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Discussion

Shift differential?

Can someone explain what exactly a "shift differential" is, and how it works? I know, stupid question, but I'm a student and keep hearing about it....thanks!

Featured Replies

Shift diff is the extra money you get paid for working an evening or night shift.

  • Author

thanks! it obviously depends on setting, but does shift diff make a big difference $ wise?

Yes it can make a difference depending on what % your facility offers. It adds up!

  • Experts

Some employers pay differentials for other things, too ... not just for evening shifts and night shifts. My employer also pays a differential for hours worked on the weekend and also for being the Charge Nurse or for being a preceptor.

Employers use differentials to reward nurses for either working an otherwise unpopular shift and/or for taking on extra responsibilities. And as RN2B07 said, they can really add up. It's important to take such things into consideration as you are looking for jobs and comparing one compensation to another. One employer may offer a higher base salary, but very small differentials. The other employer may have a slightly lower base salary, but actually pay more because of the higher differentials.

llg

If the differential is only $1 per hour (which is very low) and you work the average of 2080 hours per year, then you have earned an extra $2080. I earned about $500/month extra by working nights when I was a staff nurse.

This is an abbreviated version of our shift diff (it's actually much more complicated): Weekday evening and nights 15%, weekend evenings and nights 30%. Last job I had only paid $1.65 for nights.

Another example for ya...at our hospital we are paid 2.60/hr for Eve and 3.30/hr for NOC's or something close to that.

thanks! it obviously depends on setting, but does shift diff make a big difference $ wise?

Yes. Our night shift makes $5.00 per hour more just for working nights.

We also have a $1.00 differential for working weekends, which doesn't add up to much, but is a nice thought.

  • Author

Thanks for your input, everyone! sorry so long in responding......I had finals mon. and yesterday.....2 A's and a B!!!!! Yippie!

I don't do nights, so im not sure on the night diff, but we do get $4 extra an hour just for working ona weekend, regardless of day or night shift

  • Experts

I work weekend doubles and the hourly shift differential is only $0.50, but I am also paid for 40 hours when working 32 hours.

Ours is 7% from 3-11, 15% 11-7, and none for weekends.

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