The Quick Math
Hourly rate = annual salary ÷ (hours per week × weeks per year). At the standard 40 hours and 52 weeks (2,080 hours), a handy shortcut is: salary ÷ 2 ÷ 1000 ≈ hourly rate. So $65,000 ≈ $31/hour. This calculator does it precisely and shows weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly equivalents too.
Why Your Real Hourly Rate May Be Lower
Salaried roles often quietly expand: if your "40-hour" job actually takes 50 hours, your $31/hour is really $25/hour. Run the calculation with your honest hours — it's one of the most clarifying career math exercises there is.
Comparing Salary vs Hourly Offers
- Hourly W-2 roles pay overtime; most salaried roles don't. 5 hours of weekly overtime at time-and-a-half changes the comparison a lot.
- Contract rates need to cover what employers normally pay: health insurance, employer payroll taxes, retirement match, paid leave. A common rule: a fair contract rate is 1.3–1.5× the W-2 hourly equivalent.
- Use working weeks = 52 to compare offers, since paid vacation is still paid.