Salary to Hourly Calculator
Convert annual salary to your true hourly rate — accounting for PTO, holidays, overtime, and even commute. Compare job offers, watch live earnings, and find your minimum freelance rate.
How to Use This Calculator
1
Enter Your Salary
Input your annual salary or hourly wage. Toggle the direction button to switch between Annual→Hourly and Hourly→Annual.
2
Set Your Work Schedule
Specify hours per week, weeks per year, PTO days, holidays, and optionally commute time. These affect your true hourly rate significantly.
3
Explore Your Rates
See 3 hourly rates (standard, adjusted, true), use the Goal Seeker in Tab 2, and compare job offers or analyze scenarios in Tab 3.
Key Terms
- Gross Pay
- Total compensation before taxes and deductions are subtracted.
- True Hourly Rate
- Your salary divided by actual hours worked (excluding PTO and holidays). Higher than standard rate.
- Effective Hourly Rate
- Earnings per hour when accounting for commute time, overtime, or work-related expenses — the real cost of your job.
- Exempt vs. Non-Exempt
- Exempt employees receive a fixed salary regardless of hours. Non-exempt must be paid overtime for hours over 40/week.
Real-World Examples
Example 1
Salary to Hourly
$65,000/year, 40 hrs/week, 10 PTO days, 11 holidays
Standard: $31.25/hr | Adjusted: $33.16/hr | True: $34.01/hr. PTO alone is worth $3,125.
Example 2
Comparing Two Offers
Job A: $80k, 40 hrs, 15 PTO. Job B: $90k, 50 hrs, 5 PTO.
Job A true rate: $42.55/hr. Job B true rate: $37.97/hr. Job A is actually better per hour worked.
Understanding Your True Hourly Rate
The 2,080 Hour Standard
The standard work year of 2,080 hours (40 hours x 52 weeks) is the baseline for salary-to-hourly conversion. But most workers do not work all 52 weeks — subtract vacation, holidays, and sick days for a more accurate picture. With 10 PTO days and 11 holidays, you work roughly 1,912 hours per year, making your true hourly rate about 8.7% higher than the standard rate.
Salary vs. Hourly: Which Is Better?
Salaried positions often include benefits (health insurance, retirement, PTO) worth 20-30% of base pay. When comparing a $60,000 salary to $30/hour contract work, the salary may actually pay more when total compensation is considered. Always account for benefits, job security, and flexibility.
The Hidden Cost of Commuting
A 30-minute one-way commute adds roughly 260 hours per year to your effective "work time" — equivalent to 6.5 full work weeks. For a $75,000 salary at 40 hours/week, this can reduce your true effective rate from $36/hr to under $30/hr. Remote work options are worth 15-20% of salary in effective earnings for many workers.
Using Your True Rate in Negotiations
Knowing your true hourly rate helps you evaluate competing offers accurately. A $90k offer requiring 50 hours/week can pay less per hour than an $80k offer at 40 hours/week. Use Tab 3's Job Offer Comparison to see the full picture before accepting.