Holiday Pay Calculator
Pick your company’s holiday policy and see what working the holiday actually pays compared with a normal shift.
Holiday premiums are set by employer policy or union contract — U.S. law doesn't require them.
How holiday pay actually works in the U.S.
There is a persistent myth that holidays legally pay extra. Under federal law (and in every state except limited Rhode Island rules), a holiday is an ordinary workday — premium pay exists only where an employer’s policy or a union contract provides it. The common policies are:
- Time and a half for hours worked on the holiday — the most common premium in retail, healthcare and hospitality.
- Double time — typical for major holidays in union environments.
- Regular pay + a floating day off — you work the holiday at normal rates and bank a paid day to use later.
- Time and a half + the paid holiday — you receive the 8-hour holiday benefit plus 1.5× for hours worked, an effective 2.5× day.
Worked example
You earn $18/hour and work an 8-hour Thanksgiving shift with a time-and-a-half policy: 8 × $27 = $216 — $72 more than a normal day. Under a “2.5× effective” policy it would be $360.
2026 U.S. federal holidays
| Holiday | 2026 date |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thu, Jan 1 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Mon, Jan 19 |
| Washington's Birthday (Presidents Day) | Mon, Feb 16 |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25 |
| Juneteenth | Fri, Jun 19 |
| Independence Day | Sat, Jul 4 (observed Fri, Jul 3) |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7 |
| Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day | Mon, Oct 12 |
| Veterans Day | Wed, Nov 11 |
| Thanksgiving | Thu, Nov 26 |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25 |
Federal holidays bind government offices and banks — private employers choose their own holiday list, commonly 7–11 of the above.
Frequently asked questions
Is holiday pay required by law?
No. The FLSA does not require premium pay — or any pay for unworked holidays — for private-sector employees. The main exception: Rhode Island requires time and a half for retail work on Sundays and certain holidays. Government and federal-contract work also carry holiday premium rules.
Do holiday hours count toward overtime?
Hours you work on a holiday count toward the 40-hour weekly threshold like any hours. But a paid unworked holiday does not — overtime counts only hours actually worked, so a week with a paid holiday plus 36 worked hours has no federal overtime.
Do part-time employees get holiday pay?
Only if policy provides it. Many employers prorate the holiday benefit by scheduled hours; others limit paid holidays to full-time staff. Premiums for hours actually worked on the holiday usually apply to everyone under the policy.
What happens when a holiday falls on a weekend?
Most employers observe it on the nearest weekday — Friday for a Saturday holiday (like July 4, 2026), Monday for a Sunday holiday. Premium-pay policies typically follow the observed date.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-20 · Report an issue