Overtime Pay in Tennessee
State-specific overview · Employment Law
Tennessee has no state overtime law and relies solely on federal FLSA requirements for overtime compensation.
How Tennessee treats Overtime Pay
Tennessee does not impose its own overtime pay mandate and defaults to the federal FLSA standard of 1.5 times regular pay for hours exceeding 40 per week. The state does not require overtime pay for daily hours worked or for work on weekends or holidays unless those hours push the weekly total over 40. Employers need only meet federal overtime obligations.
The general definition of Overtime Pay
Compensation at an increased rate for hours worked beyond the standard workweek, typically 1.5 times the regular wage.
Overtime pay is extra compensation that employers must provide when employees work more than a certain number of hours per week, usually 40 hours. Under federal law, overtime must be paid at one and a half times the employee's regular hourly rate (called "time and a half"). Some states require overtime for hours over 8 in a single day or for the seventh consecutive day worked. Certain employees, like managers and salaried professionals, may be exempt from overtime requirements. Employers who fail to pay overtime owe back wages plus penalties.
Read the full Overtime Pay entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in Tennessee.