Shift Differential Calculator
Calculate extra pay for night, weekend, or holiday shifts as a percentage or flat differential.
How the calculation works
Shift differentials compensate for less desirable hours (nights, weekends, holidays). Employers structure them either as a percentage bump on the base rate or a flat extra amount per hour. This adds the differential to the base rate to get an effective hourly rate, then multiplies by hours worked on that shift to get total pay for the period.
Formula
Differential Rate = Percentage ? Base Rate × (Value ÷ 100) : Value. Effective Rate = Base Rate + Differential Rate. Total Pay = Effective Rate × Hours Worked.
Examples
$22/hr base, 10% night differential, 40 hrs
$968.00 total pay ($24.20/hr effective rate)
$18/hr base, $2.50 flat weekend differential, 16 hrs
$328.00 total pay ($20.50/hr effective rate)