Frequently asked questions
How many working hours are in a year?
2,080 — 40 hours a week × 52 weeks, which is the figure used here. It is a payroll convention rather than a rule in law, and it counts paid time off as hours worked.
Does the salary include paid time off?
Yes, on the standard 52-week figure: a salaried year is 2,080 hours whether or not two of its weeks are holiday, because the holiday is paid. If your time off is unpaid, put the number of weeks in the "Unpaid weeks off" field — the annual figure drops accordingly, and the hourly rate does not.
What is the difference between biweekly and semimonthly?
Biweekly is every two weeks: 26 paychecks a year. Semimonthly is twice a month: 24. The annual pay is the same and the cheque is not — a semimonthly cheque is about 8% larger, and arrives less often. The converter shows both because the two are confused constantly.
Is this my take-home pay?
No. Every figure is gross pay, before federal and state income tax, Social Security, Medicare and any deduction your employer makes. What arrives in your account is lower and depends on where you live and your withholding.
All figures are gross pay before taxes and deductions. This is not tax advice. Last reviewed 16 October 2026