How this salary calculator works
Enter your pay amount and how it is quoted — hourly, daily, weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, monthly, quarterly, or annual. Set hours and days per week (defaults match a full-time 40-hour, 5-day schedule), then enter paid holidays and vacation days per year. Click Calculate to see every frequency in two columns: unadjusted (ignoring time off) and adjusted (scaled to the days you actually work after subtracting holidays and vacation).
Following common calculator conventions, hourly and daily amounts you type are treated as unadjusted base rates. Weekly through annual amounts are treated as figures already consistent with your holiday and vacation settings (adjusted). If your paycheck is weekly gross before PTO logic, use hourly or daily input instead.
Salary vs wage
A salary is usually a fixed annual amount paid in equal installments, often for exempt roles without overtime. A wage is typically an hourly rate times hours worked; non-exempt workers are often entitled to overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This tool converts between pay frequencies for either style of compensation.
Pay frequencies
Bi-weekly means every two weeks (26 pay periods per year in most years). Semi-monthly means twice per month (24 pay periods). For the same annual pay, semi-monthly checks are slightly larger than bi-weekly checks because there are fewer checks per year.
Unadjusted vs adjusted math
Unadjusted annual pay from an hourly rate uses: hourly × hours per day × (52 × days per week). For example, $30/hour × 8 hours × 260 weekdays ≈ $62,400. Adjusted annual pay subtracts non-working paid days: $30 × 8 × (260 − holidays − vacation). That difference illustrates how paid time off affects total cash compensation for the same rate.
Benefits and total compensation
Base pay is only part of what employment is worth. Health coverage, retirement matches, bonuses, equity, and PTO all affect total compensation. When comparing offers, estimate the dollar value of benefits alongside salary.
Contractors and freelancers
Independent contractors usually pay self-employment taxes, fund their own benefits, and are not paid for non-billable time. For similar net outcomes, contractor hourly rates are often materially higher than employee hourly equivalents.
US context (minimum wage, exempt salary threshold)
Federal minimum wage has been $7.25/hour for many years; many states and cities set higher floors. Under the FLSA, exempt salaried employees generally must meet a minimum salary and duties tests (thresholds change — verify current rules with the Department of Labor or a professional advisor).