How salary and hourly pay relate
Turning a salary into an hourly rate is simple once you know your working hours. Divide the annual salary by the number of hours you work in a year. At 40 hours a week for 52 weeks, that is 2,080 hours, so a €45,000 salary works out at about €21.63 an hour.
Why "weeks per year" matters
If you take unpaid time off, you work fewer paid weeks, which raises your effective hourly rate for the time you are actually there. Salaried workers with paid holiday usually use the full 52 weeks; freelancers and contractors often use fewer to reflect unpaid breaks. Adjust the weeks field to match your situation.
Gross, not take-home
These figures are gross — before tax, social contributions and any deductions. Your actual take-home pay will be lower and depends on where you live. Treat the results as a way to compare offers on a like-for-like basis, not as the amount that lands in your account.
Frequently asked questions
How many work hours are in a year?
A standard full-time year is about 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks). Part-time or reduced schedules will be lower.
How do I compare a salaried job with a freelance hourly rate?
Convert both to the same basis. Remember a freelancer usually covers their own time off, equipment and contributions, so a higher hourly rate is often needed to match a salary.
Is this calculator free?
Yes — free, no signup, nothing stored.