Calculate your overtime pay in Owensboro based on your hourly rate and hours worked, using the federal FLSA 40-hour rule for 2026.
Last updated: May 2026 · Data: MIT Living Wage Calculator, C2ER, U.S. Census, BLS, IRS, state and city sources
Applicable minimum wage in Owensboro: $7.25/hour
Kentucky follows the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and the state wage-and-hour law, both of which require 1.5x the regular rate for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek. Kentucky has no general daily overtime requirement, but it does require 1.5x pay for hours worked on the seventh consecutive day in a workweek.
| Rule | Owensboro (KY) Requirement |
|---|---|
| Weekly overtime threshold | 40 hours/week (1.5x) |
| Daily overtime | Not required (no daily overtime in Kentucky) |
| Double time | Not required under state or federal law |
| Seventh consecutive day | 1.5x for the seventh consecutive day worked |
| Applicable minimum wage | $7.25/hour |
| Federal overtime rate | 1.5x regular rate (FLSA) |
Your overtime rate is based on your regular rate of pay, which includes hourly wages and most non-discretionary bonuses. For example, at $18.00/hour a standard 1.5x overtime hour pays $27.00.
Owensboro is the fourth-largest city in Kentucky, on the Ohio River in the western part of the state, with an economy built on healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture and grain processing, and a riverfront revitalized around bluegrass music and barbecue tourism.
| Local Metric | Owensboro (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| Metro population | 60,000 |
| County / jurisdiction | Daviess County |
| Cost of living index (US avg = 100) | 75 |
| MIT living wage, single adult | $17.75/hour |
| MIT living wage, one earner supporting a family of four | $37.00/hour |
| Applicable minimum wage | $7.25/hour |
| Average rent, 1-bedroom | $800/month |
| Average rent, 2-bedroom | $1,000/month |
| Median home price | $190,000 |
| Median household income | $50,000/year |
| Combined sales tax rate | 6% |
| Effective property tax rate | 0.85% of value/year |
Local figures are 2026 estimates compiled from the MIT Living Wage Calculator, the C2ER Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census and Zillow housing data, and city and county sources. Verify current figures before relying on them.
In Owensboro, Kentucky follows the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and the state wage-and-hour law, both of which require 1.5x the regular rate for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek. Kentucky has no general daily overtime requirement, but it does require 1.5x pay for hours worked on the seventh consecutive day in a workweek. Overtime is based on your regular rate of pay, which includes most non-discretionary bonuses, not just your base hourly wage.
The applicable minimum wage in Owensboro is $7.25/hour. Kentucky has not raised its minimum wage above the federal floor and prevents cities from setting their own, so the federal minimum of $7.25/hour applies to most private employers in Owensboro. Overtime must be at least 1.5x your regular rate, and if your rate is higher than the minimum, overtime is figured on your actual rate.
No general daily overtime, but Kentucky has a seventh-day rule. Workers in Owensboro earn overtime after 40 hours in a workweek under the federal FLSA, and Kentucky law also requires 1.5x for hours worked on the seventh consecutive day in a single workweek.
Salaried executive, administrative, and professional employees who earn above the FLSA salary threshold ($684/week) and meet the duties tests are generally exempt, as are most independent contractors. Kentucky generally follows the federal exemption rules and salary threshold. Check with an employment attorney for your situation.
Overtime is taxed as ordinary wages. New for 2026, the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act lets eligible non-exempt workers deduct up to $12,500 ($25,000 for joint filers) of overtime pay from federal taxable income. Kentucky taxes overtime as ordinary income at its flat 4% rate and has not adopted a matching state deduction. Consult a tax professional to confirm eligibility.