generally may not give comp time in place of overtime pay, because the FLSA allows comp time only for public-sector employers. Most private-sector workers who are owed overtime must be paid for it in cash.
Is Overtime Taxed Differently Under Tennessee 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. Tennessee has no state minimum wage, so the federal tip credit rules apply.
Overtime for tipped workers is figured from the full federal minimum wage, not the reduced cash wage. Tips cannot be counted twice toward the overtime premium.
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How to Claim Unpaid Overtime Under Tennessee Overtime Laws
Tennessee has no state overtime law, and the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development sends overtime questions to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division. A worker can file a complaint with the Wage and Hour Division by phone or at a local office; there is no state claim form for overtime.
Back wages can only be recovered for the federal FLSA look-back period, so contact the Wage and Hour Division to confirm which pay periods still count.
Other Tennessee Overtime Laws Rules to Know
Tennessee has no daily overtime and no double-time rule. Overtime starts only after the federal weekly threshold in a single workweek. State law does require a meal or rest break for workers scheduled for a set number of consecutive hours. Break complaints go to the state Labor Standards Unit as a wage claim, but overtime complaints go to the federal Wage and Hour Division.
Think you are owed overtime? The wage-claim agency takes the complaint for free.
Contact Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Labor Standards Unit
Tennessee — the bottom line
- Tennessee overtime laws start the premium no state weekly trigger — the federal FLSA rule: after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate — count the week, not the day.
- Under tennessee overtime laws the rate is 1.5 times the regular rate, and the regular rate includes your bonuses and differentials.
- Tennessee 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 Tennessee overtime laws?
No state weekly trigger — the federal FLSA rule: after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate. No daily overtime in Tennessee — only the weekly total counts.
What is the overtime rate in Tennessee?
One and a half times your regular rate of pay, which includes non-discretionary bonuses and shift pay.
Does Tennessee have daily overtime?
No daily overtime in tennessee — only the weekly total counts.
Can my employer give comp time instead of overtime pay in Tennessee?
Private employers in Tennessee generally may not give comp time in place of overtime pay, because the FLSA allows comp time only for public-sector employers.
How do I claim unpaid overtime in Tennessee?
Tennessee has no state overtime law, and the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development sends overtime questions to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division.
Official Tennessee Sources & Resources
- Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Labor Standards Unit: https://www.tn.gov/workforce/employees/labor-laws.html
- Tennessee statute: Tennessee has no state overtime law; the federal 40-hour rule applies.
- 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 tennessee overtime laws guide was last verified against official Tennessee sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current figure with the state agency or a licensed attorney.
More Tennessee Workplace Rights Guides
- Tennessee Break Laws: Meal and Rest Breaks
- Tennessee Final Paycheck Law: Deadlines and Penalties
- Tennessee Labor Laws: Every Rule in One Place
- Tennessee 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.