12-Hour Shift Pay Calculator

How this calculator works

A 12-hour shift usually includes one unpaid meal break, so you are paid for 11.5 hours unless your employer deducts more or less. What happens to those hours depends entirely on where you work:

• Federal (FLSA) weekly rule: overtime kicks in after 40 hours in a workweek. Three 12s (36 hours) never crosses it; four 12s (48 hours) means 40 regular + 8 overtime hours spread across your shifts.
• California daily rule: overtime after 8 hours in a day. Every 12-hour shift therefore contains 4 daily-overtime hours (or 3.5 paid-OT hours after a 30-minute break), and any time past 12 hours pays double.

Pick your state's model above, enter your base rate and premiums, and the panel updates instantly. Nothing is uploaded — your inputs are stored only in this browser.

Common questions from shift workers

Why does my paycheck show fewer hours than I worked?

Almost always the unpaid meal deduction. Compare your punch times against the "paid hours" line here.

Are differentials part of the regular rate for overtime?

Under FLSA, shift differentials generally must be included when computing the regular rate used for overtime — this calculator shows them as a separate line so you can sanity-check both parts.

Can I compare two job offers?

Run each offer's rate and premiums through the calculator, then multiply by your realistic weekly shift count. The "per year" figure makes offers comparable at a glance.

Planning estimate only. Your employer's payroll policy, union contract and state rules control what actually lands in your bank account.