How to convert salary to hourly
The formula is simple: hourly rate = annual salary ÷ (hours per week × paid weeks per year). On the standard 40-hour, 52-week year that's 2,080 working hours — so a 45,000 salary is about 21.63 per hour. Going the other way: annual salary = hourly × hours × weeks.
Why "paid weeks" matters
Salaried employees are usually paid for 52 weeks even when on holiday. Freelancers and contractors aren't — if you take 4 unpaid weeks off, your real year is 48 weeks, which makes each worked hour worth more than the naive division suggests. Set the slider to your reality before comparing offers.
Comparing a salary offer to an hourly offer
- Convert both to the same timescale first (this page does it instantly)
- Remember hourly roles often earn overtime (typically 1.5×) while salaried roles don't
- Factor benefits: pension match, insurance and paid leave can be worth 15–30% on top
Is this before or after tax?
Before tax (gross). Take-home pay depends on your country's tax bands and deductions.
What's a bi-weekly paycheck?
Payment every two weeks — 26 paychecks a year. It's two "weekly" amounts, and slightly different from twice-a-month (24 paychecks).
How many working hours are in a year?
40 h/week × 52 weeks = 2,080 hours. Subtract holidays and leave for your true worked hours.