A salary is almost always quoted as one big annual number, but life bills you by the month, the paycheck, and the hour. This calculator takes that single annual figure and breaks it into monthly, biweekly, weekly, and hourly wages — then, if you add your estimated tax rate, shows a rough gross-to-after-tax take-home estimate. Adjust the hours-per-week and weeks-per-year fields and every figure updates instantly, so part-timers, contractors, and people on compressed schedules get a rate that actually matches their calendar rather than a generic 2,080-hour default.
How to Use
- Enter your Annual Salary (Gross) — the full yearly amount before any taxes or deductions. This is the number on your offer letter.
- Set Hours per Week. The US full-time standard is 40, but if you work 37.5, 32, or four ten-hour days, type your real average so the hourly rate reflects it.
- Choose Weeks Worked per Year. Most salaried employees enter 52. Seasonal workers, academics, and anyone taking unpaid leave should lower this to reflect the weeks they are actually paid.
- Optionally type your Effective Tax Rate — your combined federal, state, and FICA withholding as a single percentage, say 22%. Leave it at 0 if you only want gross pay figures.
The result card then shows your monthly, biweekly, weekly, and hourly wage, plus an estimated after-tax annual and monthly take-home.
The Conversion Math
Every pay period is just the annual salary divided by a fixed number. A standard full-time year has 40 hours per week times 52 weeks = 2,080 working hours. From that one constant:
- Hourly = Annual ÷ 2,080 (or your custom hours-per-week × weeks-per-year)
- Monthly = Annual ÷ 12
- Biweekly = Annual ÷ 26 (26 paychecks a year)
- Weekly = Annual ÷ 52
The after-tax figures simply multiply the gross by your retention rate: if your effective tax rate is 22%, you keep 78%, so after-tax pay = Annual × 0.78.
Examples
Example 1 — $75,000 a year is how much an hour? Divide by 2,080: $75,000 ÷ 2,080 = $36.06 per hour. Per month that is $75,000 ÷ 12 = $6,250; every two weeks you earn about $2,884.62, and each week is roughly $1,442.31. This is the single most common salary search on the web, and the math is just 2,080 in the denominator.
Example 2 — $25 an hour is how much a year? Flip it around. At 40 hours a week for 52 weeks: $25 × 40 × 52 = $52,000 per year before taxes. Check it against Example 1: $52,000 ÷ 2,080 lands right back on $25. This is why recruiters love quoting hourly — a $25 contract rate sounds modest until you multiply it out.
Example 3 — Gross versus after-tax on $120,000. A $120,000 salary looks like $10,000 a month, but with a 22% effective tax rate you actually keep $120,000 × 0.78 = $93,600 a year, or about $7,800 a month take-home. The gap between the $10,000 gross and the $7,800 net is exactly the number that surprises new graduates — budget for the smaller figure.
Example 4 — A non-standard schedule. Someone earning $60,000 but working 37.5 hours a week for 50 paid weeks has annual hours of 37.5 × 50 = 1,875, not 2,080. Their true hourly rate is $60,000 ÷ 1,875 = $32.00, which is higher than the naive $28.85 you would get from dividing by 2,080. Adjusting the two sliders is what makes the result honest.
Biweekly vs. Semimonthly, and Salary vs. Wage
Two confusions trip up almost everyone. First, biweekly means every two weeks — 26 paychecks a year — while semimonthly means twice a month, usually the 15th and the last day, which is 24 paychecks a year. The two differ by two checks annually, so they are not interchangeable. Second, a salaried employee is paid a fixed amount regardless of hours worked (often exempt from overtime under the FLSA), while a wage employee is paid by the hour and typically earns 1.5× for hours over 40. This calculator assumes a clean conversion between the two, but overtime and benefits like health insurance and 401(k) match sit on top of the raw wage and should be priced separately.
FAQ
How do I convert an annual salary to an hourly wage?
Divide your annual salary by the number of hours you work in a year. For a standard full-time schedule that is 2,080 hours (40 hours per week × 52 weeks). So $75,000 ÷ 2,080 = $36.06 per hour. If your hours or weeks differ, enter them in the calculator and it uses your own annual-hour total instead.
How much is $25 an hour per year?
At $25 per hour, working 40 hours per week for 52 weeks, your annual gross salary is $25 × 40 × 52 = $52,000 before taxes and deductions. Drop your real hours or weeks into the calculator to refine it.
What is the difference between biweekly and semimonthly pay?
Biweekly means you are paid every two weeks, which yields 26 paychecks per year. Semimonthly means twice a month, usually on the 15th and the last business day, which yields 24 paychecks per year. Biweekly paychecks are smaller but you receive two extra "bonus" months' worth of pay each year.
How many working hours are in a full-time year?
A standard US full-time year contains 2,080 working hours: 40 hours per week × 52 weeks. This does not subtract holidays or paid vacation — those are already paid for in your salary. A "paid" vacation day means you are compensated for not working that day.
Is this calculator showing gross or net pay?
By default it shows gross pay — your full earnings before taxes. If you enter an Effective Tax Rate, it additionally estimates your after-tax (net) pay by multiplying gross by your retention percentage. The estimate is simplified and does not model itemized deductions, 401(k) contributions, or state-specific brackets.
What is the difference between a salary and a wage?
A salaried employee receives a fixed annual amount regardless of hours worked and is often exempt from overtime. A wage employee is paid per hour and, under the Fair Labor Standards Act, generally earns time-and-a-half for hours beyond 40 in a week. This calculator converts freely between the two because the math is identical, but your legal overtime eligibility depends on which classification you have.
Does the hourly rate change if I work fewer weeks per year?
Yes. If you are paid for 50 weeks rather than 52, your annual hours drop to 2,000, so the same annual salary divided by fewer hours produces a higher effective hourly rate. Use the Weeks Worked per Year slider to account for unpaid leave, furloughs, or a seasonal schedule.
Disclaimer
This salary calculator is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, payroll, or legal advice. All gross figures are simple period conversions based on the hours, weeks, and salary you enter; the after-tax estimate uses a flat effective rate and does not reflect actual federal, state, or FICA withholding, deductions, or benefits. Actual paychecks vary by employer, location, filing status, and benefit elections. Always confirm your true take-home pay with your payroll department or a qualified tax professional before making financial decisions.