{
    "name": "Shift Differential Calculator",
    "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/shift-differential-calculator",
    "markdown": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/shift-differential-calculator.md",
    "category": "Salary, HR & payroll",
    "description": "Work out the hourly rate and extra pay for night, evening or weekend shifts with a percentage or flat differential, and your blended rate for the week.",
    "summary": "A shift differential adds a premium to your base rate for less popular hours. Enter it as a percentage or a flat amount per hour to see the shift rate and the total for a mix of shifts.",
    "also_called": [
        "Shift premium calculator",
        "Night differential calculator"
    ],
    "applies_to": "Worldwide",
    "last_updated": "2026-10-29",
    "computation": "Results are computed in the visitor’s browser on the HTML page. This API describes the calculator; it does not compute results.",
    "inputs": [
        {
            "name": "base_rate",
            "label": "Base hourly rate",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "20"
        },
        {
            "name": "diff_type",
            "label": "Differential type",
            "type": "segmented",
            "default": "percent",
            "options": {
                "percent": "Percentage",
                "flat": "Flat per hour"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "diff_value",
            "label": "Differential",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "10"
        },
        {
            "name": "diff_hours",
            "label": "Hours on the differential shift",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "24",
            "unit": "hours"
        },
        {
            "name": "regular_hours",
            "label": "Hours at the base rate",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "16",
            "unit": "hours",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "currency",
            "label": "Currency",
            "type": "currency",
            "default": "USD"
        }
    ],
    "outputs": [
        {
            "key": "total_pay",
            "label": "Total gross pay",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "shift_rate",
            "label": "Differential shift rate",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "premium",
            "label": "Extra pay from the differential",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "blended_rate",
            "label": "Blended hourly rate",
            "format": "currency"
        }
    ],
    "formula": {
        "text": "Shift rate = Base × (1 + Differential% ÷ 100) or Base + Flat;  Total = Base × All hours + (Shift rate − Base) × Shift hours;  Blended = Total ÷ All hours",
        "variables": {
            "Base": "regular hourly rate",
            "Shift hours": "hours worked on the shift that attracts the differential"
        }
    },
    "worked_example": {
        "inputs": {
            "base_rate": "20",
            "diff_type": "percent",
            "diff_value": "10",
            "diff_hours": "24",
            "regular_hours": "16",
            "currency": "USD"
        },
        "steps": [
            "Shift rate = 20 × 1.10 = $22 an hour.",
            "Premium = (22 − 20) × 24 = $48.",
            "Total = 20 × 40 + 48 = $848, a blended $21.20 an hour."
        ],
        "result": "A 10% night differential on 24 of 40 hours at $20 adds $48, for $848 gross."
    },
    "interpretation": "The blended rate is useful when comparing a rota with mixed shifts against a day-only job. In some jurisdictions the differential must also be included in the regular rate used for overtime.",
    "assumptions": [
        "All hours are straight-time hours; overtime is not included."
    ],
    "limitations": [
        "Differentials that apply only to part of a shift (for example after 10 pm) need the hours entered accordingly."
    ],
    "rules": null,
    "faqs": [
        {
            "question": "Is a flat or percentage differential better?",
            "answer": "A percentage grows with your base rate; a flat amount does not. At a $20 base, 10% and $2 are the same; at $30, 10% is worth $3."
        },
        {
            "question": "Does shift differential affect overtime?",
            "answer": "Often yes: some laws, including US federal rules, require shift premiums to be counted in the regular rate on which overtime is calculated."
        }
    ],
    "sources": [],
    "related": [
        {
            "name": "Overtime Pay Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/overtime-pay-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Employer Cost of Employee Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/payroll-employer-cost-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Percentage Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/percentage-calculator"
        }
    ],
    "disclaimer": "This calculator gives estimates for planning. It is not financial advice, and lenders’ actual terms, fees and rounding may differ.",
    "publisher": "GM¹X CalcVerse"
}