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Enter your base hourly rate, hours on each shift type and their differentials, plus overtime and holiday hours. You get base pay, overtime and holiday pay, the differential total, gross pay and the effective hourly rate — plus what a 12-hour shift works out to at that blended rate, which is the number worth comparing between job offers.
Differentials are typically a flat premium per hour ($2–$8/hr for nights is common) stacked on straight-time hours, with overtime at time-and-a-half of base. Contracts differ on whether differentials fold into the overtime rate, so the result notes that assumption rather than hiding it.
Frequently asked questions
What is a typical night shift differential for nurses?
Night differentials commonly run $3–$8 per hour on top of base pay, varying by market, facility and union contract; evening is usually smaller ($1–$4) and weekend adds another $1–$5. Enter your contract's exact figures — defaults here are just starting points.
Is overtime calculated on base pay or base plus differential?
Most hospital contracts pay overtime at 1.5x the base rate with differentials applied to straight-time hours only — which is what this calculator assumes. Some contracts fold the differential into the overtime rate (a slightly higher total); check your HR policy if the numbers differ by a few dollars.
How do I compare two nursing job offers with different differentials?
Don't compare base rates — compare effective hourly rates for the shifts you'd actually work. A lower base with a strong night differential beats a higher base if you're on permanent nights. Run each offer through with your expected schedule and compare the totals.