Free browser-side tool
Shift Differential Calculator
Estimate pay with a fixed-dollar or percentage shift differential.
How the estimate works
Enter the values supplied by your employer, written policy, or work record. The result updates in your browser and is not saved.
Formula
Fixed mode: (base hourly rate + extra dollars per hour) × shift hours. Percentage mode: base rate × hours × (1 + differential percent ÷ 100).
Worked example
Inputs: $25 base hourly rate, 8 shift hours, and a fixed $2 hourly differential.
Result: ($25 + $2) × 8 = $216.00 estimated pay with the differential.
How to read the result
A shift differential is additional compensation for a qualifying shift. Enter the differential exactly as your employer describes it: fixed dollars per hour or a percentage of base pay.
Important limitations
- The tool does not determine which hours qualify for a differential.
- It does not combine the premium with overtime regular-rate rules.
- Taxes, bonuses, multiple rates, and employer-specific rounding are not included.