Question

The local hospital offers an incentive for nurses to work longer shifts. After a regular 8-hour shift, they can make double time on the remainder of their shift. That is, they make twice their salary for each hour they work over 8 hours. Nurse Jane works 12 hour shifts Monday through Friday. Her weekly gross income is $2136.00, what is her base salary?

Answer 1

$26.70/hour

Explanation:

Let's look at 1 day.

She works a 12 hour shift. For the first 8 hours, she receives her regular hourly salary. That means 8 hours of pay at her regular hourly salary.

Then she works another 4 hours at her overtime pay. Her overtime pay is twice her regular salary, so the extra 4 hours at overtime pay are paid as if they were 8 hours of regular work. In effect, she is earning 16 hours of regular pay per day.

Monday through Friday means 5 days of work per week.

5 days/week * 16 hours/day = 80 hours/week

She is earning as if she were working 80 hours of regular pay per week.

base salary = (gross weekly income)/(effective number of hours in 1 week)

base salary = $2136/80

base salary = $26.70/hour