The Key Numbers
Your pay stub has a lot of lines. Here are the ones that matter for verifying your shift pay:
Gross Pay
Total earnings before taxes and deductions. This is the number DiffPay helps you verify. If your gross doesn't match what DiffPay calculated, something is off.
Regular Hours / Regular Earnings
Your straight-time hours and the pay for them. This should match the non-OT hours you logged at your base rate.
Overtime Hours / OT Earnings
Hours above your OT threshold. The rate should be 1.5x your regular rate (not just your base rate). See our FLSA Blended Overtime guide for why the distinction matters.
Shift Differential
A separate line showing extra pay from differentials. Some employers break this out; others lump it into regular earnings. If it's lumped in, your "regular earnings" line will be higher than base × hours.
Common Discrepancies
"My OT rate looks wrong"
Check if your employer is using 1.5x base rate instead of 1.5x the blended regular rate. If you earned differentials that week, the OT rate should be higher.
"My differential pay is missing"
Check your shift schedule against the differential rules. Did you work hours that should have triggered a night or weekend diff? Were you properly coded for charge or preceptor pay?
"My hours don't add up"
Break time policies vary. Some employers auto-deduct 30 minutes per shift; others deduct based on clock records. DiffPay lets you configure default break minutes per job.
How to Verify with DiffPay
1. Log your shifts for the pay period (clock in/out times, differentials applied)
2. Check the Pay Period Summary on your dashboard
3. Compare DiffPay's gross to your pay stub's gross
4. If they differ, use the Verify My Paycheck tool to enter your actual paycheck amount and see where the discrepancy is
5. Take the breakdown to your HR/payroll department if you find an error