Back Pay Calculator

By ToolsHub360 Team · Last updated: October 2026

Estimate unpaid regular and eligible overtime wages across affected pay periods.

Total gross wages owed

$760.00

Regular back pay: $400.00
Overtime back pay: $360.00
Overtime rate: $30.00

Assumes the same unpaid hours each period and the full 1.5× wage for eligible unpaid overtime hours. Excludes damages, interest, and taxes.

How the calculation works

Regular back pay = unpaid regular hours × hourly rate × affected periods. Overtime back pay = unpaid overtime hours × hourly rate × 1.5 × affected periods. Total owed = regular back pay + overtime back pay.

Worked example

At $20 an hour with five unpaid regular hours and three unpaid overtime hours in each of four pay periods, regular back pay is $20 × 5 × 4 = $400. Overtime back pay is $20 × 1.5 × 3 × 4 = $360. The combined gross wages estimate is $760 before taxes or any additional remedies.

Reconstruct missing wages by pay period

Enter the hourly rate, unpaid regular hours, unpaid overtime hours, and the number of affected pay periods. The hours are assumed to repeat in every period. If your missing hours differ from period to period, calculate each period separately and add the resulting totals. This prevents a single unusually busy week from being multiplied across an entire dispute.

Regular pay uses your entered hourly rate. Eligible overtime uses one and a half times that rate, a common federal baseline for hours above 40 in a workweek for covered nonexempt employees. Overtime eligibility and the correct regular rate can be more complicated when bonuses, commissions, state law, or multiple rates apply. Use pay records to identify the workweek in which each hour occurred.

For example, four periods with five missing regular hours and three overtime hours each at $20 an hour yield $400 regular and $360 overtime, or $760 gross. The displayed overtime amount is the full 1.5-times wage for unpaid overtime hours. If the employer already paid straight time for those hours, only an additional half-time premium may remain due; do not claim the full amount twice.

Keep evidence for the correct calculation

Compare timecards, schedules, messages, and wage statements to find the hours that were worked but not paid. Record dates and the pay period for each entry. A pay stub can show an overtime premium separately from straight-time wages, so inspect all line items before concluding that an hour was completely unpaid.

The number of pay periods is a multiplier, not a count of weeks used to determine overtime eligibility. Under federal law, overtime is generally assessed by workweek, even when pay is issued every two weeks. An employee who works 45 hours one week and 35 the next generally cannot average those to avoid overtime under the federal weekly rule. Your facts and state rules may change the outcome.

Back pay can include more than missing hourly wages in a particular case, such as incorrectly calculated regular rates or missed minimum wage. This tool covers only the entered regular and 1.5-times overtime hours. It does not apply interest, penalties, attorney fees, liquidated damages, or taxes. Keep a separate record of anything that requires a different calculation.

Know the limits of a rough claim estimate

Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, claims for unpaid wages commonly have a two-year limitations period, extended to three years for a willful violation. State laws may provide different deadlines and remedies. The relevant dates and legal basis matter, so do not assume a calculator result determines how far back you can recover wages.

The FLSA may allow liquidated damages equal to unpaid wages in some cases, but exceptions and legal findings matter. The total here is wages only; it intentionally does not double the number. Talk with the US Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, a state labor agency, or a qualified attorney about remedies that may apply to your situation.

You can first request a corrected paycheck with a clear list of dates and missing hours. Keep copies of your records and any employer response. Filing a wage complaint or pursuing a legal claim involves procedures and deadlines outside this tool. The estimate is gross, before payroll withholding, and cannot replace advice about classification, overtime exemptions, or retaliation protections.

Related calculators and guides

Reviewed for accuracy by the ToolsHub360 Team in October 2026. Results are estimates for planning; verify your actual pay and applicable rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is back pay?

Back pay is wages that should have been paid for earlier work but were not. The estimate here adds entered unpaid regular and eligible overtime hours.

Is there a time limit to claim back pay?

Federal FLSA claims commonly have a two-year limit, or three years for willful violations; state deadlines may differ. Ask a qualified adviser about your dates.

What are liquidated damages under the FLSA?

In some cases, additional damages equal to unpaid wages may be available. They are not included in this wage-only estimate and depend on legal facts.

How do I claim unpaid wages?

Gather time and pay records, request correction, and consider contacting the US Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, a state labor agency, or an attorney.