What this calculator does
Job offers arrive in inconsistent units. One role quotes an hourly rate, another an annual salary, a third a daily contract rate. This calculator converts between all of them using your actual hours and weeks, so the comparison is on a like-for-like basis.
The weeks-worked field matters more than people expect. A salaried employee is generally paid for 52 weeks including leave; a casual or contractor working 48 weeks needs a materially higher rate to reach the same annual income.
The formula
Whatever you enter is converted to an annual figure first, using the hours, days and weeks you specify. Every other period is then derived from that annual total: dividing by 12 for months, 26 for fortnights, and by your hours worked for an hourly rate.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Annual | Total pay across a full year. |
| Fortnightly | Annual ÷ 26, the standard two-weekly pay cycle. |
| Hourly | Annual ÷ (hours per week × weeks worked). |
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Amount ($) | The amount you know. |
| Per | The period that amount covers. |
| Hours per week | Hours worked in a normal week. |
| Days per week | Days worked in a normal week. |
| Paid weeks per year | Paid weeks per year. Use 52 for a salaried role with paid leave; use fewer for contract or casual work with unpaid time off. |
When to use it
Comparing a contract rate to a salary
Contract day rates look high because they exclude leave, sick pay and often superannuation or retirement contributions. Enter the contractor’s realistic paid weeks, typically 44 to 48, to get a fair annual comparison.
Working out what a pay rise is worth
Convert both the old and new figures to the same period. An extra $2 an hour on a 38-hour week is close to $4,000 a year, which is easier to judge than the hourly increment.
Quoting a freelance rate
Work backwards from the annual income you need, allowing for unpaid weeks and non-billable time. The hourly figure it returns is the minimum you can charge to reach that target.
Budgeting on a monthly cycle
Monthly pay is not four weekly payments: it is 4.33. The monthly figure here divides the annual by twelve, which is what actually lands in the account.
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
What an hourly rate is worth per year
Full-time hours across a full year, at various hourly rates.
| Hourly rate | Annual | Monthly | Fortnightly | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25/hr | $49,400.00 | $4,116.67 | $1,900.00 | $950.00 |
| $35/hr | $69,160.00 | $5,763.33 | $2,660.00 | $1,330.00 |
| $45/hr | $88,920.00 | $7,410.00 | $3,420.00 | $1,710.00 |
| $60/hr | $118,560.00 | $9,880.00 | $4,560.00 | $2,280.00 |
| $80/hr | $158,080.00 | $13,173.33 | $6,080.00 | $3,040.00 |
| $120/hr | $237,120.00 | $19,760.00 | $9,120.00 | $4,560.00 |
How an annual salary breaks down
The same annual figures expressed in every other period.
| Annual salary | Monthly | Fortnightly | Weekly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $4,166.67 | $1,923.08 | $961.54 | $25.30 |
| $75,000 | $6,250.00 | $2,884.62 | $1,442.31 | $37.96 |
| $100,000 | $8,333.33 | $3,846.15 | $1,923.08 | $50.61 |
| $150,000 | $12,500.00 | $5,769.23 | $2,884.62 | $75.91 |
| $200,000 | $16,666.67 | $7,692.31 | $3,846.15 | $101.21 |
The same salary at different working hours
A fixed annual salary against different weekly hours shows the real hourly value of the role.
| Hours per week | Hourly | Daily | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 hours | $64.10 | $384.62 | $1,923.08 |
| 35 hours | $54.95 | $384.62 | $1,923.08 |
| 38 hours | $50.61 | $384.62 | $1,923.08 |
| 40 hours | $48.08 | $384.62 | $1,923.08 |
| 45 hours | $42.74 | $384.62 | $1,923.08 |
| 55 hours | $34.97 | $384.62 | $1,923.08 |
Questions
Is this gross or net pay?
Whatever you enter. The calculator converts between periods and does not apply tax, so enter gross figures for gross results, or your take-home pay for net ones.
How many weeks should I enter?
Use 52 for a salaried role where leave is paid. For casual, contract or freelance work, subtract the weeks you will not be paid for: commonly giving 44 to 48.
Why is monthly pay not four times weekly?
Because a year has about 4.33 weeks per month, not four. Multiplying weekly pay by four understates monthly income by roughly 8%.
Should I include superannuation or employer retirement contributions?
Only if you are comparing total packages consistently. Enter base pay for a base-pay comparison, or total package for a package comparison: mixing the two is the most common error when comparing offers.
To price a purchase in working hours, use the hours of work to buy something calculator. For shift pay including overtime, see the timesheet calculator.