The 2,080-hour rule
A full-time year is 40 hours × 52 weeks = 2,080 hours. Multiply your hourly rate by 2,080 for a yearly salary, or divide a salary by 2,080 for the hourly equivalent. A faster mental shortcut: double the hourly rate and add “000” — $30 an hour ≈ $60,000 a year.
When the simple formula is wrong
- Unpaid time off. Contractors and gig workers aren't paid for holidays. Two unpaid weeks cut a $30/hour income from $62,400 to $60,000.
- Overtime. Hours over 40 a week (and over 8 a day in California) pay 1.5×. Use the paycheck calculator in hourly mode to include overtime.
- Salaried hours creep. A $75,000 salary is $36 an hour at 40 hours a week but only $28.85 at 50.
Gross vs. take-home
Every number in the table above is before tax unless marked. Taxes typically take 15–30% of an hourly worker's pay once federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and state tax are withheld — toggle Net in the converter to see your state.
