Work hours & pay
On-call pay calculator
Combine your standby allowance with the pay for hours you were actually called out to work, to see your total on-call pay.
Standby pay is for being available; call-out pay is for hours you are actually asked to work, usually at a higher rate.
How on-call pay is made up
Being on call has two separate payments. A standby allowance rewards you for being available and ready to respond, whether or not anything happens. Call-out pay covers the hours you actually work when you are called in, and is usually paid at a premium. The total is standby allowance + call-out pay, where standby = standby hours × standby rate and call-out = call-out hours × (normal rate × multiplier).
Take a weekend on call: 48 standby hours at $3 an hour gives a $144 allowance just for being available. If you are called out twice for a total of 4 hours, and your $20 normal rate is paid at time and a half, the call-out rate is $30 an hour, so the call-out pay is $120. Added together, the weekend is worth $264. The standby allowance is sometimes a flat lump sum instead of an hourly figure; enter it as a one-hour period at the full amount if so.
| Element | Rate | Hours | Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standby allowance | $3 / h | 48 | $144 |
| Call-out (1.5×) | $30 / h | 4 | $120 |
| Total | — | 52 | $264 |
What to check in your agreement
On-call terms vary widely, so read the policy before you rely on a figure. Some employers pay a minimum number of hours per call-out regardless of how long the job takes, which protects you when a 20-minute fix still means getting dressed and logging in at 3am. Others pay travel time to and from site, or a higher multiplier for nights, weekends and public holidays. The multiplier here applies to every call-out hour equally, so split the periods if different hours were paid at different rates.
Whether on-call hours count as working time for rest-break and minimum-wage rules depends on how restricted you are. In the UK, time spent asleep at home waiting for a call is generally not counted as working time for the minimum wage, while time actively responding is. Keep a log of each call: the time it came in, what you did and how long it took, because standby and call-out hours are the figures most often disputed on a payslip.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between standby pay and call-out pay?
Standby pay is an allowance for being available and ready to respond, paid whether or not you are needed. Call-out pay covers the hours you actually work when called in, usually at a higher rate.
Is on-call time counted as working hours?
It depends how restricted you are. Actively responding to a call is working time, while waiting at home, free to sleep, often is not. Check your contract and local rules for rest breaks and minimum wage.
What multiplier applies to a call-out?
Many employers pay call-out hours at time and a half or double, and some set a minimum number of paid hours per call-out. The exact premium is set by your contract, not by law in most cases.