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Shift Differential Pay Calculator

Calculate premium pay for night, evening, or weekend shifts. Add a flat or percent differential and fold it into your FLSA overtime rate.

Shift differential pay

Added on top of your base rate for every shift hour.

Day-shift hours at your base rate. Use 0 if every hour carries the differential.

Overtime settings

The federal FLSA threshold is 40 hours per week at a 1.5x multiplier. The differential is folded into the regular rate before overtime is applied.

Gross pay this week

$1,196.00

48 hours at a $23.00/hr shift rate (base $20.00 plus $3.00 differential).

Pay breakdown

ComponentHow it is figuredPay
Base straight pay48 hr x $20.00$960.00
Differential premium48 hr x $3.00$144.00
Overtime premium8 hr x 0.5 x $23.00$92.00
Gross pay48 hr total$1,196.00

FLSA regular rate

$23.00/hr

Weighted average of base and shift pay. Overtime is based on this rate.

Effective rate

$24.92/hr

Gross pay divided by total hours worked.

Overtime hours

8

Hours over the 40-hour straight-time block, paid at 1.5x.

Differential adds

$156.00

Extra pay from the differential, including its lift to your overtime premium.

Annual gross

$62,192

If every one of 52 weeks looked like this.

Monthly equivalent

$5,183

Annual gross divided by 12.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Shift Differential Pay Calculator

What is a shift differential?
A shift differential is extra pay for working less desirable hours, such as evenings, overnight, or weekends. It is usually quoted as a flat amount per hour (for example, an extra $3.00 per hour) or as a percentage of your base rate (for example, a 15 percent night premium). Your shift rate is simply your base rate plus the differential.
How does a shift differential affect overtime pay?
Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), a shift differential is part of your regular rate of pay, so it must be included when overtime is calculated. When you work more than 40 hours in a week, the differential raises the regular rate that overtime is based on, which makes your overtime premium higher than it would be on the base rate alone. This calculator folds the differential into the regular rate automatically.
What is the difference between a flat and a percentage differential?
A flat differential adds a fixed dollar amount to every shift hour, so a $2.50 differential always adds $2.50 per hour no matter your base rate. A percentage differential scales with your base rate, so a 25 percent differential equals a 1.25x multiplier and adds more in dollars as your wage rises. Pick the mode your employer uses, then enter the matching value.
How is the FLSA regular rate figured when I work two rates?
When you work some hours at your base rate and some at a higher shift rate in the same week, the FLSA uses a weighted average. You add up all straight-time earnings (base rate times base hours plus shift rate times shift hours), then divide by total hours worked to get the regular rate. Overtime is then paid on that blended regular rate, typically an extra one-half of it for each hour over 40.
Does my employer have to include the differential in overtime?
In most cases, yes. The FLSA treats shift differentials as part of the regular rate, so they must be counted when figuring overtime for non-exempt employees. One narrow exception exists: with a prior agreement, an employer may use the 'rate in effect' method and pay overtime at 1.5 times the rate for the hours when the overtime was actually worked. State law can also set stricter rules, so check your local requirements.
Is this calculator a substitute for payroll or legal advice?
No. This tool gives a good-faith estimate of premium and overtime pay using the standard FLSA weighted-average method, but it is not payroll, tax, or legal advice. Actual paychecks can differ because of state daily overtime rules, union contracts, bonuses, and deductions. Confirm your numbers with your employer or a qualified professional.

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