How to Calculate Gross Pay
What is Gross Pay?
Gross pay is an employee's total earnings before any deductions — taxes, health insurance, retirement contributions, etc. It includes base salary plus overtime, bonuses, commissions, and tips. Net pay (take-home) is what remains after all deductions.
Step-by-Step Guide
- 1Hourly: Gross = Hours worked × Hourly rate + Overtime pay
- 2Overtime (US): 1.5× regular rate for hours over 40/week
- 3Salary: Annual gross / pay periods (26 for biweekly, 24 for semi-monthly)
- 4Gross - Deductions = Net pay
Worked Examples
Input
40 hours × $25/hr · 5 hours overtime
Result
Regular $1,000 + OT $187.50 = $1,187.50 gross
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