How to Calculate Your Shift Pay
If you work rotating shifts, figuring out your actual take-home pay can be confusing. Between overtime rules, night differentials, and weekend premiums, your paycheck rarely matches a simple “hourly rate times hours worked” calculation. This free shift pay calculator does the math for you.
Type in your base hourly pay and select your currency. The calculator supports dollars, euros, pounds, and 10 other currencies.
Choose from 9 common shift rotations like 2-2-3, DuPont, or Pitman. The tool auto-fills your weekly hours, night hours, and weekend hours.
Add your overtime multiplier, night differential percentage, weekend premium, and holiday pay. Hit Calculate to see your full breakdown.
Understanding Shift Pay Components
Most shift workers earn more than their base hourly rate once you factor in the extras. Here is what each component means and how it affects your paycheck.
Base Pay
This is your standard hourly rate multiplied by your regular (non-overtime) hours. If you earn $25/hr and work 40 regular hours, your base pay is $1,000/week. Simple enough.
Overtime Pay
In most countries, hours worked beyond a weekly threshold (typically 40 hours in the US) are paid at a higher rate. The standard overtime rate is 1.5x your base pay, commonly called “time and a half.” Some contracts offer double time (2x) for holidays or excessive hours. If you work a 2-2-3 pattern averaging 42 hours per week, those 2 extra hours are overtime.
Night Shift Differential
Working overnight hours usually comes with a pay bump. Night differentials typically range from 5% to 15% of your base rate, though some industries pay more. For example, a 10% night differential on a $25/hr rate means you earn $27.50/hr during night shifts. The calculator applies this only to your night shift hours, not your entire schedule.
Weekend Premium
Some employers pay extra for Saturday and Sunday shifts. Weekend premiums work the same way as night differentials: a percentage added on top of your base rate for hours worked on weekends. Not all employers offer this, so set it to 0% if it does not apply to you.
Holiday Premium
Working on public holidays often comes with premium pay, sometimes double or even triple time. The calculator spreads your annual holiday pay across 52 weeks so you can see the impact on your average weekly earnings.
Shift Pay by Pattern
Different shift patterns result in different weekly hours, which directly affects your pay. Here is a quick comparison:
| Pattern | Avg Hours/Week | Night Hours/Week | Overtime Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-2-3 (Panama) | 42 | 21 | 2 |
| DuPont | 42 | 21 | 2 |
| 4-on-4-off | 42 | 21 | 2 |
| 4-on-2-off | 46.7 | 15.6 | 6.7 |
| Kelly / 24-48 | 56 | 0* | 16 |
| 48/96 | 56 | 0* | 16 |
*Kelly, 24/48, and 48/96 patterns use 24-hour shifts that span both day and night. Night hours are counted as 0 in the preset because the entire shift is treated as a single block. Adjust manually in custom mode if your employer pays a night differential for the overnight portion.
How Much Do Shift Workers Make?
Shift worker pay varies widely by industry, location, and experience. But the structure is usually the same: a base hourly rate plus premiums for nights, weekends, and overtime. Here are some typical ranges:
- Nurses (12-hour shifts): $30-$50/hr base, plus 10-15% night differential
- Firefighters (24/48 or Kelly): $15-$30/hr base, with significant overtime at 56 hrs/week
- Manufacturing operators (continental/4-on-4-off): $18-$35/hr base, plus shift premiums
- Police officers (rotating shifts): $25-$45/hr base, plus overtime and holiday pay
- Oil and gas workers (2-2-3 or 14/14): $25-$60/hr base, plus remote/hazard pay
The key takeaway: your actual earnings are often 15-30% higher than your base rate once you factor in all the premiums. This calculator helps you see that full picture.
Overtime Rules by Country
Overtime thresholds and multipliers vary by country. Here are the most common rules:
| Country | Overtime After | Standard Multiplier |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 40 hrs/week | 1.5x |
| United Kingdom | No statutory limit* | Contract-dependent |
| Canada | 44 hrs/week (varies by province) | 1.5x |
| Australia | 38 hrs/week | 1.5x first 2 hrs, 2x after |
| Germany | 8 hrs/day (48 hrs/week max) | 1.25x-1.5x |
| France | 35 hrs/week | 1.25x first 8 hrs, 1.5x after |
| India | 48 hrs/week | 2x |
| Japan | 40 hrs/week | 1.25x (1.5x for 60+ hrs) |
*The UK has no statutory overtime pay requirement. Overtime rates are set by individual employment contracts. The Working Time Regulations limit average working hours to 48 per week unless the worker opts out.
Tips to Maximize Your Shift Pay
- Know your contract. Many shift workers leave money on the table because they do not realize they qualify for night differentials or weekend premiums. Check your employment agreement or union contract.
- Track your hours carefully. Overtime is calculated weekly in most countries. If you are close to the threshold, even an extra 30 minutes can trigger overtime pay for the entire overage.
- Volunteer for holidays. Holiday premium pay (often 1.5x to 2.5x) can significantly boost your annual earnings. If you do not mind working holidays, the pay bump is substantial.
- Consider your effective hourly rate. A pattern with more overtime (like Kelly at 56 hrs/week) might pay more annually than a pattern with fewer hours, even if the base rate is the same.
- Use this calculator before accepting a new shift pattern. When your employer offers a schedule change, run both patterns through the calculator to see the real financial impact.
Pair This With Your Shift Calendar
Once you know what you earn, the next step is seeing when you work. Use our free Shift Schedule Maker to generate a full calendar for your rotation pattern. You can export it to Google Calendar, download a PDF, or share it with your team. If you want to see how public holidays overlap with your shifts, check out the Holiday Calendar for 25+ countries.