Salary Calculator
Convert any salary to every pay period — adjusted for your actual working days.
Annual (Unadjusted)
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Annual (Adjusted)
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How the Salary Calculator Works
This calculator converts any pay amount into every common pay period: hourly, daily, weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, monthly, quarterly, and annual. It shows two parallel sets of results — unadjusted (based on a full 52-week year) and adjusted (subtracting your paid holidays and vacation days) — so you see both the theoretical and practical picture of your compensation.
Enter your salary and the frequency it was quoted in, then set your working schedule and paid time off. Results update instantly as you type.
The Conversion Formula
Every conversion first normalizes your salary to an annual figure, then divides by the number of pay periods in a year:
Where S is your entered salary and N is the multiplier for your pay frequency: 52 for weekly, 26 for bi-weekly, 24 for semi-monthly, 12 for monthly, 4 for quarterly. Hourly and daily figures are then computed by dividing the annual total by total hours or days worked per year.
Unadjusted vs. Adjusted: What the Difference Means
The unadjusted column treats the year as if you work every scheduled weekday. For a 5-day, 40-hour week: 260 working days and 2,080 working hours per year. This is the figure payroll systems use for baseline hourly rate conversions.
The adjusted column reflects reality: subtract your paid holidays and vacation days from the total. With 11 US federal holidays and 15 vacation days, you work 234 days and 1,872 hours per year. A $75,000 annual salary therefore works out to:
- Unadjusted hourly: $75,000 ÷ 2,080 = $36.06/hr
- Adjusted hourly: $75,000 ÷ 1,872 = $40.06/hr
The adjusted rate is higher because paid time off effectively increases your compensation per hour actually worked. This distinction matters most when negotiating freelance rates or comparing a salaried role with an hourly contract position.
Pay Period Frequencies Explained
The eight pay frequencies represent different payroll schedules, each with trade-offs:
- Hourly — paid per hour worked; earnings vary with actual hours. Most common for part-time and hourly workers.
- Daily — paid per day; common in construction, temporary staffing, and some consulting arrangements.
- Weekly — 52 paychecks per year. Provides steady cash flow; less common for salaried professionals.
- Bi-weekly — 26 paychecks per year. The most common US pay schedule for salaried employees. Note: two months per year will have three pay periods instead of two.
- Semi-monthly — exactly 24 paychecks per year, always on fixed dates. Easier to sync with monthly bills; paycheck amount is consistent every month.
- Monthly — 12 paychecks per year. Standard in many European countries; common for executives and some professional roles in the US.
- Quarterly — 4 paychecks per year. Rare as a sole compensation structure; appears more often in board compensation and some contractor arrangements.
- Annual — a single payment per year. Typically a year-end bonus structure rather than primary salary delivery.
Comparing Job Offers with Different Pay Structures
Always convert competing offers to the same unit before comparing. The adjusted annual (or adjusted hourly) is the most honest comparison because it reflects real take-home per time worked.
Consider two offers:
- Offer A: $40/hour, no paid time off, 40 hours/week → $83,200/year
- Offer B: $75,000 salary with 26 days PTO → effective hourly of $40.06 plus $7,692 in paid time off value
Offer B's total compensation is actually higher once PTO is quantified. The same logic applies to remote work allowances, health insurance contributions, retirement matching, and bonuses — all of which are invisible in a simple salary number but represent real compensation value.
Working-Year Assumptions
This calculator assumes 52 working weeks per year, consistent with US Bureau of Labor Statistics methodology and standard payroll practice. The unadjusted year contains exactly 52 × hours_per_week hours and 52 × days_per_week days. The adjusted year subtracts your specified holidays and vacation days, then scales hours proportionally.
For self-employed individuals and freelancers, the adjusted figures are especially important: unlike salaried employees, you are not paid for days off. A freelancer earning $50/hour who works 234 days at 8 hours/day earns $93,600/year — but must also cover their own health insurance, self-employment taxes (approximately 15.3% in the US), and retirement savings, which a salaried employee typically receives as benefits. Accounting for these costs, the equivalent salaried offer would need to be significantly higher than $93,600 to represent equal total compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between bi-weekly and semi-monthly pay?
Bi-weekly pay means a paycheck every two weeks — 26 paychecks per year. Semi-monthly pay means two paychecks per month on fixed dates (e.g., the 1st and 15th) — exactly 24 paychecks per year. For a $75,000 salary: bi-weekly = $2,884.62 per check; semi-monthly = $3,125.00 per check. Bi-weekly produces two months per year with three paychecks, which helps with cash flow but can complicate monthly budgeting.
What is the difference between adjusted and unadjusted salary figures?
The unadjusted figures assume you work every available weekday — 260 days per year on a 5-day schedule. The adjusted figures account for paid holidays and vacation days. With 11 holidays and 15 vacation days, you actually work 234 days. Your effective hourly rate is higher in the adjusted column because you earn the same annual salary for fewer hours worked — the paid time off inflates your real compensation per hour.
How many working days and hours are in a standard US work year?
A standard US work year contains 260 weekdays (52 weeks × 5 days). Most US payroll systems use 2,080 hours (52 × 40) as the baseline for hourly conversions. After the typical 11 federal holidays and 15 vacation days (26 days total), the average US worker puts in approximately 234 days or 1,872 hours annually. This calculator uses whatever values you enter to give you precise results for your situation.
How do I compare a salaried offer with an hourly offer?
Convert both to the same unit — adjusted annual is most accurate. For example: a $38/hour job (no PTO, 40 hr/week) pays $38 × 2,080 = $79,040/year. A $75,000 salaried job with 26 days PTO pays an effective $75,000 ÷ 1,872 hours = $40.06/hour. But the salaried role includes paid time off worth roughly $7,500 in equivalent wages. Always factor in PTO, health benefits, and retirement contributions before deciding.