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Shift Differential Calculator

Work out pay for night, evening and weekend shifts, and the overtime that goes with them, on the correct regular rate.

Web-based only. Everything is worked out in your browser. Nothing you type is saved or sent anywhere. No sign-up needed.

Enter the week's pay details

Example figures. Replace them with your own.

Estimated gross pay for the week

$981.67

45 hours worked, 5 of them overtime

Differential shift rate: $22.00/hr
Differential per hour: $2.00
Differential earned this week: $30.00
Regular rate for overtime: $20.6667
Overtime hours: 5
Overtime premium: $51.67
Total gross pay: $981.67

How we worked it out

Standard hours: 30 × $20.00$600.00
Differential hours: 15 × $22.00$330.00
Straight-time pay$930.00
Regular rate: $930.00 ÷ 45 hours$20.6667
Overtime premium: 5 × 0.5 × $20.6667$51.67
Gross pay$981.67

Things to check

The overtime premium includes the differential. Working it out on the base rate alone would underpay by $1.67 this week.

Rules used

Estimate only. Rates shown to up to 4 decimal places; pay rounded to the cent. Before taxes and deductions.

Important: please read

This calculator gives an estimate for general information only. It is not legal, tax, payroll or financial advice, and MadyHR.ai is not a law firm or a payroll provider. MadyHR.ai accepts no responsibility for decisions made using these results.

It uses the federal FLSA weekly overtime rule only. Your state may have its own rules, such as daily overtime, a higher minimum wage or rules for tipped workers. Results do not include taxes, deductions, bonuses or other pay that may also count toward the regular rate.

Always check the official sources linked on this page, or speak to the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, your state labor department or a qualified professional before you pay anyone.

What is a shift differential?

A shift differential is extra pay for working less popular hours, such as nights, evenings, weekends or holidays. It is usually paid as a set dollar amount on top of the base rate, such as $2.00 an hour, or as a percentage of the base rate, such as 10%.

Federal law does not make employers pay a shift differential. The Department of Labor treats extra pay for night work as something agreed between the employer and the employee or their representative. DOL, Night Work

Why the differential changes overtime

Once you pay a differential, it becomes part of the employee's regular rate. The federal rules say nightshift differentials must be included in the regular rate, whether they are a percentage or a set amount per hour. 29 CFR 778.207(b)

When someone works at two rates in one week, the regular rate is a weighted average: total straight-time pay divided by total hours worked. 29 CFR 778.115

Non-exempt employees covered by the FLSA must get at least 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. DOL, Overtime Pay Because every hour is already paid at its straight-time rate, this calculator adds the extra half (0.5 times the regular rate) for each overtime hour.

Worked example

An employee earns $20.00 an hour with a $2.00 night differential. They work 30 day hours and 15 night hours, which is 45 hours in the week.

Worked example: shift pay for the week, step by step
Step	Amount
Day hours: 30 × $20.00	$600.00
Night hours: 15 × $22.00	$330.00
Regular rate: $930.00 ÷ 45 hours	$20.6667
Overtime premium: 5 × 0.5 × $20.6667	$51.67
Gross pay for the week	$981.67

If the overtime were worked out on the $20.00 base rate alone, the premium would be $50.00, which underpays the employee by $1.67 for that week.

Paying overtime at the rate of the job

There is a narrow exception. If the employer and employee agree in advance, overtime hours can be paid at 1.5 times the rate for the work actually done during those hours, as long as certain conditions are met. 29 CFR 778.419 This calculator does not use that method. It uses the standard weighted-average method.

State rules to check

Some states have daily overtime. California, for example, requires overtime after 8 hours in a workday as well as after 40 hours in a week. California DIR, Overtime
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, and many states set a higher one. DOL, State Minimum Wage Laws
Some salaried employees are exempt from overtime, but only if they meet the duties and salary tests. DOL, Fact Sheet #17A

Frequently asked questions

Is shift differential pay required by law?

Not under federal law. The Department of Labor says extra pay for night work is a matter of agreement. A union contract, employment contract or company policy may still require it. DOL, Night Work

Does a shift differential count toward overtime?

Yes. It must be included in the regular rate, so it raises the overtime rate too. 29 CFR 778.207(b)

What is a typical shift differential?

There is no legal standard amount. Employers set their own, usually as a dollar amount per hour or a percentage of the base rate. Enter whatever your policy or contract says.

Can I pay the differential as a percentage?

Yes. Choose "% of base rate". A 10% differential on a $20.00 base rate adds $2.00 an hour. Either form counts toward the regular rate. 29 CFR 778.207(b)

Does this calculator save my data?

No. It runs only in your web browser. Nothing you type is stored or sent to MadyHR.ai or anyone else.

Is this calculator legal advice?

No. It gives an estimate for general information only. Please read the important notice above and check the official sources before you pay anyone.