Holiday Pay Calculator
Enter your hourly rate, hours worked, and the holiday multiplier. See your total holiday earnings and the difference from a regular day.
Your regular hourly pay rate
Hours you'll work (or worked) on the holiday
Your employer's holiday pay rate
How many holidays to calculate total pay for
Results are estimates based on common PTO policies. Actual employer policies and state laws may differ. Full disclaimer.
How it works
Enter your hourly rate (or salary for automatic conversion), the hours you'll work on the holiday, and your employer's premium rate multiplier. The calculator shows your holiday earnings, how much extra you earn compared to a regular day, and total pay across multiple holidays.
Holiday Hourly Rate = Regular Rate × Multiplier
Holiday Earnings = Holiday Rate × Hours Worked
Extra Earned = Holiday Earnings − Regular Day Earnings
Holiday pay rates
Holiday pay multipliers determine how much extra you earn for working on designated holidays:
| Rate | Multiplier | $20/hr Example (8 hrs) | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | 1.0× | $160 | Normal workday |
| Time and a half | 1.5× | $240 | Most common holiday rate |
| Double time | 2.0× | $320 | Major holidays (Christmas, Thanksgiving) |
| Double time and a half | 2.5× | $400 | Some union contracts |
| Triple time | 3.0× | $480 | Rare; some healthcare/emergency |
Federal vs. Employer Holiday Pay Rules
A common misconception is that holiday pay (premium rates) is required by law. Here's the reality:
- No federal requirement: The FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act) does not require extra pay for working on holidays, Saturdays, or Sundays
- Employer discretion: Premium holiday pay is a voluntary benefit offered by employers to attract and retain workers
- State laws: Massachusetts and Rhode Island have laws requiring premium pay for certain retail workers on Sundays and holidays (though MA is phasing this out)
- Union contracts: Collective bargaining agreements often guarantee specific holiday pay rates
Example Calculation
A retail worker scheduled for Thanksgiving and Black Friday:
- Hourly rate: $18.00
- Thanksgiving hours: 8 hours at double time (2×)
- Black Friday hours: 10 hours at time-and-a-half (1.5×)
Thanksgiving earnings:
- Holiday rate: $18 × 2.0 = $36/hour
- Day total: $36 × 8 = $288
- Extra vs. regular: $288 − $144 = +$144 extra
Black Friday earnings:
- Holiday rate: $18 × 1.5 = $27/hour
- Day total: $27 × 10 = $270
- Extra vs. regular: $270 − $180 = +$90 extra
Two-day total: $558 (vs. $324 at regular rate = $234 extra earned)
Federal holidays (2025)
While private employers are not required to observe these, most offer paid time off on at least 6 of the 11 federal holidays:
| Holiday | 2025 Date | % Employers Offering |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1 | 93% |
| MLK Day | Jan 20 | 44% |
| Presidents' Day | Feb 17 | 41% |
| Memorial Day | May 26 | 93% |
| Independence Day | Jul 4 | 97% |
| Labor Day | Sep 1 | 93% |
| Thanksgiving | Nov 27 | 97% |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25 | 97% |
Holiday pay and overtime
An important distinction: holiday premium pay (e.g., time-and-a-half for working Christmas) is separate from overtime pay (time-and-a-half for hours over 40/week). In most cases:
- Hours actually worked on a holiday do count toward the 40-hour overtime threshold
- If you work 40+ total hours in a week that includes a holiday, you may receive both holiday premium AND overtime, sometimes called "double-time-and-a-half"
- Holiday pay for time NOT worked (paid day off) typically does NOT count toward overtime hours
For example, if you work 42 hours in a week and 8 of those were on a holiday at 1.5× rate, you'd get holiday premium for 8 hours AND regular overtime for 2 additional hours.
Related Guides
- Is PTO Payout Taxable? · How supplemental wages like holiday pay are taxed.
- PTO for Hourly Employees · How per-hour PTO accrual works.
- How Is PTO Calculated? · Complete guide to paid time off calculations.
Track your overall PTO balance
See how many PTO hours you're accruing each pay period and plan your time off.
Try PTO Calculator →Holiday Pay Calculator — FAQ
- Is holiday pay time and a half?
- There is no federal law requiring premium pay for working on holidays. However, many employers voluntarily offer time-and-a-half (1.5×), double time (2×), or other premium rates for holiday work. Some union contracts and state laws (especially for retail workers) may require premium holiday pay. Always check your employer's policy or collective bargaining agreement.
- How is holiday pay calculated?
- Holiday pay is calculated by multiplying your hourly rate by the holiday premium multiplier, then by hours worked. For time-and-a-half: $25/hour × 1.5 × 8 hours = $300. For double time: $25/hour × 2.0 × 8 hours = $400. Some employers also provide regular holiday pay (8 hours at normal rate) in addition to worked hours.
- Do salaried employees get extra holiday pay?
- Typically no. Exempt (salaried) employees receive their regular salary regardless of holidays. If you work on a holiday, you may receive a 'comp day' (compensatory day off) or additional pay at your employer's discretion, but it's not legally required. Non-exempt salaried employees may be entitled to overtime rates if total weekly hours exceed 40.
- What holidays qualify for holiday pay?
- There are no federally mandated paid holidays for private-sector workers. However, the most common paid holidays are: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Many employers also include MLK Day, Presidents' Day, Veterans Day, and the day after Thanksgiving.
- Does holiday pay count toward overtime?
- If you actually work on the holiday, those hours count toward your weekly total for overtime calculation. However, if you receive holiday pay without working (a paid day off), most employers do not count those 8 hours toward the 40-hour overtime threshold. Policies vary, so check your employee handbook.
- Do part-time employees get holiday pay?
- Federal law doesn't require holiday pay for any employees. However, many employers offer prorated holiday pay for part-time workers. For example, if you regularly work 4 hours on the day the holiday falls, you might receive 4 hours of holiday pay instead of 8. Some employers offer full holiday pay even to part-timers who normally work that day.
Related Calculators
- PTO Payout Calculator · Find out how much your unused PTO is worth when you leave a job, get laid off, or cash out accrued time.
- PTO Calculator · Calculate your total paid time off accrual based on your employer's policy, hours worked, and accrual rate.