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Salary & Work

Overtime Pay Calculator South Africa 2026

Work out your overtime pay under the BCEA — 1.5x your normal wage on weekdays, 2x on Sundays and public holidays — and check it against the legal limits.

✓ Updated with 2026 rates•✓ Free & no sign-up•✓ Instant results

Overtime pay calculator

Live estimate · BCEA rates · 2026

R

Your gross monthly wage

BCEA maximum is 45 hours/week for most workers

Paid at 1.5x normal rate (BCEA requirement)

Paid at 2x normal rate (or 1.5x if you normally work Sundays)

Paid at 2x normal rate

Total extra pay

R1 154.73

for this pay period

Normal hourly rate
R76.98
Overtime rate (1.5x)
R115.47
Weekday overtime pay
R1 154.73
Sunday pay (2x)
R0.00
Public holiday pay (2x)
R0.00
Grand total extra
R1 154.73

On a R15 000.00 monthly salary (45 hrs/week), your normal rate is about R76.98 per hour. Working 10 weekday overtime hours adds about R1 154.73 to your pay for this period.

Rate summary

Normal hourlyR76.98
Overtime (1.5x)R115.47
Sunday (2x)R153.96
Public holiday (2x)R153.96

BCEA overtime rules (South Africa)

  • Ordinary hours: maximum 45 per week
  • Overtime: maximum 10 hours per week, 12 hours total on any day
  • Weekday overtime: minimum 1.5x normal rate (time and a half)
  • Sundays & public holidays: 2x normal rate
  • Overtime is voluntary and must be agreed in writing

BCEA overtime rules don't apply to employees earning above the earnings threshold (R261,748.45/year from 1 April 2025), senior managers, or travelling sales staff. This is an independent estimate, not legal advice.

BCEA overtime rules in South Africa

Section 10 of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) sets the minimum overtime pay rates and limits. Employers must pay at least 1.5x (time and a half) for weekday overtime and 2x for work on Sundays and public holidays. Overtime is voluntary and must be agreed in writing.

Max 45 hours/week

Ordinary working hours may not exceed 45 hours per week before overtime applies.

Max 10 hours overtime/week

Overtime is capped at 10 hours per week and no more than 12 hours total on any single day.

1.5x weekday rate

The minimum overtime rate is time and a half — 1.5x your normal hourly wage.

2x Sunday & public holidays

Double pay applies to Sundays and public holidays when you would not ordinarily work.

Who is covered by the overtime rules?

✓ BCEA overtime applies to

Most employees earning below the BCEA earnings threshold (R261,748.45/year from 1 April 2025), including full-time, part-time, domestic and farm workers.

✕ Excluded from overtime pay

Senior managers, employees earning above the threshold, sales staff who travel and set their own hours, and workers doing less than 24 hours a month.

Overtime must be by agreement

Written agreement required

Overtime may only be worked by agreement between you and your employer. It should be in writing and may not exceed 10 hours per week unless covered by a collective agreement.

Time off instead of pay

By agreement, an employer may grant paid time off (1.5 hours off per overtime hour) instead of overtime pay, which must be taken within one month.

Know your rights

If overtime is underpaid

If your employer refuses to pay overtime correctly, contact the Department of Employment and Labour or refer the matter to the CCMA.

Keep records

Keep your own record of all hours worked — start and finish times and overtime — as evidence in case of a dispute over pay.

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to the most common questions.

How much is overtime pay in South Africa?
Under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), overtime must be paid at a minimum of 1.5 times (time and a half) your normal hourly wage. So if you earn R100 an hour, every overtime hour worked on a normal working day must be paid at least R150.
What is the overtime rate for Sundays and public holidays?
Work on a Sunday is paid at double (2x) your normal wage if you do not ordinarily work on Sundays, or at 1.5x if Sunday is part of your ordinary working week. For a public holiday you are paid your normal day's wage plus the hours worked — effectively double pay if you would not normally have worked that day.
What is the maximum overtime I can work in South Africa?
The BCEA limits overtime to a maximum of 10 hours per week and no more than 12 hours total (ordinary plus overtime) on any single day. Ordinary working hours are capped at 45 hours per week. These limits can only be varied by a collective agreement.
Is overtime compulsory in South Africa?
No. Overtime may only be worked by agreement between the employer and employee — your employer generally cannot force you to work overtime without your consent. The agreement should be in writing and stay within the BCEA limits.
Who is excluded from the BCEA overtime rules?
The overtime provisions do not apply to senior managerial employees, employees earning above the BCEA earnings threshold (R261,748.45 per year from 1 April 2025), sales staff who travel and regulate their own hours, and workers who work less than 24 hours a month. Sectoral determinations may also set different rules.

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