Shift differential calculator

A differential is extra pay for nights, weekends or on-call shifts. Enter your base rate and the differential as a percent or dollars.

Typical differentials

Evening shifts commonly add 5 to 10 percent, nights 10 to 20, and weekends a flat dollar or two an hour. Healthcare runs higher: nurses often see $3 to $8 an hour for nights and more for weekends. The differential is set by policy or contract, not by law.

The overtime mistake

A differential is part of your regular rate under the FLSA. Overtime on a night shift is 1.5 times the night rate, not 1.5 times base. At $20 base with a 10% differential, overtime is $33, not $30. If your stub shows $30, you're underpaid $3 for every overtime hour. Weeks that mix day and night shifts need the blended rate calculator.

Is the night shift worth it

Multiply the extra per shift by shifts a year. A $2 differential on five 8-hour nights a week is about $4,160 a year before tax. Compare that with the raise you'd need to match it using the pay raise calculator.