How Many Work Hours in a Year? (2026 Guide)
Planning your budget or negotiating a salary? Here is the exact breakdown of the standard 2,080-hour work year.
The Golden Number
Standard Hours Per Year
Weekly Basis
40 Hours
Monthly Average
173.3 Hours
If you ask a payroll accountant "how many work hours are in a year," they will give you one simple answer: 2,080.
However, if you actually look at the calendar for 2026, the real number is slightly different. Knowing the difference can help you calculate your true hourly wage and understand your paycheck better.
The Standard Calculation (The 2080 Rule)
Most salary contracts are based on a simple formula. This is used by banks for mortgages and by HR departments for PTO accrual.
This assumes you work every single weekday of the year without any holidays or vacation time.
The Real Breakdown for 2026
2026 is not a Leap Year, so it has 365 days. However, the number of workdays depends on how the weekends fall.
| Metric | Count | Hours (8hr Shift) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Days | 365 | - |
| Weekends | 104 | - |
| Work Days | 261 | 2,088 |
| Standard Holidays* | 11 | -88 |
| Actual Work Hours | 250 | 2,000 |
*Standard Holidays typically include New Year's, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. This varies by company.
Salary to Hourly Conversion Chart
Are you moving from an hourly job to a salary position? Or trying to figure out if that new job offer is actually a raise? Use this chart to see the hourly value of annual salaries.
| $30,000 /yr | $14.42 /hr |
| $35,000 /yr | $16.83 /hr |
| $40,000 /yr | $19.23 /hr |
| $45,000 /yr | $21.63 /hr |
| $50,000 /yr | $24.04 /hr |
| $60,000 /yr | $28.85 /hr |
| $75,000 /yr | $36.06 /hr |
| $90,000 /yr | $43.27 /hr |
| $100,000 /yr | $48.08 /hr |
| $120,000 /yr | $57.69 /hr |
Don't Forget Unpaid Time
When calculating your "true" hourly rate, remember to subtract your unpaid lunch breaks and commute. If you are at the office for 9 hours but only paid for 8, your effective hourly rate is lower than the chart above suggests.