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Wondering how many working hours in a year for a full-time employee? The standard calculation gives you 2,080 hours per year (40 hours/week × 52 weeks), but the actual annual work hours most people work is significantly lower—typically between 1,700-1,900 hours yearly after accounting for holidays, vacation time, and sick leave.
Based on 40 hours/week × 52 weeks
After holidays, vacation & sick leave
The most commonly cited figure comes from this simple formula:
Reality check: While useful for quick calculations, this 2,080-hour number rarely reflects reality. Use our salary to hourly calculator to see your actual hourly rate based on real working hours.
Very few people actually work all 52 weeks straight. Here's what typically reduces the 2,080-hour standard:
This aligns with data from the OECD, which reports that the average U.S. worker logs approximately 1,770 hours per year. Understanding your actual work hours is crucial for calculating your true hourly wage.
Use this formula:
The actual number of workdays varies slightly from year to year depending on how weekends and holidays fall.
Note: This is before accounting for personal vacation and sick time, which will further reduce your actual working hours.
Compare annual work hours across different work schedules:
| Work Schedule | Hours/Week | Annual Hours (No Time Off) | Typical Hours (With Time Off) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part-time | 20 | 1,040 | 900-950 |
| Part-time | 30 | 1,560 | 1,400-1,450 |
| Full-time | 40 | 2,080 | 1,850-1,900 |
| With overtime | 50 | 2,600 | 2,350-2,400 |
| Heavy overtime | 60 | 3,120 | 2,850-2,900 |
The U.S. federal government uses 2,087 hours per year for pay calculations. This number comes from a 1981 General Accounting Office study that calculated the average over a 28-year calendar cycle, accounting for leap years and variations in how weekends fall.
For freelancers and consultants, annual work hours look very different:
If you're freelancing, aiming for 75% billable hours is a healthy target. Use our hourly to salary calculator to estimate your annual income based on billable hours.
Work hour expectations vary significantly by country:
Americans work significantly more hours than most Western European countries.
Understanding your true annual work hours is essential for several important reasons:
When evaluating job offers or setting freelance rates, you need to know your real hourly rate. Our salary to hourly calculator helps you determine the accurate conversion.
Understanding industry standards helps you negotiate better:
Tracking your actual hours helps you evaluate if you're:
For employers and project managers:
Use our free calculator to convert between salary and hourly rates based on your actual working hours. Get an accurate picture of your compensation today.