Your annual salary is in the contract. But what do you actually earn per hour? Knowing your hourly rate lets you compare job offers, negotiate raises, and evaluate part-time scenarios realistically. Our hourly wage calculator gives you the answer instantly.
The Formula: Annual Salary to Hourly Wage
The basic formula is straightforward:
Hourly Wage = Annual Gross Salary / (Weekly Hours × 52)
52 represents the number of weeks in a year. At 40 hours per week, you work 2,080 hours per year. At 30 hours it is 1,560, and at 20 hours it is 1,040.
Worked Example: Full-Time at €52,000
An annual salary of €52,000 gross at 40 hours per week:
52,000 / (40 × 52) = 52,000 / 2,080 = €25.00 per hour
The monthly salary is €4,333, and the daily rate is €200 (based on 260 working days per year).
Worked Example: Part-Time at 30 Hours
Same annual salary, but only 30 hours per week? The hourly rate goes up:
52,000 / (30 × 52) = 52,000 / 1,560 = €33.33 per hour
In practice, reducing to 30 hours usually means a proportional pay cut. But this shows why the hourly rate is the fairer comparison metric.
Reverse: Hourly Wage to Annual Salary
Freelancers and contractors often calculate the other way. The formula:
Annual Salary = Hourly Rate × Weekly Hours × 52
At €35 per hour and 40 hours per week:
35 × 40 × 52 = €72,800 gross per year
Why Your Hourly Rate Matters
- Compare job offers: A higher salary with more hours can mean a lower hourly rate.
- Salary negotiation: Knowing your hourly rate gives you a precise argument.
- Plan part-time: How does your earnings change with fewer hours?
- Freelancer pricing: From desired annual income to hourly rate.
- Value overtime: What is your extra time actually worth?
Full-Time vs. Part-Time Comparison
| Model | Weekly Hours | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time | 40 | €48,000 | €23.08 |
| Part-time | 30 | €36,000 | €23.08 |
| Part-time | 20 | €24,000 | €23.08 |
With proportional pay, the hourly rate stays the same. When the ratio differs, the hourly rate changes — and that is exactly when the calculator becomes valuable.
Gross vs. Net: What You Actually Keep
The calculated hourly rate is gross. After taxes and social contributions, significantly less remains. For a detailed net calculation, use our gross-net calculator or the salary calculator.
Common Mistakes
- Subtracting vacation days: The 52-week formula already accounts for paid vacation — your salary continues during holidays.
- Ignoring overtime: Regular unpaid overtime lowers your actual hourly rate.
- Mixing gross and net: The hourly wage derived from annual salary is always gross.
Calculate Your Hourly Wage Now
Use our free hourly wage calculator to convert annual salary to hourly rate — or the other way around. Choose full-time (40h), part-time (30h/20h), or custom weekly hours. The result shows hourly wage, monthly salary, weekly salary, and daily rate at a glance.