Salary Alchemist
Type as you think—see annual and hourly pay update instantly.
Inputs
Result
Pro tip: toggle vacation to instantly see the effect of unpaid time off.
How to Use This Salary Calculator (Annual ↔ Hourly)
- Enter your Annual Salary (e.g., $65,000) — the hourly wage calculates automatically
- Or enter your Hourly Wage (e.g., $31.25/hr) — the annual salary calculates automatically
- Adjust Hours per Week (default 40 hours, typical full-time)
- Adjust Weeks per Year (default 52 weeks, standard full-year)
- Toggle 2 weeks unpaid vacation — automatically sets weeks to 50 (for those without paid time off)
- Results update instantly — see both annual salary and hourly wage side-by-side
How Salary Conversion is Calculated (Formulas)
Hourly Wage = Annual Salary ÷ (Hours per Week × Weeks per Year)
Annual Salary = Hourly Wage × (Hours per Week × Weeks per Year)
Real Examples
Example 1 — Full-time (40 hrs/week, 52 weeks/year):
- Annual Salary: $65,000
- Hours/Week: 40 | Weeks/Year: 52 → Total hours: 2,080
- Hourly Wage: $31.25/hr ($65k ÷ 2,080)
Example 2 — With 2 weeks unpaid vacation (40 hrs/week, 50 weeks/year):
- Annual Salary: $65,000
- Hours/Week: 40 | Weeks/Year: 50 (vacation toggle on) → Total hours: 2,000
- Hourly Wage: $32.50/hr (higher because working fewer weeks for same annual pay)
Example 3 — Part-time (20 hrs/week, 52 weeks/year):
- Hourly Wage: $25/hr
- Hours/Week: 20 | Weeks/Year: 52 → Total hours: 1,040
- Annual Salary: $26,000
Salary Conversion Reference Table
Why Use This Salary Calculator?
- ✅ Bidirectional Conversion — Edit annual or hourly, both update instantly
- ✅ Vacation Toggle — Easily see impact of unpaid time off (2 weeks vacation)
- ✅ Custom Hours/Weeks — Works for full-time, part-time, contractors, freelancers
- ✅ Real-Time Updates — Results change as you type
- ✅ Free & Unlimited — No signup required
- ✅ Mobile Friendly — Responsive design for phones, tablets, and desktops
Frequently Asked Questions
How many work hours are in a year?
Standard full-time (US): 40 hours/week × 52 weeks = 2,080 hours/year
With 2 weeks vacation (unpaid): 40 × 50 = 2,000 hours/year
Part-time (20 hrs/week, 52 weeks): 20 × 52 = 1,040 hours/year
Adjust hours/week and weeks/year to match your schedule.
What’s the difference between salary and hourly?
Salaried employees: Fixed annual pay regardless of hours worked (exempt from overtime).
Hourly employees: Paid per hour worked; overtime (1.5×) typically for hours over 40/week (non-exempt).
This calculator shows the equivalent rate — useful for comparing job offers or freelance rates.
How does unpaid vacation affect my hourly rate?
If you’re salaried ($65k/year) but take 2 weeks unpaid vacation, you’re effectively working fewer weeks for the same annual pay. Your effective hourly rate increases because the same annual salary is spread over fewer hours. Toggle the vacation switch to see the difference.
How do I calculate freelance/contractor hourly rates?
Freelancers should account for:
– Billable hours only (not all hours worked on admin, marketing)
– Vacation & sick days (unpaid) — reduce weeks/year
– Holidays & downtime — reduce weeks/year further
– Business expenses & taxes — typically add 20-50% to desired hourly rate
Example: Want $80k/year, work 40 hrs/week, 48 weeks/year (4 weeks off) = $80k ÷ (40×48) = $41.67/hour minimum (before expenses/taxes).
What’s a good hourly rate for my salary?
Quick mental math: For standard 40hr/52wk (2,080 hours/year):
– Divide annual salary by 2,000 (rough estimate): $60k ÷ 2,000 = $30/hr
– Exact formula: Annual ÷ 2,080 = $28.85/hr ($60k actual)
Use this calculator for precise conversion.
Related Career & Financial Calculators
- Retirement Calculator — Plan retirement based on your salary
- 401(k) Growth Calculator — Based on salary and contribution %
- Budget Calculator — Plan monthly expenses
- Tax Calculator — Estimate take-home pay
Disclaimer: This salary calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only. Actual take-home pay varies based on taxes, deductions, overtime, benefits, and other factors. Consult a financial advisor or HR professional for exact compensation calculations.