Hospital & clinic shift differentials
Healthcare Shift Pay Calculator
Hospital and clinic workers often rotate between day, evening, and night shifts — each with different differential rates. Enter your schedule below to see your regular pay, shift differentials, and overtime calculated to the penny, using the correct rules for your state.
Weekly schedule
Enter your total hours for each day. If the shift included overtime or a differential (evening, night, weekend, or holiday), use the dropdown to select the shift type — the pay split is calculated automatically.
Gross pay summary
Regular pay
40.0 hrs × base rate
Total differential pay
$94.08Evening differential
$53.76Night differential
$40.32Gross pay
$1,214.08
Annual estimate: $31,566.08
How Hospital Shift Differential Pay Works
Typical Hospital Differential Rates by Shift
- • Day shift (7am–3pm): base rate only, no differential
- • Evening shift (3pm–11pm): 5%–15% differential or $1.50–$3/hr flat
- • Night shift (11pm–7am): 10%–25% differential or $2–$5/hr flat
- • Weekend (Sat/Sun any shift): 5%–20% additional differential
- • Charge/lead add-on: $1–$4/hr on top of shift differential
The FLSA 8 and 80 Rule for Hospitals
Hospitals have a special FLSA option: instead of calculating overtime weekly (over 40 hours), they can use a 14-day pay period where overtime applies after 80 hours in 14 days or 8 hours in a single day. Most hospital workers are still protected by whichever rule yields higher overtime pay. Check with your HR department to know which rule your facility uses.
PRN and Per Diem Differential Pay
Whether PRN workers qualify for shift differentials depends entirely on facility policy. Many hospitals apply standard shift differentials to per diem staff for evening, night, and weekend hours. Holiday pay for PRN workers is less consistent — some facilities exclude it, others offer a flat bonus. Confirm your specific PRN pay policy before estimating your paycheck.
Rotating Shifts and Weekly Pay Tracking
Healthcare workers on rotating shifts — days one week, nights the next — face the most complex pay calculations. Log each day's shift type accurately in Shift Diff Calculator. The tool applies the correct differential per day, handles any overtime, and sums your total gross pay regardless of how many different shift types appear in a single week.
Questions, answered
Frequently asked questions
What shift differentials do hospitals typically offer healthcare workers?
Hospital shift differentials vary by role and region but commonly include: evening shift (3pm–11pm) at 5%–15%, night shift (11pm–7am) at 10%–25%, and weekend shifts at 5%–20%. Critical care and specialty units often add a charge differential of $1–$4/hr on top of shift differentials.
How is overtime calculated for hospital shift workers?
Most hospital workers follow the federal FLSA rule: overtime at 1.5× your regular rate for hours over 40 in a week. However, under the FLSA 8 and 80 rule, hospitals can use a 14-day pay period instead of a 7-day workweek — overtime then applies to hours over 80 in 14 days or 8 in a single day.
Do PRN (per diem) healthcare workers qualify for shift differential pay?
It depends on facility policy. Many hospitals apply shift differentials to PRN workers for hours worked during qualifying shifts, but some policies exclude per diem staff from weekend or holiday differentials. Always check your facility's PRN pay policy — and use Shift Diff Calculator to confirm your expected gross pay.
How do rotating shift workers accurately track differential pay?
Log each day's hours and shift type (day, evening, night, weekend) in Shift Diff Calculator. The calculator applies the correct differential percentage to each shift type and sums everything with overtime automatically. This is far more accurate than estimating based on average hours.
Does a charge nurse or lead differential stack with shift differential?
At most facilities, yes — a charge differential is typically added directly to your hourly rate for hours worked as charge. If your base rate becomes $38/hr (including $3 charge differential) during charge hours, your shift differential percentage applies to that higher rate, increasing your differential earnings.
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