True Hourly Wage Calculator
Real $/hr after commute, work clothes, lunch, taxes
📚 Learn more — how it works, FAQ & guide Click to expand
Learn more — how it works, FAQ & guide
Click to expand
True Hourly Wage Calculator
The "$80K salary" headline becomes ~$25/hr real after taxes, commute time, and work-related costs. This tool computes your actual rate, the price of your time.
How to use this tool
- 1
Salary + tax
Annual gross + effective tax rate.
- 2
Hidden time
Commute, lunch, prep, unpaid overtime.
- 3
See real $/hr
Actual hourly after every cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is real hourly wage lower than headline?
A "$50/hr" job is usually $30-35/hr after tax, commute time, work clothes, gas, lunch out, and unpaid overtime. The difference can be 30-40%.
Should commute count?
Yes. It's mandatory time you can't use otherwise. If you'd only commute for the job, it's job time. Some people exclude commute they'd do anyway (e.g., grocery on the way).
How does this affect decisions?
Real hourly = the price of your time. Spending $200 on something at $35 real/hr = 5.7 hours of life. Different framing than "2 days work".
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100% Privacy. This tool runs entirely in your browser. Your data is never uploaded to any server.