Military Time for Payroll: The Complete Conversion Chart
If you work in healthcare, aviation, law enforcement, or emergency services, your timesheet likely relies on the 24-Hour Clock (commonly known as Military Time). Converting these hours correctly is the first and most critical step to ensuring your paycheck is completely accurate.
The Golden Rule of Military Time:
For any time after 12:00 PM (Noon), simply add 12 to the hours.
Example: To convert 3:00 PM, add 12. (3 + 12 = 15). The military time is 1500.
Payroll Conversion Chart
Use this quick reference table to translate your scheduled shifts into payroll-ready formats. Notice how morning hours remain largely the same, while evening hours require the +12 formula.
| Standard Time (12h) | Military Time (24h) |
|---|---|
| 12:00 AM (Midnight) | 0000 |
| 1:00 AM | 0100 |
| 6:00 AM | 0600 |
| 8:00 AM | 0800 |
| 11:00 AM | 1100 |
| 12:00 PM (Noon) | 1200 |
| 1:00 PM | 1300 |
| 3:00 PM | 1500 |
| 5:00 PM | 1700 |
| 8:00 PM | 2000 |
| 11:00 PM | 2300 |
Why Do Payroll Software Systems Use Military Time?
When calculating wages, "AM" and "PM" errors cost money. If an employee writes "5:00" on a timesheet, a payroll clerk does not intuitively know if that means morning or evening. By using 17:00 (5 PM), there is absolutely zero confusion.
More importantly, military time makes subtracting "Start Time" from "End Time" much easier for payroll software like ADP, Paycom, or QuickBooks.
How to Do Timesheet Math
If you work a standard 9-to-5 shift, standard math is difficult because the clock "resets" at noon (5 - 9 = -4). But with military time, 5:00 PM becomes 17:00. The math is suddenly very easy:
- End Time: 17:00
- Start Time: 09:00
- Math: 17 - 9 = 8 Hours Worked
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Midnight 2400 or 0000?
For payroll purposes, 0000 is the standard start of a new day. 2400 indicates the end of a shift that closes exactly at midnight. For example, a shift from 4 PM to Midnight would be written as 1600 to 2400.
Do I use a colon in military time?
Traditionally in the armed forces, military time does not use a colon (e.g., 1700). However, many digital payroll systems and hospital charting software use the 24-hour clock format with a colon (e.g., 17:00) to distinguish hours from minutes clearly.
Why do hospitals use military time?
Hospitals use military time to eliminate ambiguity. Confusing 8:00 AM with 8:00 PM on a patient's chart could lead to fatal medication errors. It also heavily streamlines the payroll process for nurses tracking complex 12-hour shifts across multiple days.
Need to calculate your full week?
If you have your clock-in and clock-out times recorded in military format, our Time Card Calculator handles all the math—including lunch breaks and overtime—automatically.