Wages Calculator · Piratechs
Estimate income when hours or pay change
A single weekly schedule cannot describe every working year. Build an annual estimate by separating periods with different hours or rates, calculating each period, and adding their gross pay.
Published by Piratechs. Content updated October 4, 2026. The examples below are fictional straight-time pay scenarios with no bonuses or overtime premiums.
Start with a period-by-period plan
Period gross pay = hourly rate × weekly paid hours × paid weeks in that period
Use periods that do not overlap. Include paid leave consistently and leave unpaid weeks out of the paid-week total. For an estimate made during the year, combine gross earnings already recorded with expected earnings for the remaining periods. Keep the assumptions beside the total so you can update them when the schedule changes.
One rate, two seasonal schedules
| Period | Hours per week | Paid weeks | Gross pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quieter season | 24 | 20 | $10,560.00 |
| Busier season | 36 | 30 | $23,760.00 |
| Combined year | 31.2 weighted average | 50 | $34,320.00 |
Average weekly hours = (24 × 20 + 36 × 30) ÷ 50 = 31.2
The two periods contain 1,560 paid hours. A simple average of 24 and 36 gives 30 hours and understates the year because the busier schedule lasts longer. Weighting by paid weeks gives the same $34,320.00 annual total as calculating the periods separately.
- Set hours per week to 31.2 and paid weeks per year to 50. Set days per week only if you want an average daily value.
- Enter the $22 hourly rate last to keep that rate as the source amount. The annual gross result is $34,320.00 and the average month is $2,860.00.
- Use separate 24-hour and 36-hour scenarios when planning seasonal cash flow. The combined monthly average does not describe either season’s actual deposits.
Two rates after a midyear raise
| Period | Hourly rate | Paid weeks | Gross pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before raise | $20.00 | 26 | $20,800.00 |
| After raise | $23.00 | 26 | $23,920.00 |
| Combined year | Different rates | 52 | $44,720.00 |
Using $23 for all 52 weeks would estimate a full year at the new rate, rather than the year containing the raise. To display the combined year, set 40 hours and 52 paid weeks, then enter $44,720 in annual salary last. This field can hold the combined annual gross amount even though the earnings came from hourly work.
The average month is $3,726.67. The displayed $21.50 hourly equivalent summarizes the year; it is neither period’s actual rate. Keep the two source rows when checking individual payments.
When an average is the wrong shortcut
Average hours alone cannot combine different rates. If both rates and hours change, calculate each period using its own rate and hours, add the totals, and enter the total annual amount last. An unweighted average of rates can misstate earnings when more hours are paid at one rate.
Enter your income scenario →. See the schedule guide → and calculation methodology → for how averages are displayed. Report an unclear example through Contact →.