Salary Calculator
Convert hourly, weekly, biweekly, monthly, and annual pay.
Important Note : This calculator estimates gross pay before taxes, deductions, overtime, bonuses, commissions, and benefits. U.S. wage rules can depend on minimum wage, compensable hours, and overtime rules; for example, the U.S. Department of Labor notes that covered nonexempt employees generally require overtime pay after 40 hours in a workweek.
Use this Salary Calculator to convert pay between hourly, weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly, monthly, and annual amounts. Enter your pay amount, choose the pay period, and add your hours per week and paid weeks per year to estimate equivalent gross pay across common pay schedules.
This calculator is useful when comparing job offers, converting hourly wages to annual salary, estimating monthly income, or checking how a weekly or biweekly paycheck relates to annual pay.
Reviewed by: Ajax Calculator Team
Last updated: April 30, 2026
Method source: Standard gross pay conversion formulas using pay period, hours per week, paid weeks per year, monthly conversion, and semi-monthly conversion.
Editorial standards: See our Editorial Policy for how we review and update calculator content.
What This Salary Calculator Does
This calculator converts one pay amount into equivalent pay across several common periods:
- Hourly pay
- Weekly pay
- Biweekly pay
- Semi-monthly pay
- Monthly pay
- Annual salary
For hourly conversions, the calculator uses your entered hours per week and paid weeks per year. For salary-style conversions, it uses standard annual-to-period formulas such as annual pay divided by 12 for monthly pay and annual pay divided by 24 for semi-monthly pay.
Salary Calculator Formula
The calculator first converts the entered pay amount into an annual gross pay amount. Then it converts that annual amount into each pay period.
Annual salary from hourly pay:
Hourly pay × hours per week × paid weeks per year
Hourly pay from annual salary:
Annual salary ÷ (hours per week × paid weeks per year)
Weekly pay:
Annual salary ÷ paid weeks per year
Biweekly pay:
Annual salary ÷ 26
Semi-monthly pay:
Annual salary ÷ 24
Monthly pay:
Annual salary ÷ 12
These formulas estimate gross pay before taxes, deductions, benefits, retirement contributions, overtime, commissions, or bonuses.
Worked Example
Suppose your annual salary is $60,000, you work 40 hours per week, and you are paid for 52 weeks per year.
| Input | Example Value |
|---|---|
| Pay amount | $60,000 |
| Pay period | Annual |
| Hours per week | 40 |
| Paid weeks per year | 52 |
Hourly pay is calculated as:
$60,000 ÷ (40 × 52) = $28.85 per hour
Monthly pay is:
$60,000 ÷ 12 = $5,000 per month
Biweekly pay is:
$60,000 ÷ 26 = $2,307.69 every two weeks
Example Salary Conversion Table
| Pay Period | Estimated Gross Pay |
|---|---|
| Hourly | $28.85 |
| Weekly | $1,153.85 |
| Biweekly | $2,307.69 |
| Semi-monthly | $2,500.00 |
| Monthly | $5,000.00 |
| Annual | $60,000.00 |
How to Use the Salary Calculator
- Enter your pay amount.
- Select the pay period that matches the amount you entered.
- Enter your usual hours per week.
- Enter your paid weeks per year. Use 52 for a full paid year, or a lower number if you have unpaid weeks.
- Click Calculate to convert your pay into hourly, weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly, monthly, and annual amounts.
How to Interpret the Results
Hourly shows the estimated hourly rate based on the annual pay, weekly hours, and paid weeks per year.
Weekly shows estimated gross pay for one paid week.
Biweekly shows estimated gross pay every two weeks. Many employees receive 26 biweekly paychecks per year.
Semi-monthly shows estimated gross pay twice per month. This usually equals 24 paychecks per year.
Monthly shows estimated gross pay per month, calculated as annual pay divided by 12.
Annual shows the estimated yearly gross pay before taxes and deductions.
Hourly Pay vs Salary
Hourly pay is based on the number of hours worked. If hours change, total pay may change. Hourly employees may also be eligible for overtime depending on labor rules, job classification, and location.
Salary pay is often stated as an annual amount. Salaried workers may receive the same gross pay each pay period, but actual rules can depend on employment classification, contract terms, and local labor laws.
Biweekly vs Semi-Monthly Pay
Biweekly and semi-monthly pay are often confused, but they are not the same.
| Pay Schedule | How It Works | Typical Paychecks Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| Biweekly | Paid every two weeks | 26 |
| Semi-monthly | Paid twice per month | 24 |
Because biweekly pay has 26 pay periods and semi-monthly pay has 24 pay periods, the paycheck amount will be different even when the annual salary is the same.
Paid Weeks Per Year
The paid weeks per year input helps adjust hourly-to-annual conversions. Many full-time year-round workers use 52 paid weeks. However, some workers may use fewer paid weeks if they have unpaid time off, seasonal work, school-year schedules, or unpaid breaks.
