Night Shift Pay Calculator
Enter your base rate and night differential — see your overnight rate, weekly pay, and the annual value of working nights.
If night hours push you past 40/week, the differential must also be included in your overtime rate.
How night shift pay works
A night (or “graveyard”) differential is premium pay for overnight hours — typically the window between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. It comes as a percentage of base, a flat dollar add-on, or occasionally a multiplier:
Typical night differentials
| Setting | Typical premium |
|---|---|
| Hospitals — nurses & techs (NOC shift) | 10–20%, or $3–$7/hour |
| Federal employees (GS schedule) | 10% by law for regularly scheduled work between 6 p.m.–6 a.m. |
| Manufacturing 3rd shift | $1–$3/hour |
| Warehousing / fulfillment overnight | $1–$2.50/hour |
| Security, hotels (night audit) | 5–15% |
| Call centers with overnight coverage | 10–15% |
Worked example
A tech earning $20/hour with a 15% night differential works three 12-hour NOC shifts (36 h): night rate $23.00, weekly pay $828 — $108/week more than days, which compounds to about +$5,616/year for the same hours. That annual figure is the real number to weigh against the sleep disruption.
The rules worth knowing
- No federal law requires night premiums for private-sector workers — the FLSA is silent on time of day. Differentials come from market pressure, policy, or union contracts. The big exception: federal employees get 10% night differential by statute.
- Night differentials count toward overtime. When night hours cross 40 for the week, your 1.5× must be computed on the differential-included regular rate — the same trap covered in our shift differential calculator (use that one for mixed day/evening/night weeks).
- Consistency matters: a promised differential is enforceable wages for hours already worked, and many states require shift premiums to appear on the wage notice.
- Negotiating tip: in high-vacancy night roles (nursing, warehouse peak season), differentials are frequently negotiable or boosted seasonally — the table above is a floor to anchor against, not a ceiling.
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal night shift differential?
Roughly 10–15% of base pay or $1–$5/hour depending on industry. Healthcare NOC shifts sit at the top (up to 20%+ or several dollars/hour); light industrial third shifts at $1–$3/hour. Federal GS employees receive a statutory 10%.
What hours count as night shift?
Policy-defined. Common windows: 11 p.m.–7 a.m. (healthcare NOC), 10 p.m.–6 a.m. (industry), or 6 p.m.–6 a.m. (federal GS rules). Some policies pay the differential for the entire shift if most of it falls inside the window; others pay only the overlapping hours.
Is night shift pay taxed differently?
No — differentials are ordinary wages. A bigger check may see proportionally more withholding within the pay period, but the tax treatment is identical to day-shift dollars.
Do salaried employees get night differentials?
Usually not automatically — exempt salaries are set as all-in compensation. Some employers add night stipends for salaried staff on rotating schedules, and union agreements often require it; it’s a policy question, not a legal entitlement.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-20 · Report an issue