calculating salary question base? differential? huh?

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Do differentials become a part of base salary and percentages are then based off of that? my hospital gave me a bunch of numbers and percentages and I don't know what it all means. If I get a weekend diff, and percentages for doing nights, does that mean that those percentages are based off of the dif+base or only base? so for instance my base is X and my weekend dif is 5 and nights is 10% more, is it X+10% plus 5/hr or (x+5)10%/hr?? I'm so confused. I don't want to call the nurse recruiter anymore because I don't want to seem money hungry, I just don't understand the calculation. Otherwise how will I know if I'm getting paid correctly per pay period, how do you guys do it, do you just trust them to get it right? It always makes me feel so materialistic, but I want to know!

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma.

Any differentials are based on your base hourly wage only. So, for the example you gave, you would earn (X plus (X * 10%) plus 5) times the hours worked.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

You will get a better understanding after your first pay check. At least that has been my experience since my hospital breaks down my pay in hours for base, differential, OT, etc.

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Specializes in retail NP.

I have found that your gross pay (benefit-based money) is actually the money you make without factoring in weekend/night dif. Some places, such as where I am employed actually have a fixed rate night dif (like $6) and weekend dif, but they are not factored into your grand yearly earnings.

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Do differentials become a part of base salary and percentages are then based off of that? my hospital gave me a bunch of numbers and percentages and I don't know what it all means. If I get a weekend diff, and percentages for doing nights, does that mean that those percentages are based off of the dif+base or only base? so for instance my base is X and my weekend dif is 5 and nights is 10% more, is it X+10% plus 5/hr or (x+5)10%/hr?? I'm so confused. I don't want to call the nurse recruiter anymore because I don't want to seem money hungry, I just don't understand the calculation. Otherwise how will I know if I'm getting paid correctly per pay period, how do you guys do it, do you just trust them to get it right? It always makes me feel so materialistic, but I want to know!

If your base salary is $58,500, your hourly rate = $30. Your 10% night diff will be $5,800 a year = $3/hr. Your 5% wkend diff will be $1.50 /hr times the number of hrs you work a day times 26 wkends. If you work 7.5 hrs shift your annual wkend diff will be 1.50 x 30(sat/sun) x 26=$1,170/yr. Your annual income will be $58,000+$5,800+ $1,170 =$63,800/yr total.

GDLUCK

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