Shift Differential Pay Calculator
Add a night, evening or weekend shift differential to a base wage and see the boosted hourly rate and total pay.
How it works
Per-hour differential = base × pct% (or flat $) · Shift rate = base + differential · Total = shift rate × hours
A shift differential is extra pay for working less desirable hours — nights, evenings, weekends or on-call. It is expressed either as a percentage of the base wage (say +10%) or as a flat dollar amount per hour (say +$2.00). The differential applies only to the qualifying hours, so your effective rate on those hours is the base plus the premium.
Worked example
On an $18/hour base with a 10% night differential, the premium is $1.80/hour, giving a $19.80 shift rate. Over 40 night hours that is $792 total, of which $72 is the differential.
Frequently asked questions
Is a shift differential required by law?
No federal law requires it. Shift differentials are set by employer policy or union contracts to attract workers to nights, weekends and holidays. Where they exist, they must still be included when calculating the overtime regular rate.
Does the differential affect overtime pay?
Yes. Under the FLSA, shift differentials are part of the "regular rate of pay," so overtime must be figured on the base wage plus the differential, not on the base wage alone.
Percent or flat rate — which is better?
A percentage scales with the base wage, so higher-paid roles get a bigger premium; a flat amount gives every worker the same dollar boost. Employers choose based on fairness goals and payroll simplicity.
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Educational payroll estimate, not tax, payroll or legal advice. Rules and rates vary by jurisdiction and employer — confirm with your payroll department.