Gross pay is the starting point for every paycheck: the full amount you earn before taxes, benefits and retirement contributions come out. It is also the number lenders, landlords and benefit programs usually ask for. This calculator handles both hourly workers (with overtime) and salaried employees, and shows the same income at every common pay frequency.
How to use the gross pay calculator
- Choose Hourly or Salary.
- For hourly pay, enter your hourly rate, regular hours per week, any overtime hours and the overtime multiplier (1.5× is the federal standard).
- For salary, enter the annual salary and, optionally, the hours you actually work to see an effective hourly rate.
- Pick your pay frequency, and add any bonus, tips or commission you receive on each paycheck.
- Read gross pay per paycheck on the tape and the comparison table below it.
Gross pay formulas
| Pay frequency | Paychecks per year | Divide annual pay by |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 52 | 52 |
| Biweekly | 26 | 26 |
| Semimonthly | 24 | 24 |
| Monthly | 12 | 12 |
Worked example
You earn $25 an hour, work 40 regular hours and 5 overtime hours each week at time and a half, and are paid biweekly.
Regular pay = 25 × 40 = $1,000.00 a week
Overtime pay = 25 × 1.5 × 5 = $187.50 a week
Annual gross = 1,187.50 × 52 = $61,750.00
Biweekly gross = 61,750 ÷ 26 = $2,375.00
The same income works out to $2,572.92 semimonthly or $5,145.83 monthly. Spread over 45 hours a week, the effective hourly rate is $26.39 — higher than the base rate because of the overtime premium.
Things that change your gross pay
Overtime rules
The FLSA sets the federal floor: 1.5× pay for hours over 40 in a fixed seven-day workweek for non-exempt employees. Salaried workers who meet the duties and salary tests are exempt and receive no overtime. Several states add daily overtime or double-time rules, so check your state labor department if you work long days.
Shift differentials and bonuses
A night-shift premium raises the regular rate, and under federal rules non-discretionary bonuses must be included when calculating the overtime rate for that period. Use the bonus field for amounts paid every check; for a one-time bonus, add it to the annual total yourself.
Unpaid time off
Hourly workers who take unpaid weeks earn less than 52 weeks of pay. Use the hourly to salary calculator to set the number of paid weeks, or the time card calculator to total actual hours from a timesheet.
From gross to net
Your paycheck stub subtracts federal income tax withholding, Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%), state and local taxes where they apply, and any pre-tax benefits. The payroll calculator estimates those deductions, and the federal income tax calculator shows how your annual gross maps onto the 2026 brackets.
Figures are estimates of gross earnings before taxes and deductions. Your employer's payroll records and pay stub are the official amounts.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between gross pay and net pay?
Gross pay is everything you earn before deductions. Net pay, or take-home pay, is what remains after federal and state income tax withholding, Social Security, Medicare and deductions such as health insurance or 401(k) contributions.
How is overtime calculated?
Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, non-exempt employees earn at least 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. Some states, such as California, also require daily overtime after 8 hours. Enter only the hours that qualify as overtime in the overtime field.
Is biweekly the same as semimonthly pay?
No. Biweekly means every two weeks, which is 26 paychecks a year. Semimonthly means twice a month, usually on the 15th and last day, which is 24 paychecks. A $60,000 salary is $2,307.69 biweekly but $2,500 semimonthly.
Why do some months have three biweekly paychecks?
Twenty-six paychecks don't divide evenly into 12 months, so two months each year contain three paydays. Budgeting on two paychecks a month leaves those extra checks as a cushion.