Overtime laws by state › Tennessee
Tennessee Overtime Laws (2026)
No state overtime law; the FLSA applies.
The rules
- Weekly: 1.5x the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek.
- Exempt salary floor: $684.00/week ($35,568.00/year) (federal FLSA level).
Statute: FLSA. Source: state agency page. As of October 25, 2026.
Worked example at $20.00/hour
Federal overtime deduction: $50.00 of this week's overtime is the half-time premium on hours over 40 that qualifies. Why
Who is covered
Overtime protections cover "non-exempt" employees. Most hourly workers are non-exempt. Salaried workers are exempt only if they earn at least $684.00 per week in Tennessee and their primary duties meet the executive, administrative, professional, computer or outside-sales tests. Independent contractors are not covered by overtime law at all, which is why misclassification claims often start as overtime claims.
How the regular rate works
Overtime is 1.5x the regular rate, which is all straight-time compensation for the week (hourly pay plus nondiscretionary bonuses, shift differentials and commissions) divided by hours worked. Discretionary bonuses, gifts, expense reimbursements and paid time off are excluded. An employee paid $20/hour with a $100 attendance bonus in a 50-hour week has a regular rate of $22.00, and ten overtime hours pay $33.00 each — not $30.00.
Federal baseline
The Fair Labor Standards Act requires 1.5x after 40 hours in a workweek for covered, non-exempt employees, with a $684.00/week salary floor for the white-collar exemptions. Where Tennessee law is more generous than the FLSA, the more generous rule applies; where it is less generous, the FLSA controls. Federal overtime rules
Sources
- Tennessee labor agency — overtime (FLSA)
- DOL Fact Sheet #23: Overtime Pay Requirements
- DOL Fact Sheet #17G: Salary Basis Requirement
Last reviewed October 25, 2026. Rules shown are for private-sector employees; public employers, agriculture, domestic work, healthcare and transportation carry separate exemptions.