How to use this salary calculator
Choose whether you’re starting from an hourly wage or an annual salary, enter the amount, and set your typical hours per week and weeks worked per year. The calculator gives the equivalent figure and breaks it down into daily, weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly and monthly pay so you can compare offers on any pay schedule.
The standard conversion
Full-time work in the US is usually defined as 40 hours × 52 weeks = 2,080 hours a year. That gives two quick rules:
- Hourly → annual: multiply by 2,080. ($20/hr ≈ $41,600)
- Annual → hourly: divide by 2,080. ($75,000 ≈ $36.06/hr)
An even faster mental shortcut: double the hourly rate and add three zeros. $30/hr ≈ $60,000. It’s within a couple of percent.
Worked example
You’re offered $28 an hour for a 37.5-hour week with four weeks of unpaid leave (48 weeks a year):
| Period | Gross pay |
|---|---|
| Weekly | $1,050 |
| Bi-weekly | $2,100 |
| Monthly | $4,200 |
| Annual | $50,400 |
Compare that to a $52,000 salary for a 40-hour week: the salaried job pays slightly more per year but the hourly job pays more per hour ($28 vs $25). Which is better depends on whether you expect overtime, whether paid leave is included, and the benefits package.
Pay periods explained
- Weekly: 52 paychecks a year.
- Bi-weekly: every two weeks, 26 paychecks. Two months a year contain three paydays.
- Semi-monthly: twice a month (often the 15th and last day), 24 paychecks, each slightly larger than bi-weekly.
- Monthly: 12 paychecks.
Hourly vs salaried
Hourly employees in the US are generally non-exempt and must be paid overtime (1.5× rate) beyond 40 hours a week. Salaried employees above the federal exemption threshold usually aren’t. If a job involves regular overtime, an hourly rate can be worth significantly more than the equivalent salary. Conversely, a salary often comes with paid holidays, sick leave and benefits that aren’t reflected in the raw numbers above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert hourly pay to annual salary?
Multiply the hourly rate by hours per week, then by weeks per year. At 40 hours and 52 weeks that's hourly × 2,080. So $25/hour is $52,000 a year.
How do I convert salary to hourly?
Divide the annual salary by hours worked per year (2,080 for a standard full-time schedule). $60,000 ÷ 2,080 = $28.85 per hour.
Should I use 52 or 50 weeks?
Use 52 if you're paid for vacation (salaried, or hourly with paid time off). Use 50 or fewer if you're hourly and take unpaid time off.
Are these figures before or after tax?
Before. They're gross pay. Take-home pay depends on federal and state income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and any benefits deductions.
Last updated August 26, 2026.