Overtime calculator (El Salvador)
Calculate the pay for your day or night overtime hours in El Salvador with the 100% surcharge and the 25% night-work surcharge from the Labor Code.
What this calculator does
This calculator estimates your overtime pay in El Salvador under the Labor Code (Código de Trabajo). A day overtime hour pays a 100% surcharge on the basic hourly wage (art. 169); for a night overtime hour, the 25% night-work surcharge (art. 168) is applied first, and the 100% surcharge on top of that.
It shows the full breakdown: your ordinary hourly wage, the night hourly wage when it applies, the rate of each overtime hour, and the total pay for the hours worked.
Who it is for
- Employees who worked overtime and want to verify how much they should receive.
- Employers who need to calculate the correct pay for extraordinary hours.
- People weighing whether an extra shift is worth it, comparing the overtime rate to the ordinary one.
- Accountants and payroll staff reviewing overtime payments.
What information you need
- Your ordinary monthly salary, before deductions.
- The hours of your ordinary daily shift (8 hours is the maximum day shift; 7 the night shift, per art. 161).
- How many overtime hours you worked and whether they were day or night hours.
- The 100% and 25% surcharges are already configured per the Labor Code; you do not need to enter them.
How it is calculated
The ordinary hourly wage is the monthly salary divided by 30 days and by the daily shift hours. This is the usual calculation convention: the law does not set a single conversion formula.
For a day overtime hour, the ordinary hourly wage is multiplied by 2 (the 100% surcharge of art. 169).
For a night overtime hour, the ordinary hourly wage is first multiplied by 1.25 (the night surcharge of art. 168) and that result by 2. This is the standard practical interpretation of combining both articles.
The total is the overtime rate times the number of hours. Each line is rounded to 2 decimal places (half up).
Formula
- Ordinary hourly wage
hourly = monthly salary ÷ 30 ÷ daily hours- Day overtime hour (art. 169)
overtime rate = hourly × 2- Night overtime hour (arts. 168 and 169)
overtime rate = hourly × 1.25 × 2- Total pay
total = overtime rate × overtime hours worked
Worked example
You earn $720 per month on an 8-hour day shift and worked 5 night overtime hours.
- Ordinary hourly wage: $720 ÷ 30 ÷ 8 = $3.00.
- Night hourly wage: $3.00 × 1.25 = $3.75.
- Night overtime rate: $3.75 × 2 = $7.50.
- Total pay: $7.50 × 5 = $37.50.
The 5 night overtime hours pay $37.50. The same hours on a day shift would pay $6.00 each: $30.00 in total.
How to interpret the result
A day overtime hour is worth double your ordinary hour; a night one, 2.5 times. That pay is added to your ordinary salary for the period.
The result is gross pay: ISSS, AFP, and ISR withholding are applied afterwards to your income for the month.
Overtime is exceptional by law: the ordinary shift is capped at 8 day hours or 7 night hours (art. 161).
Common mistakes
- Paying a night overtime hour with only the 100% surcharge, forgetting to apply the 25% night surcharge first.
- Calculating the ordinary hourly wage with the days actually worked (for example 22) instead of the 30-day convention for monthly salaries.
- Using this calculator for the weekly rest day or public holidays: those carry their own surcharges (+50% plus a compensatory day, and +100%, arts. 175 and 192) which are not included.
- Forgetting that overtime pay is taxable income: it is also subject to contributions and may increase your ISR withholding.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an overtime hour pay in El Salvador?
An overtime hour pays a 100% surcharge on the basic hourly wage (art. 169 of the Labor Code): that is, double your ordinary hour. If it is also a night hour, the minimum 25% night-work surcharge (art. 168) is applied first.
How is my ordinary hourly wage calculated?
The usual convention divides the monthly salary by 30 days and by the daily shift hours. With $600 per month and an 8-hour shift: $600 ÷ 30 ÷ 8 = $2.50 per hour. The law does not set a single formula, so practice may vary between companies.
What is the maximum length of the ordinary shift?
Per art. 161 of the Labor Code, the ordinary day shift may not exceed 8 hours per day or 44 per week, and the night shift may not exceed 7 hours per day or 39 per week.
What if I work on my rest day or on a public holiday?
Those are different surcharges this calculator does not include: work on the weekly rest day pays an extra 50% plus a paid compensatory rest day (art. 175), and work on a public holiday pays an extra 100% (art. 192).
Is overtime pay subject to ISSS, AFP, and ISR?
Yes. Overtime is part of your taxable remuneration: it is subject to ISSS and AFP contributions and enters the ISR withholding base for the period. This calculator shows the gross overtime amount.
Sources
- Código de Trabajo de El Salvador, arts. 161–175 y 190–194 (texto completo) — Organización Internacional del Trabajo (espejo del texto oficial) (Art. 161: day shift max 8 h/day and 44 h/week; night shift max 7 h/day and 39 h/week. Art. 168: night work ≥ 25% over equal day work. Art. 169: overtime pays a 100% surcharge on the basic hourly salary. Art. 175: rest-day work pays +50% plus a paid compensatory rest day. Art. 192: holiday work pays +100%. See docs/research/sv-labor-rules.md, section 7.)
- Código de Trabajo El Salvador 2026 — guía laboral — Finiquito Justo (Current secondary corroboration that the surcharge percentages remain in force.)
- Calculadora de salario 2025 El Salvador — guía de recargos — Eserpas (Secondary corroboration of overtime and night surcharges.)
- Last reviewed:
- July 21, 2026
- Calculation version:
- 1.0.0
Important notice
The results of these calculators are informative estimates and may differ from official calculations. They do not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Always verify with the competent institutions or a professional.