In the United States, the terms salary and wage are often used interchangeably, but they are technically different. A wage is typically based on an hourly rate, meaning that the total pay varies depending on the number of hours worked. A salary, on the other hand, is a fixed annual amount paid regardless of hours worked.

Hourly workers are generally covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and are entitled to overtime pay — typically 1.5× their regular rate — for any hours worked beyond 40 per week. Salaried employees, especially those classified as "exempt," may not be eligible for overtime pay.

Salaried positions often come with benefits like paid time off, health insurance, and retirement plans. Wage-based employees may receive these benefits as well, depending on the employer.

This calculator first converts your input salary into an annual figure, then divides it into all common payment frequencies. Two figures are shown: an unadjusted figure assuming all 260 working days are paid, and an adjusted figure that removes holidays and vacation days.

Example using $30/hour, 8 hours/day, 10 holidays, 15 vacation days:

The adjusted figure represents your effective purchasing power after accounting for unpaid (or simply absent) work days due to holidays and vacation.

Different employers use different pay schedules. Here is what each frequency means:

• Daily — Paid once per working day. Rare in practice.
• Weekly — Paid every week; 52 paychecks per year.
• Bi-weekly — Paid every two weeks; 26 paychecks per year. The most common in the U.S.
• Semi-monthly — Paid twice per month (e.g., 1st and 15th); 24 paychecks per year.
• Monthly — Paid once per month; 12 paychecks per year.
• Quarterly — Paid every three months; 4 paychecks per year.
• Annual — The full yearly compensation amount.

Note: Bi-weekly and semi-monthly are often confused. Bi-weekly means every 14 days (26 times/year), while semi-monthly means twice a month (24 times/year).

• This calculator assumes 52 weeks per year and 260 working days per year (5 days × 52 weeks).
• Adjusted results subtract holidays and vacation days from the 260-day working year.
• Calculations do not account for taxes, benefits deductions, or overtime pay.
• Results are estimates intended for general financial planning purposes only.
• Hourly rates are converted using the "Hours per week" and "Days per week" you provide.