Salary Calculator & Converter
Convert any pay rate into all the others: hourly → annual, monthly → annual, weekly → annual, or any combination. Multi-currency, optional tax estimation. Useful for comparing job offers, freelance rates and HR compensation analysis.
Hourly to Annual — and Every Other Direction
This calculator converts between every common pay basis using the hours-per-week and weeks-per-year values you provide. Standard U.S. full-time is 40 hours × 52 weeks = 2,080 hours per year, but many roles use different numbers. Teachers typically work 36-44 weeks; freelancers commonly subtract 4-6 weeks for vacation and slow periods; German full-time is 35-38 hours. The conversion formulas:
- Annual = Hourly × hours-per-week × weeks-per-year
- Monthly = Annual / 12 (use this for budgeting)
- Bi-weekly = Annual / 26
- Weekly = Annual / 52
- Daily = Annual / (work-weeks × 5)
The hourly-to-annual conversion many people get wrong
A common shortcut: "$25/hour ≈ $50,000/year" (double the hourly times 1,000). That works exactly when you do 40 hours × 50 weeks = 2,000 hours. Here's what changes at different work patterns:
| Schedule | Hours/Year | Annual at $25/hr |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time, no vacation | 2,080 | $52,000 |
| Full-time, 2 weeks PTO | 2,000 | $50,000 |
| Full-time, 4 weeks PTO | 1,920 | $48,000 |
| Freelance, 80% utilization | 1,664 | $41,600 |
| Part-time, 25 hrs/week | 1,300 | $32,500 |
If you're moving from W-2 to freelance, multiply your current annual salary by ~1.35 to get the equivalent hourly rate. The 35% premium covers self-employment tax, lost employer benefits, vacation time, and utilization gaps.
Why Bi-Weekly ≠ Half-Monthly
If you're paid every two weeks (bi-weekly), you receive 26 paychecks per year, not 24. Most months you'll get 2 paychecks; twice a year you'll get a 3-paycheck month. This is one of the most underused budgeting hacks: dedicate those "bonus" paychecks entirely to savings or debt and you accelerate goals significantly without changing your monthly budget.
Semi-monthly (15th and 30th) gives you 24 paychecks of equal size — no "bonus" months but slightly higher per check.
About the Tax Estimate
The tax field is a quick estimate that lumps federal income tax, state tax (if any), Social Security and Medicare into a single percentage. Typical combined effective rates for U.S. workers:
| Annual Income | No-Income-Tax State (TX, FL, etc.) | Average State (~5%) | High-Tax State (CA, NY) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | 18% | 21% | 23% |
| $80,000 | 22% | 27% | 30% |
| $150,000 | 27% | 32% | 37% |
| $300,000 | 32% | 38% | 44% |
For a more accurate breakdown, use the dedicated income tax calculator or the official IRS Tax Withholding Estimator.
Median Wages by Country (Reference Points)
According to OECD data (most recent):
- United States: ~$77,000 annual mean wage (2023, BLS)
- Germany: ~€51,000 ($55,000)
- United Kingdom: ~£35,000 ($44,000)
- Canada: ~CAD $62,000 ($46,000)
- Australia: ~AUD $98,000 ($65,000)
The BLS Occupational Employment Statistics publishes salary data by job title and metro area — the canonical source for U.S. salary research.
Negotiation: Always Negotiate Salary, Not Monthly
- Negotiate annual salary, not monthly take-home. The annual figure is what determines reviews, raises, bonuses and severance.
- Use BLS or Glassdoor data to anchor on a real range, not an opening offer.
- Counter once. Multiple back-and-forths look weak; a single firm counter is professional.
- Negotiate benefits separately — 401(k) match, signing bonus, vacation days, equity, remote flexibility. Sometimes there's more flex in benefits than base salary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as "full-time"?
Legally in the U.S., the Affordable Care Act defines full-time as 30+ hours/week for benefits eligibility. Most employers consider 35-40 hours full-time. Germany and France average 35-37 hours; Japan averages 40+; Norway 37.5.
Should I negotiate hourly or salary?
For salaried W-2 roles, always negotiate the annual figure. For contract or freelance work, hourly is clearer because it caps your obligation and allows pricing of overtime. If a client wants a "project rate," still calculate hourly underlying it.
What's the difference between gross and net pay?
Gross is total earned. Net (take-home) is after taxes, FICA (Social Security + Medicare = 7.65%), insurance premiums, 401(k) contributions, and any other deductions. Most U.S. workers see 65-80% of gross arrive in their bank account.
How does overtime work?
Under the U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act, non-exempt employees must be paid 1.5× their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. Salaried employees above ~$43,888 (2024) are typically exempt. DOL overtime rules here.