Effective Dec 1 the rules change in the US for the "salaried" worker. There are tests that must be met in order to disqualify salaried workers from overtime. Many companies have not been following this and are going to be caught owing a lot of overtime to folks they are presently taking advantage of by paying a salary for more than 40 hour work.
I don't have the figures here a home but I believe a worker must make more than $900 a week and actually supervise more than one person. That's the best I can remember without looking at my notes at the office.
So to answer the question, Now (in the US) you may be better off being an hourly worker. At least until they change everything again.