By Muhammad Habib. Last reviewed October 2026.
The short answer
No. Federal law doesn't make employers pay time and a half for working a holiday. It doesn't make them pay for holidays you don't work either. If your job pays extra on holidays, that comes from your employer, not from the government.
The U.S. Department of Labor says it plainly: the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) “does not require payment for time not worked, such as vacations or holidays (federal or otherwise),” and these benefits are generally a matter of agreement between the employer and the employee. It also says the FLSA “does not require overtime pay for work on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, or regular days of rest” unless overtime hours are worked on those days.
So why does my job pay extra on holidays?
Usually because someone agreed to it. There are three common places it comes from:
- Your employer's policy. The handbook may say holiday hours pay 1.5 times or 2 times your regular rate.
- A contract. A union agreement or your own employment contract can set the premium and the list of paid holidays.
- Your state or city. A few places add their own rules, so it's worth checking your state labor department. California, for example, doesn't list holiday premium pay as something employers must pay. Its overtime FAQ mentions it only as a payment that can be left out of the regular rate.
If someone told you holidays pay time and a half, it's usually in the handbook or a contract. Ask where it's written down.
How to work out holiday pay
Holiday pay = regular rate × premium × hours worked
| Regular rate | Time and a half (1.5×) | Double time (2×) |
|---|---|---|
| $15.00 | $22.50 | $30.00 |
| $20.00 | $30.00 | $40.00 |
| $25.00 | $37.50 | $50.00 |
| $30.00 | $45.00 | $60.00 |
To try your own rate and hours, use the time and a half calculator or the double time calculator.
What if it's also an overtime week?
Federal overtime is about hours worked over 40 in a workweek, not about which day they fall on. A holiday premium is a separate payment that your employer chooses to make. The Department of Labor's regular rate guidance says extra pay for holiday work can be left out of your regular rate if it's at least 1.5 times the rate for the same work on other days, and that this premium may count toward overtime pay that's due. Pay for a paid holiday you didn't work is also left out of the regular rate.
How your employer treats holiday hours in an overtime week depends on how the premium is set up, so ask payroll if the numbers look off. For the basics, see how overtime is calculated, and for how federal and state rules differ, see federal vs state overtime rules.
Questions to ask your boss or payroll
- Is this holiday on the paid-holiday list, and do I have to work the days before or after to qualify?
- Is the premium 1.5 times, 2 times or something else?
- Does it apply to every hour I work that day, or only some of them?
- What happens if my shift runs past midnight?
- Where is this written, in the handbook, my offer letter or a union contract?
Frequently asked questions
Is holiday pay time and a half?
Not by federal law. The Fair Labor Standards Act does not require holiday pay, or extra pay for working a holiday. Whether you get time and a half, double time or your normal rate is up to your employer's policy, a union contract or an agreement with you.
Do you legally get time and a half on holidays?
Not under federal law. The U.S. Department of Labor says the FLSA does not require overtime pay for work on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays or regular days of rest, unless those hours also count as overtime. Your employer, your contract or your state may give you more, so check yours.
Is holiday pay double time?
Only if your employer or contract says so. Federal law doesn't set a holiday rate. Some employers pay 1.5 times and some pay 2 times, but neither is required by the FLSA.
Do salaried employees get time and a half for holidays?
The same federal rule applies, which means no requirement for anyone. What a salaried employee gets for a holiday depends on the employer's policy or the employment agreement.
How do I calculate holiday pay at $20 an hour?
Multiply your hourly rate by the premium and by the hours you worked. For 8 hours at $20, straight time is $160.00, time and a half is $240.00 and double time is $320.00.
Sources: U.S. Department of Labor, Holiday Pay; U.S. Department of Labor, Overtime Pay; U.S. Department of Labor, Fact Sheet #56A: Regular Rate of Pay Under the FLSA; U.S. Department of Labor, Fact Sheet #23: Overtime Pay Requirements; California Department of Industrial Relations, Overtime FAQ. Rules reviewed October 2026. Federal employees, union members and some state or local workers may have extra rules. General information only, not legal advice.