Alaska Wage & Hour Act
Alaska is one of the few states that recognizes daily overtime, similar to California but without the double-time tier.
Reviewed by the Time Card Maker editorial team:
Time-and-a-half (1.5x) must be paid for hours worked over 8 in a single day.
Time-and-a-half (1.5x) applies after 40 hours in a workweek.
Alaska law does not strictly require double-time pay.
Alaska Wage & Hour Act in plain language
Alaska’s general rule provides time-and-a-half after eight hours in a day or 40 hours in a week for covered employees. An approved voluntary flexible work-hour plan can permit specified schedules up to ten hours per day without the normal daily premium, but its requirements and schedule deviations matter.
Key terms for this calculation
- Daily overtime
- Premium hours created when covered work exceeds the general eight-hour daily threshold.
- Voluntary flexible work-hour plan
- A Department-approved arrangement with voluntary employee participation and a documented compressed schedule.
- Deviation
- Work outside an approved schedule, which can restore overtime obligations under applicable rules.
Alaska Wage & Hour Act: worked example
A covered employee earning $18 per hour works 10 hours in one day without an applicable approved flex plan.
- 8 regular hours × $18 = $144
- 2 overtime hours × $27 = $54
- Estimated daily wages = $144 + $54
$198 before deductions.
An approved flex plan, exemption, or industry-specific provision may change the daily calculation.
How employees and employers can use this page
Employee time-card review
Check whether a compressed schedule is part of an approved voluntary plan and whether the actual shift matched it.
Employer payroll review
Retain Department approval, participation records, the offered alternative schedule, and records of deviations.
Common calculation and recordkeeping errors
- Treating an informal 4×10 schedule as an approved plan.
- Missing daily overtime below 40 weekly hours.
- Substituting private-sector comp time for overtime wages.
Four-step overtime audit
- Confirm coverage.
- Confirm plan approval and participation.
- Compare hours with the approved schedule.
- Apply overtime to uncovered hours or deviations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an Alaska 4×10 schedule avoid daily overtime?
A qualifying voluntary flexible work-hour plan must meet detailed requirements and receive Department approval. An informal 4×10 schedule should not be assumed to qualify.
Related calculators and guides
Calculate Your Paycheck
Use our free calculator to see exactly how these rules apply to your hours. It automatically handles overtime math for Alaska Wage & Hour Act.
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