Does this work for bi-weekly paychecks?

Check each workweek separately. Federal overtime is based on the hours in each 7-day workweek, so 45 hours one week and 35 the next still includes 5 overtime hours, even though the two weeks average 40.

Are shift differentials included in overtime pay?

Yes, under the FLSA. Differentials for nights, weekends or other shifts are part of the regular rate, so overtime is paid at 1.5 times the blended rate, not only the base rate.

Does this include taxes?

No. It checks gross pay, before taxes and deductions. Compare it with the gross figure on your payslip.

I'm a nurse on an 8/80 schedule. Does this apply?

Not exactly. Hospitals can use a 14-day period with overtime after 8 hours a day or 80 hours in the period, by agreement with employees. See the nurses page for how that works.

Paycheck checker

Is your paycheck short? Check one week in a minute.

Enter what you worked and what your payslip says. The checker works out what you should have been paid under the federal overtime rule, including night or weekend differentials, and shows the difference.

Use the gross pay from your payslip, before taxes and deductions.

Last reviewed October 2026

Pay period checkSample numbers

Hourly rate$

Hours worked this weekh

Night or weekend hoursh

Differential per hour$

Gross pay on your payslip$

Should be: $2,028.00
You were paid: $1,880.00

Short by$148.00

40 regular hours · 8 overtime hours · $48.00 in differentials

Overtime is 1.5× after 40 hours a week. Differentials are included in the overtime rate, as the federal FLSA requires. Some states also have daily overtime.

Keep a record of every shift so you can show payroll exactly where the difference is.

Track every pay period free

How the check works

Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), most hourly employees must be paid at least 1.5 times their regular rate for every hour over 40 in a workweek.

The regular rate isn't always your base rate. Shift differentials for nights, weekends or charge duty count as part of it. So the checker adds your base pay and differential pay, divides by your total hours, and pays the overtime premium on that blended rate.

Straight-time pay = hours × base rate + differential hours × differential.
Regular rate = straight-time pay ÷ total hours.
Overtime premium = 0.5 × regular rate × hours over 40.
Expected gross = straight-time pay + overtime premium.

Example: 48 hours at $38/hr with 12 night hours at +$4 is $1,872 straight time. The regular rate is $39, so the 8 overtime hours add $156. Expected gross is $2,028.

What to compare on your payslip

Hours. Do the regular and overtime hours match your own record of each shift, including early starts and late finishes?
Overtime rate. Is overtime paid at 1.5× a rate that includes your differentials, not just your base rate?
Differentials. Is every night, weekend or charge hour listed with the right premium?
Breaks. Was a meal break deducted on a day you worked through it?
Pay period. Overtime is calculated per workweek. Bi-weekly pay covers two separate weeks, so check each one.

Some states pay more than the federal rule

California, Alaska, Nevada and Colorado have daily overtime rules, and California also has double time. If you work in one of those states, use the overtime calculator by state to enter hours day by day.

If your pay looks short

Write down each shift: date, start, end and breaks. A record made at the time is much stronger than one rebuilt from memory.
Ask your payroll or HR team to explain the difference, in writing if you can.
If it isn't fixed, you can contact your state labor department or file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division. Filing is free and confidential.

Questions

Does this work for bi-weekly paychecks?: Check each workweek separately. Federal overtime is based on the hours in each 7-day workweek, so 45 hours one week and 35 the next still includes 5 overtime hours, even though the two weeks average 40.
Are shift differentials included in overtime pay?: Yes, under the FLSA. Differentials for nights, weekends or other shifts are part of the regular rate, so overtime is paid at 1.5 times the blended rate, not only the base rate.
Does this include taxes?: No. It checks gross pay, before taxes and deductions. Compare it with the gross figure on your payslip.
I'm a nurse on an 8/80 schedule. Does this apply?: Not exactly. Hospitals can use a 14-day period with overtime after 8 hours a day or 80 hours in the period, by agreement with employees. See the nurses page for how that works.

Keep a record of every shift.

WageFlow does this math for every shift you log, so you can check each payslip. Free on iPhone, no account.

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Official sources

This page explains general rules to help you estimate pay. It is not legal advice. Union contracts, employer policies, exemptions and local laws can change what applies to you. If you think you were underpaid, contact your state labor department or the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division.