Guides
Clear explanations of how work time and pay are calculated, with worked examples you can check and the calculator to finish the job.
Start here: Work time, 3 min readHow to Calculate Hours WorkedCalculate hours worked from clock-in and clock-out times, subtract breaks, and total a week correctly. Includes the 7:30 vs 7.30 mistake and worked examples.Read the guide
All guides
How to Calculate Hours WorkedCalculate hours worked from clock-in and clock-out times, subtract breaks, and total a week correctly. Includes the 7:30 vs 7.30 mistake and worked examples.Read guide How to Calculate Overnight Shift HoursCalculate hours for night shifts that cross midnight: the add-24-hours rule, breaks, 12-hour shifts, daylight saving, and which workweek hours count in.Read guide How to Calculate Lunch Breaks on a Time CardTwo ways to take lunch off a time card: lunch punches or a fixed deduction. Worked examples, paid vs unpaid breaks under federal rules, and common mistakes.Read guide How Overtime Pay Is CalculatedHow overtime pay works under the FLSA: the 40-hour workweek, time and a half, the regular rate with bonuses, and worked examples you can check yourself.Read guide Biweekly vs Semimonthly PayBiweekly means 26 paychecks a year; semimonthly means 24. See how each paycheck compares, three-paycheck months, 27-pay years, and what it means for overtime.Read guide Hourly vs Salary: How to Compare Two Job OffersCompare an hourly offer with a salaried one on equal terms: real weekly hours, overtime eligibility, paid time off, and the effective hourly rate.Read guide How PTO Accrual WorksHow paid time off accrues per pay period or per hour worked, how to calculate your accrual rate, and how balance caps and usage change your PTO over time.Read guide How Sales Commission Is CalculatedHow flat, tiered, and retroactive commission plans pay out, how a draw against commission works, and how commissions affect overtime. Worked examples included.Read guide Gross Pay vs Net PayGross pay is everything you earn; net pay is what reaches your account. How to calculate gross pay, what deductions come out, and how to read a pay stub.Read guide How to Calculate a RaiseWork out a raise as a percentage or a dollar amount, convert it to monthly and paycheck terms, and see how raises compound over the years. With examples.Read guide Shift Differential Pay ExplainedWhat a shift differential is, how dollar and percentage differentials are paid, and why federal rules include them in the regular rate used for overtime.Read guide How to Set a Freelance Hourly RateSet a freelance or contractor hourly rate that covers your income goal, expenses, time off, and unbilled hours. A worked example and a comparison with salary.Read guide Piece Rate Pay and OvertimeHow piece-rate pay works, how to find your regular hourly rate, and how federal overtime is calculated for pieceworkers under 29 CFR 778.111. With examples.Read guide How Holiday Pay WorksWhat holiday pay is, whether federal law requires it, how premium rates for working a holiday are calculated, and how holiday pay interacts with overtime.Read guide How to Count Business DaysCount business days between dates, decide whether to count the start and end, and handle US federal holidays and observed dates. Includes the 2026 list.Read guide What Is a Workweek for Overtime?The FLSA workweek is a fixed 168-hour period that can start on any day and hour. Why each week stands alone for overtime and how the start day matters.Read guide How Bonuses Are CalculatedHow bonus targets, performance payouts, and proration combine, why bonus checks look smaller, and when bonuses count toward overtime. With a worked example.Read guide How to Calculate Tips per HourWork out tips per hour and your real hourly pay as a tipped worker: wages, cash and card tips, tip-outs, and tip percentage of sales, with worked examples.Read guide How PTO Payout WorksHow unused PTO and vacation are paid out when you leave a job, how to calculate the amount, and why the rules depend on your state and your employer's policy.Read guide How Commission Splits WorkHow a commission is divided between sides of a deal, referral fees, and your brokerage, how annual caps work, and how to calculate what you keep.Read guide How to Calculate Annual IncomeCalculate your gross annual income from hourly pay or salary, overtime, bonuses, commission, and tips, and convert monthly or biweekly pay to a yearly figure.Read guide Time and a Half vs Double Time: What Is the Difference?Time and a half is 1.5 times your regular rate; double time is 2 times. When each applies, how to calculate both, and worked examples at $20 an hour.Read guide How Much Is $20 an Hour Per Year?$20 an hour is $41,600 a year at 40 hours a week. See $20 an hour per month, per paycheck, part time, with unpaid weeks, and with overtime.Read guide How to Check Your Paycheck: A Step-by-Step GuideCheck your paycheck in six steps: hours, rate, overtime, other earnings, deductions, and net pay. What to compare, common errors, and what to do next.Read guide How to Track Your Work Hours (and Why It Pays Off)How to track your work hours accurately: what to record for each shift, simple methods from paper to spreadsheets, weekly totals, and overtime.Read guide How to Calculate a Time Card, Step by StepCalculate a weekly time card by hand: daily hours, lunch, rounding, the weekly total, overtime, and gross pay. A full worked example you can check.Read guide How to Convert Minutes to Decimal HoursConvert minutes to decimal hours by dividing by 60. Payroll examples, a quick chart, rounding to tenths and quarters, and the 7:30 vs 7.30 mistake.Read guide Regular Hours vs Overtime Hours: What Counts and WhenRegular hours are paid at your normal rate; overtime hours are over the limit for the workweek. What counts as hours worked, daily overtime, and examples.Read guide How to Convert Hourly Pay to an Annual SalaryConvert an hourly wage to a yearly salary: hourly rate × hours a week × 52. A conversion table from $15 to $50 an hour, part-time hours, and unpaid weeks.Read guide How to Convert a Salary to an Hourly RateConvert a yearly salary to an hourly rate: salary ÷ 2,080 for a 40-hour week, or ÷ your real hours. A salary to hourly table from $30,000 to $120,000.Read guide How Much Is $25 an Hour Per Year?$25 an hour is $52,000 a year at 40 hours a week. See $25 an hour per month, per paycheck, part time, with unpaid weeks, and with overtime.Read guide