Common Shift Differentials
Night Differential (Night Diff)
Extra pay for working overnight hours. Typically defined as a time range (e.g., 7 PM – 7 AM). Can be a flat dollar amount per hour ($3–$8/hr is common for nurses) or a percentage of base rate (10–15%).
Weekend Differential
Extra pay for Saturday and/or Sunday shifts. Usually $2–$6/hr flat or 5–10% of base. Some employers only pay this for the full weekend, others for any Saturday or Sunday hours.
Holiday Pay
Premium for working on designated holidays (New Year's, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.). Often 1.5x or 2x the base rate. Handled as a flat multiplier in DiffPay.
Charge Nurse Pay
Extra compensation for taking on the charge nurse role during a shift. Usually a flat per-shift bonus ($25–$100) rather than an hourly add-on. In DiffPay, this is a "manual" trigger — you mark it when logging the shift.
Callback Pay / On-Call Pay
Compensation for being available on-call and/or for actually being called in. On-call rates are typically a fraction of the base rate ($2–$5/hr). Callback pay (when you're called in) is usually at the full base rate or higher.
Preceptor Pay
Extra pay for training new staff while working your normal assignment. Typically $1–$3/hr, triggered manually.
Overtime Terms
Overtime (OT)
Hours exceeding the threshold (usually 40/week or 8/day in CA). Paid at 1.5x the regular rate.
Double Time (DT)
In some states (California) or by contract, hours exceeding a second threshold (12/day or 7th consecutive day) are paid at 2x the regular rate.
Regular Rate
The FLSA term for your true hourly rate, computed by dividing total straight-time earnings (including differentials) by total hours. This is what your OT multiplier is applied to.
Blended Rate
Another name for the regular rate when differentials push it above the base rate. "Blended" because it blends base pay with differential earnings.
Employment Types
W-2 Staff
Full-time or part-time employee of the hospital/agency. Employer withholds taxes, provides benefits.
W-2 Agency / Travel
Employee of a staffing agency, placed at a facility. Base rate often higher but may include a "blended" rate where differentials are already baked in.
W-2 Per Diem
As-needed shifts without guaranteed hours. Often a higher base rate to compensate for no benefits.
1099 Contractor
Independent contractor. No tax withholding, no benefits. Typically highest base rate; differentials are rare.