Unpaid Wages Calculator — Estimate Missing Pay
Estimate wages for hours you actually worked but were not paid for, including missing hours, off-the-clock work, and unpaid training. Enter hours worked, hours paid, and the applicable hourly rate.
Formula: (hours worked − hours paid) × hourly rate. Example: 40 hours worked, 35 paid, at $18/hr = $90. For overtime, use the dedicated Overtime Pay Calculator rather than mixing regular and overtime rates.
On this page: Common scenarios · Unpaid overtime · Wage disputes · Underpaid vs unpaid · FAQ
Related help: Unpaid wages laws & employee rights · Unpaid overtime calculator · Unpaid breaks calculator · Meal break penalty pay
Unpaid hours: —
Estimated unpaid wages: —
Save this estimate: Email yourself a copy of your unpaid wage calculation (inputs + results) and general next-step info. No spam.
Legal context: Read about unpaid wages laws and employee rights before speaking with a labor board or employment attorney.
Common Unpaid Wages Scenarios This Calculator Covers
This calculator is best for situations where your pay is missing because the number of hours paid does not match the hours worked. Common examples include:
- Missing hours on a timesheet or paycheck
- Off-the-clock work (pre-shift, post-shift, closing tasks)
- Unpaid training time or required meetings
- Auto-deducted breaks that you actually worked through (see break tools below)
If your missing pay is mainly overtime-related, use the Overtime Pay Calculator. If your issue involves breaks, try the Unpaid Breaks Calculator or meal break penalty pay (where applicable).
Unpaid Overtime Is Better Calculated Separately
This calculator is designed for missing hours valued at one hourly rate. Overtime can require a different regular rate and multiplier, so combining regular and overtime hours in one input can produce the wrong estimate.
Use the Overtime Pay Calculator for a simple overtime estimate. If regular hours are missing too, calculate the straight-time shortage here and add the separately calculated overtime amount.
Under the federal FLSA, covered nonexempt employees generally receive at least 1.5 times the regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. State law can provide additional overtime protections.
How to Use This Estimate in a Wage Dispute
If you’re calculating back pay for a wage dispute, save your inputs and keep basic records so you can explain how you reached the number. A simple approach is:
- Write down the pay period dates you’re checking
- Record total hours worked vs hours paid for each period
- Multiply unpaid hours by your hourly rate
- Add totals across pay periods to estimate potential back pay
If your issue spans multiple pay periods (or includes repeated underpayments), use the Back Pay Calculator to estimate totals more clearly. For legal context, see unpaid wages laws and employee rights.
Official federal reference: U.S. DOL Fact Sheet #22 — Hours Worked.
What If I'm Being Underpaid (Not Just Missing Hours)?
This calculator focuses on missing hours — when you worked more hours than you were paid for. But what if you were paid for the correct hours, but at the wrong rate?
Rate underpayment scenarios:
- Paid below minimum wage — Use the Minimum Wage Underpayment Calculator
- Promised higher rate not honored — Calculate back pay using the Back Pay Calculator with rate differential
- Misclassified as exempt/contractor — See worker misclassification resources
- Overtime not paid at 1.5× — Use the Overtime Pay Calculator
Not sure if you're underpaid? Use the Minimum Wage Underpayment Calculator to check if your rate falls below the legal minimum, or the Back Pay Calculator if missing hours or PTO span a broader back-pay period.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are unpaid wages?
Unpaid wages are earnings for work that was performed but not fully paid. This calculator is best for missing hours valued at one hourly rate, such as off-the-clock work, unpaid training, or hours omitted from a paycheck.
How do I calculate unpaid wages?
For a simple missing-hours scenario, subtract hours paid from hours worked and multiply the unpaid hours by the applicable hourly rate.
How far back can you claim unpaid wages?
Filing deadlines depend on the law and claim type. For federal FLSA back-pay claims, a two-year period generally applies and a three-year period applies to willful violations. State deadlines can differ.
Can I claim unpaid wages after quitting or being fired?
Potentially. Leaving a job does not by itself erase wages already earned, although deadlines and remedies depend on the applicable law.
What if my employer refuses to pay missing wages?
Keep time records, pay stubs, schedules, and written communications. You can request a correction in writing and, if unresolved, review government wage-claim options or legal guidance for your jurisdiction.
Does this calculator include overtime pay?
No automatic overtime premium is applied. Use the Overtime Pay Calculator for a simple overtime estimate because overtime can require a different regular rate and threshold.
What's the difference between unpaid wages and rate underpayment?
Unpaid wages often means missing work time. Rate underpayment means hours were paid but at a rate below the applicable rate. Use the Minimum Wage Underpayment Calculator for a direct minimum-wage rate shortfall or the Back Pay Calculator for broader past underpayments.
Is unpaid wage compensation taxable?
When unpaid wages are later paid, they are generally treated as wage compensation for tax purposes. Withholding and reporting can depend on the payment and jurisdiction.
Is this unpaid wages calculator legally accurate?
This is a mathematical estimate for informational use. It does not determine legal entitlement, overtime regular-rate rules, penalties, damages, exemptions, or filing deadlines.
Not sure which calculator fits your situation? See all wage and pay calculators.