Enter your base rate and differential — percent or flat dollars — plus your weekly shift mix, and see what those nights and weekends actually add up to.
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The shift differential formula
differential rate = base × (1 + diff %) or base + flat $ weekly pay = (base × regular hours) + (differential rate × diff hours)
The number worth knowing is the annualized value of the differential — the last line most people never calculate. A "$2/hour night premium" sounds small; at 24 differential hours a week it's roughly $2,500 a year, which is a bigger raise than many annual merit increases.
A worked example
A hospital tech earns $22/hour base with a 10% night differential, working 24 night hours and 16 day hours weekly. Night rate: $24.20. Weekly pay: $22 × 16 + $24.20 × 24 = $932.80 — of which $52.80 is differential, worth about $2,745 a year. If a competing day job offers $23/hour flat ($874/week), the night schedule still pays more.
Check your overtime math
A common payroll shortcut computes overtime at base × 1.5 even for weeks full of differential hours. Legally, overtime is 1.5× yourregular rate — a weighted average that includes differentials. If you work overtime in differential-heavy weeks, compare a pay stub against this calculator's blended rate; the difference compounds quickly at 1.5×. Paid to be reachable off the clock too? The on-call pay calculator covers standby and callback pay.
Frequently asked questions
What is a shift differential?
Extra pay for working less desirable hours — evenings, nights, or weekends. It's expressed either as a percentage of your base rate (10% is common) or a flat dollar amount per hour ($1–$5/hour is typical). It's employer policy, not a legal requirement.
What is a typical shift differential for night shift?
Most commonly 5–15% of base pay or $1–$5 per hour. Healthcare tends to run higher — nurses often see 10–20% for nights and extra for weekends — while manufacturing and warehousing cluster around $0.50–$2.50/hour.
Does shift differential count toward overtime?
Yes. Under the FLSA, shift differentials are part of your 'regular rate of pay,' so overtime must be calculated on the differential-included rate — not your base rate. If your overtime checks are computed on base only, that's a payroll error worth raising.
Is shift differential taxed differently?
No — it's ordinary wages, taxed exactly like base pay. The check may feel lighter than expected only because the extra income is withheld at your top marginal rate.