For example:
- 52 weeks = full paid year
- 50 weeks = about 2 unpaid weeks
- 48 weeks = about 4 unpaid weeks
- 40 weeks = school-year or seasonal estimate
Changing this number can significantly affect the annual salary estimate.
Gross Pay vs Take-Home Pay
This calculator estimates gross pay. Gross pay is the amount before deductions. It is not the same as take-home pay.
Your actual take-home pay may be lower after items such as:
- Federal, state, or local income taxes
- Social Security or payroll taxes
- Medicare taxes
- Health insurance premiums
- Retirement contributions
- Union dues
- Wage garnishments
- Other payroll deductions
If you need a true paycheck estimate, use a paycheck or tax withholding calculator that includes your filing status, location, deductions, and benefits.
Common Uses for a Salary Calculator
This calculator can help you:
- Convert hourly wages to annual salary
- Convert annual salary to hourly pay
- Compare weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly, and monthly pay
- Estimate gross income from part-time work
- Compare job offers with different pay schedules
- Plan a monthly budget from annual salary
- Estimate the effect of unpaid weeks on yearly income
Salary Conversion Examples
| Hourly Rate | Hours Per Week | Paid Weeks Per Year | Estimated Annual Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00 | 40 | 52 | $31,200 |
| $20.00 | 40 | 52 | $41,600 |
| $25.00 | 40 | 52 | $52,000 |
| $30.00 | 40 | 52 | $62,400 |
| $35.00 | 40 | 52 | $72,800 |
Important Notes About Overtime
This calculator does not calculate overtime pay. If you work more than your regular weekly hours, your actual gross pay may be higher. Overtime rules vary by country, state, job type, and worker classification.
For a simple base-pay estimate, enter your regular weekly hours only. If overtime is a major part of your income, use a separate overtime calculator or review your employer’s payroll rules.
Assumptions and Limitations
- The calculator estimates gross pay before taxes and deductions.
- It assumes a consistent pay amount and work schedule.
- Hourly conversions depend on the hours per week and paid weeks per year you enter.
- Monthly pay is calculated as annual pay divided by 12.
- Semi-monthly pay is calculated as annual pay divided by 24.
- Biweekly pay is calculated as annual pay divided by 26.
- It does not include overtime, commissions, bonuses, tips, benefits, or reimbursements.
- It does not calculate taxes, withholdings, retirement contributions, or take-home pay.
- It does not determine whether a worker is exempt or nonexempt under labor law.
Tips for More Accurate Salary Estimates
- Use your actual scheduled hours per week.
- Use 52 paid weeks only if you are paid year-round.
- Use fewer paid weeks if you have unpaid leave, seasonal work, or unpaid school breaks.
- Remember that gross pay is not the same as take-home pay.
- Check whether bonuses, commissions, or overtime should be calculated separately.
- Compare pay offers using the same pay period to avoid confusion.
Related Calculators
- Inflation Calculator
- Interest Rate Calculator
- Loan Calculator
- Credit Card Interest Calculator
- Percentage Calculator
References
- U.S. Department of Labor: Hours Worked Under the Fair Labor Standards Act
- U.S. Department of Labor: Overtime
- U.S. Department of Labor: Minimum Wage
- IRS: Tax Withholding Estimator
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a salary calculator do?
A salary calculator converts pay between hourly, weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly, monthly, and annual amounts. It helps estimate equivalent gross pay across different pay periods.
How do I convert hourly pay to annual salary?
Multiply your hourly rate by your hours per week, then multiply by your paid weeks per year. For example, $25 per hour × 40 hours per week × 52 weeks = $52,000 per year.
How do I convert annual salary to hourly pay?
Divide annual salary by your total paid work hours for the year. For example, $60,000 ÷ (40 hours per week × 52 weeks) = about $28.85 per hour.
Is biweekly the same as semi-monthly?
No. Biweekly means every two weeks, usually 26 paychecks per year. Semi-monthly means twice per month, usually 24 paychecks per year.
Does this calculator show take-home pay?
No. This calculator estimates gross pay before taxes, deductions, insurance, retirement contributions, and other payroll adjustments.
Does this calculator include overtime?
No. It uses regular pay-period conversion formulas only. Overtime, bonuses, commissions, and tips should be calculated separately.
What should I enter for paid weeks per year?
Use 52 if you are paid for the full year. Use a lower number if you have unpaid weeks, seasonal work, school-year work, or unpaid leave.
Why is my actual paycheck different from this estimate?
Your paycheck may differ because of taxes, deductions, benefits, unpaid time, overtime, bonuses, commissions, payroll rounding, or employer-specific pay rules.
Can I use this calculator for part-time work?
Yes. Enter your part-time hours per week and the number of paid weeks per year to estimate hourly, weekly, monthly, and annual gross pay.
Disclaimer
This calculator is for educational and planning purposes only. It estimates gross pay conversions and does not provide tax, legal, payroll, employment, or financial advice. Actual wages, overtime eligibility, deductions, taxes, and take-home pay may depend on your employer, location, employment classification, benefits, and applicable labor laws.