Is your nursing paycheck correct?
Enter what your pay stub says alongside what you actually worked. We compute what you should have been paid — including FLSA-compliant overtime on your blended rate — and flag any discrepancy.
What your paycheck says
📸 Skip the typing — upload a photo of your pay stub
We'll extract the numbers automatically. Free accounts include 5 pay stub scans.
The total gross amount on the stub.
What you actually worked
Enter your base hourly rate and total hours worked to see your verification.
The #1 paycheck mistake that costs nurses thousands
The most common — and most expensive — payroll error for nurses is calculating overtime at 1.5× the base rate instead of 1.5× the blended regular rate. Under FLSA §778, your regular rate is your total straight-time earnings (base pay plus every differential) divided by your total hours. Overtime must be paid on that blended rate, not on base alone.
Here's what that looks like in dollars. A nurse earning $50/hr with a $10/hr night differential who works 44 hours (4 of them overtime) has a blended rate of about $59.09/hr — so the overtime premium should be about $4.55/hr higher than a base-only calculation. Over those 4 overtime hours that's roughly $18 a period — and across 26 biweekly periods, close to $470 a year, every year. Read How FLSA Blended Overtime Actually Works for the full math.
What to do if your paycheck is wrong
- Document it. Save the pay stub and write down the hours and differentials you actually worked for that period.
- Verify the math. Check whether overtime was paid on your blended rate and whether every differential appears.
- Escalate. Bring the specific numbers to HR or payroll — a concrete discrepancy is far harder to dismiss than a vague concern.
- Know your options.If it isn't resolved, a labor attorney or your state labor department can advise on a wage claim. This is general information, not legal advice.
Common reasons your paycheck might not match
Not every difference is an error. Legitimate reasons include rounding policies, pre-tax deductions affecting net (not gross) pay, and retroactive adjustments from a prior period. Potential errorsinclude overtime calculated on the base rate, a missing shift differential, or incorrect hours. This tool checks gross pay, so deductions and taxes shouldn't move the result — a gap usually points to hours, differentials, or the overtime rate.
Want to see how differentials affect a single shift? Try our Shift Differential Calculator. On an 8/80 schedule? Use our 8/80 Overtime Calculator. Comparing two contracts? Try Contract Projection.
FAQ
How do I know if my nursing paycheck is correct?
Compare your pay stub's gross pay against what you should have earned based on your hours, base rate, shift differentials, and FLSA-compliant overtime. Overtime must be paid on your blended regular rate — base pay plus differentials — not your base rate alone. This tool does that comparison for you.
What is the most common paycheck error for nurses?
Calculating overtime at 1.5× the base rate instead of 1.5× the blended rate that includes shift differentials. Under FLSA §778, differentials such as night, weekend, and holiday pay must be folded into the regular rate before the overtime premium is applied. Leaving them out quietly underpays every overtime hour.
How much could I be underpaid?
A nurse earning $35/hr with a $5 night differential working 4 overtime hours a week could be underpaid by roughly $10 a week — about $520 a year — if overtime is calculated on the base rate alone. The shortfall grows with more differentials and more overtime.
What should I do if my paycheck is wrong?
Document the discrepancy, review your employer’s pay policies, and contact HR or payroll. If it is not resolved, consider consulting a labor attorney. Wage claims under FLSA can recover up to three years of back pay for willful violations.
Can I upload a photo of my pay stub?
Yes. Create a free DiffPay account and upload a photo — we’ll extract the numbers automatically and fill in the checker for you. Free accounts include 5 pay stub scans.