How the conversion works
An annual salary is just an hourly rate multiplied by every hour you're paid for in a year. Flip the formula to go either direction.
- hours/week — hours worked per week (default 40, full-time)
- weeks/year — weeks worked per year (default 52; lower it to account for unpaid time off)
More detail
Why 40 × 52 = 2,080 hours
The standard U.S. full-time year is 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), which assumes no unpaid time off. Freelancers or anyone with unpaid vacation should lower “weeks per year” — e.g. 48 weeks if you take a month unpaid — since dividing by fewer hours raises the true hourly value of your time.
Comparing offers. When comparing a salaried offer to a contract/hourly one, convert both to the same basis first. A contract rate that looks high per hour can end up lower annually once you subtract weeks with no pay.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert a $52,000 salary to an hourly rate?
Divide by total yearly hours: 52,000 ÷ (40 × 52) = $25.00/hr. Enter 52000 above with the default 40 hours/week and 52 weeks/year to see it computed.
How do I convert $25/hr back to an annual salary?
Multiply by total yearly hours: 25 × 40 × 52 = $52,000/yr. Switch the input basis to “hourly” above and enter 25 to check.
Why would I lower weeks per year below 52?
52 weeks assumes you're paid for every week, including holidays and vacation. If some weeks are unpaid, lowering “weeks per year” (e.g. to 48 or 50) gives a more accurate hourly-equivalent rate for a fixed salary.
Does this include taxes or overtime?
No — this is a gross, straight-time conversion only. It doesn't account for tax withholding, benefits, or overtime pay, so treat the result as a pre-tax comparison figure, not take-home pay.