Work Hours Calculator
Enter your start time, end time, and break duration. Add an hourly rate to calculate earnings.
Work Hours Calculator – Track Daily Hours & Earnings
Whether you're an hourly employee checking your timesheet, a freelancer logging billable hours, or a manager verifying payroll, this calculator determines exactly how many hours you've worked in a day and your gross earnings. Enter your start time, end time, break duration, and hourly rate to get an instant calculation.
The Formula
Hours Worked = End Time − Start Time − Break Time
Daily Earnings = Hours Worked × Hourly Rate
Worked Example
You clock in at 8:30 AM, take a 45-minute lunch, and clock out at 5:15 PM:
- Total span: 5:15 PM − 8:30 AM = 8 hours 45 minutes
- Minus break: 8h 45m − 45m = 8 hours
- At $22/hour: 8 × $22 = $176 gross pay
If you work a night shift — say 10:00 PM to 6:30 AM — enable the "Night shift" toggle so the calculator correctly handles the shift across midnight.
US Work Hour Standards
The standard American workweek is 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days/week), but actual hours vary significantly by industry and occupation:
| Industry | Avg. Weekly Hours | Common Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Financial services | 40 – 45 | Mon–Fri, 9–5 |
| Healthcare (nurses) | 36 – 48 | 3 × 12-hr shifts |
| Construction | 39 – 45 | Mon–Fri, early start |
| Retail / hospitality | 25 – 40 | Variable shifts |
| Tech (salaried) | 40 – 50 | Flexible / hybrid |
| Trucking | 50 – 60 | DOT-regulated hours of service |
| Government | 40 | Mon–Fri, 8–4:30 |
Break and Meal Period Laws
Federal law (FLSA) does not require meal or rest breaks, but most states have their own rules:
| State | Meal Break Requirement | Rest Break |
|---|---|---|
| California | 30 min unpaid after 5 hours | 10 min paid per 4 hours |
| New York | 30 min between 11 AM–2 PM (factory: 60 min) | Not required |
| Washington | 30 min after 5 hours | 10 min paid per 4 hours |
| Illinois | 20 min after 7.5 hours | Not required |
| Texas | Not required (federal minimum applies) | Not required |
| Colorado | 30 min after 5 hours | 10 min paid per 4 hours |
When a break is unpaid, it is deducted from your work hours. Paid breaks are counted as hours worked.
Overtime Rules
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires overtime pay for non-exempt employees:
| Threshold | Rate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Over 40 hours/week | 1.5× (time and a half) | Federal law for non-exempt workers |
| Over 8 hours/day (CA, AK, NV, CO) | 1.5× | Some states require daily overtime |
| Over 12 hours/day (CA) | 2× (double time) | California only |
| 7th consecutive day (CA) | 1.5× first 8 hrs, 2× after | California only |
Example: You earn $20/hour and work 48 hours in a week:
- Regular: 40 hours × $20 = $800
- Overtime: 8 hours × $30 (1.5×) = $240
- Total: $1,040
Annual Work Hours
| Calculation | Hours |
|---|---|
| 52 weeks × 40 hrs | 2,080 hours |
| Minus 10 federal holidays (80 hrs) | 2,000 hours |
| Minus 2 weeks vacation (80 hrs) | 1,920 hours |
| Minus 5 sick days (40 hrs) | 1,880 hours |
This is why the "rule of 2,000" is used to quickly convert between hourly and annual pay: Annual Salary ≈ Hourly Rate × 2,000.
Tips for Accurate Time Tracking
- Record hours immediately — Don't rely on memory at the end of the week
- Use consistent rounding — Most employers round to the nearest quarter-hour (15 minutes)
- Keep personal records — Even if your employer tracks time, maintain your own log
- Review your pay stubs — Verify that hours and overtime are calculated correctly
- Know your classification — Salaried "exempt" employees don't qualify for overtime; make sure you're classified correctly
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate my total work hours?
Subtract your start time from your end time, then subtract any unpaid breaks. For example, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM minus a 30-minute lunch = 8 hours worked. For night shifts crossing midnight, add 24 hours to the end time before subtracting.
How many work hours are in a year?
A standard US work year is 2,080 hours (40 hours/week × 52 weeks). After subtracting typical holidays and vacation, actual work time is approximately 1,880–1,920 hours. This is why the '2,000 hour rule' is used to approximate hourly-to-annual salary conversions.
What is overtime and when does it apply?
Federal law (FLSA) requires overtime pay at 1.5× the regular rate for non-exempt employees working over 40 hours per week. Some states (California, Alaska, Nevada, Colorado) also require daily overtime after 8 hours. California mandates double time after 12 hours.
How do I track work hours for freelancing?
Use time-tracking tools like Toggl, Harvest, Clockify, or Hubstaff to log hours per project and client. Accurate records are essential for billing, tax deductions, and project profitability analysis. Many tools also generate invoices directly.
What is the average number of work hours per week in the US?
US full-time employees work an average of 38.6 hours per week according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, though Gallup surveys show many salaried workers report working 44+ hours. By comparison, European workers average 36–37 hours per week.
Related Tools
- Hourly Salary Calculator — Convert salary to hourly rate
- Monthly Salary Calculator — Calculate monthly earnings from hourly wage
- Annual Salary Calculator — See your total yearly compensation
- Net Salary Calculator — Calculate take-home pay after taxes
- Vacation Days Calculator — Track and plan your time off