SHIFT PAY GUIDE
How to Calculate a Nurse's Paycheck (Differentials, OT, 12-Hour Shifts)
Nursing pay is the most complicated hourly math in America: a base rate, a night differential, a weekend differential, charge or preceptor add-ons, self-scheduled 12s that alternate 36- and 48-hour weeks, and per-diem rates on top. Here's how to actually compute a paycheck — by hand once, so you understand it, and then never by hand again.
Start with the layers
A staff nurse's hourly earnings stack like this: base rate → + night differential for hours in the night window → + weekend differential for Saturday/Sunday hours → + charge/preceptor add-on when applicable. Each layer applies to specific HOURS, not to the whole shift.
Example: $38.50 base, +$4 nights (7 PM–7 AM), +$3 weekends. A Friday 7 PM–7 AM shift: all 12 hours get the night diff, and the hours after midnight (Saturday) also get the weekend diff. Your 3 AM hour pays $45.50.
Overtime on self-scheduled twelves
Most units schedule in 36/48 alternations or straight 36s with pickup incentives. Federal OT applies past 40 hours per defined workweek at 1.5× your regular rate including differentials. A 48-hour week of nights at the example rates: 40 hours regular + 8 OT hours at 1.5 × ($38.50 + $4) = $63.75.
Hospitals on 8/80 plans instead owe OT past 8 hours in any day — which turns every 12 into 8 regular + 4 OT. Know which system your facility uses; the same schedule pays differently under each.
Estimating take-home
Gross-to-net depends on your W-4, state, and pretax deductions (401k/403b, insurance). A rough planning number: multiply gross by 0.72–0.80. It's an estimate — your paystub is the truth — but it turns 'I picked up Saturday' into an actual dollar figure for your budget.
Or paint it instead
ShiftCheck was built nurse-first: set your base rate, night window, weekend and holiday premiums once; paint D/E/N chips on the calendar (or stamp your rotation); and the header shows the month's gross, overtime hours, and an estimated take-home — before the schedule is even final. Picking up a shift shows exactly what it adds.
Do the math for your numbers: Overtime pay calculator →
FAQ
How much is a 12-hour nursing shift worth?
At $38.50 base with a $4 night differential: a weekday night 12 (11.5 paid hours after a 30-minute break) is about $489. Add weekend or OT status and it climbs — that's the point of computing per-shift.
Do nurse differentials count toward overtime rate?
Yes — the FLSA requires differentials be included in the regular rate used for the 1.5× calculation. OT on nights pays 1.5× (base + night diff).
What's the difference between 36 hours and 0.9 FTE?
Usually nothing — three 12s (36 hours) is commonly coded 0.9 FTE and treated as full-time for benefits.
SHIFTCHECK FOR IPHONE
The app that applies every rule in this guide.
Paint your shifts on a calendar — differentials, weekly overtime, holiday premiums, and time off computed automatically. Know your paycheck before it lands.
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More guides: What Is Shift Differential? Rates & Examples (2026) · Overtime on 12-Hour Shifts: Weekly vs Daily Rules · 2-2-3 Panama Schedule Explained + Free Generator