Weekly Shift-Differential Pay Calculator (Multi-Shift)
Enter every shift of the week with its category (day, evening, night, weekend) and length; the calculator applies each category's differential and returns total weekly gross plus a per-shift breakdown.
| Shift | Category | Hours | Eff. rate | Gross | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon day | Day | 8 | $22.00 | $176.00 | +$0.00 |
| Tue evening | Evening | 8 | $24.20 | $193.60 | +$17.60 |
| Wed night | Night | 8 | $26.40 | $211.20 | +$35.20 |
| Thu day | Day | 8 | $22.00 | $176.00 | +$0.00 |
| Sat weekend | Weekend | 8 | $24.00 | $192.00 | +$16.00 |
Straight-time only. If weekly hours pass 40, federal law (FLSA) requires overtime on the differential-inclusive regular rate of pay — compute that separately. Differentials are employer policy, not statutory. Everything runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
About this tool
The single-shift version of this calculator is good for a one-off check — how much is one night shift worth at a 15% differential? The weekly version answers a question employers and employees actually deal with: across a full schedule mixing day, evening, night, and weekend shifts, each with its own differential percentage or flat amount, what is the gross pay for the whole week? You set the base hourly rate and each category's differential (a percent of base, like 10% for evenings and 20% for nights, or a flat per-hour add such as $2 for weekends), then add as many shifts as needed — name (optional), category, hours — and the tool computes each shift's effective rate, premium over base, and gross pay, plus the weekly totals. The reason this matters: in healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality, security, and any 24/7 operation, a single worker often rotates through multiple shift types in one week, and the combined value of those differentials over the week is what determines the paycheck. It is also what an honest job offer needs to disclose — a $22 base with no shift differential is materially different from a $20 base with a 20% night differential when nights make up half the schedule. A few clarifying points: the gross total here is straight-time only — if the weekly hours push the worker over 40, federal law (FLSA) generally requires overtime on the differential-inclusive 'regular rate of pay,' calculated by averaging all earnings over total hours; use an overtime calculator on top of this number. Differentials are an employer policy rather than a federal requirement, so the categories and rates here are editable defaults you can tune to your employer's structure. Result is gross before taxes; nothing is uploaded.
How to use it
- Set your base hourly rate.
- For each shift category (day, evening, night, weekend, custom), set its differential — either a percent of base or a flat dollar per hour.
- Add each shift you work that week with its category and hours.
- Read the per-shift breakdown and the weekly gross at the bottom.
Frequently asked questions
- How does each category's differential combine with the base?
- Effective rate for the shift = base + differential. The differential is either base × percent/100 or a flat $/hr add — whichever you set per category. Shift gross = effective rate × hours.
- Why isn't overtime included?
- Overtime requires a regular-rate calculation that averages all earnings (including bonuses and differentials) across total weekly hours — and it depends on the threshold rule (federal 40/week or California 8/day). To keep this tool composable, it returns straight-time weekly gross; layer overtime separately via the Daily OT calculator.
- Are shift differentials required by law?
- In the US, no federal law mandates them — they are an employer policy, common in healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality, security, and other 24/7 industries. Some union contracts and state public-sector roles do guarantee them. The categories and rates here are tunable defaults, not statutory.
- How do percent and flat differentials differ?
- A percent differential scales with the base rate — a 20% night premium is $4 extra on a $20 base, $5 on a $25 base. A flat differential is fixed regardless of base — $2 extra per hour is $2 whether the base is $15 or $30. Most policies use percent for night and weekend, flat for one-off premiums.
- How do I model a shift that crosses a differential boundary?
- Split it into two rows. For a 6pm-2am shift that is evening 6-10pm and night 10pm-2am, add one 4h evening row and one 4h night row. The per-row table shows each leg clearly.
- Is the result before or after taxes?
- Gross — before federal/state income tax, FICA, Medicare, and any voluntary withholding.