Nurses, firefighters and factory workers often work three or four 12-hour shifts a week. Whether hours over 8 a day count as overtime depends on your state (California has daily overtime) and your contract; federal law only requires overtime above 40 hours a week.
How to use the 12-Hour Shift Pay Calculator
- Hourly wage
- Overtime multiplier
- Regular hours per shift
- Shifts per week
- Also pay overtime above 40 hours a week
Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.
How it works
Enter your hourly wage, overtime rate, regular hours per shift and shifts per week.
Tips
- Tax figures here are estimates for planning – your actual tax depends on credits, deductions and local rules.
- Check the tax year and filing status before you rely on a result.
- Use gross (before-tax) figures unless a field asks for take-home pay.
- When in doubt, confirm with the tax authority’s own calculator or a tax professional.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Confusing marginal and effective tax rates.
- Adding sales tax to a price that already includes it.
- Forgetting payroll taxes (Social Security and Medicare) on wages.
Inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Hourly wage | Amount in your currency |
| Overtime multiplier | In × |
| Regular hours per shift | A number |
| Shifts per week | A number |
| Also pay overtime above 40 hours a week | Choose one: Yes, No |
What each result means
- Overtime hourly wage = [Hourly wage]×[Overtime multiplier]
- Pay per 12-hour shift = [Regular hours per shift]×[Hourly wage] + (12 – [Regular hours per shift])×[Hourly wage]×[Overtime multiplier]
- Average wage per hour = [Pay per 12-hour shift]÷12
- Hours per week = 12×[Shifts per week]
- Pay per month = [Pay per week]×52÷12
- Pay per year = [Pay per week]×52
Example values
How the main result changes when Hourly wage changes and everything else stays at the example values above:
| Hourly wage | Pay per week |
|---|---|
| 15 | 735 |
| 22.5 | 1,102.5 |
| 30 | 1,470 |
| 37.5 | 1,837.5 |
| 45 | 2,205 |
| 60 | 2,940 |
Formula
Pay per shift = regular hours × rate + (12 − regular hours) × overtime rateWeekly pay = shifts per week × pay per shift (+ weekly overtime if over 40 h)Average hourly = pay per shift ÷ 12Worked example
Inputs — Hourly wage: $30; Overtime multiplier: 1.5 ×; Regular hours per shift: 8; Shifts per week: 3.5; Also pay overtime above 40 hours a week: Yes.
Results — Overtime hourly wage = $45.00; Pay per 12-hour shift = $420.00; Average wage per hour = $35.00; Hours per week = 42; Pay per week = $1,470.00; Pay per month = $6,370.00; Pay per year = $76,440.00.
Frequently asked questions
Do 12-hour shifts get overtime?
Under federal law only hours over 40 a week; some states (like California) also pay overtime after 8 hours a day.
How many 12-hour shifts are full time?
Three shifts (36 hours) is often treated as full time in hospitals.
What is time and a half?
1.5 times your regular hourly rate.
What formula does the 12-Hour Shift Pay Calculator use?
Pay per shift = regular hours × rate + (12 − regular hours) × overtime rate.