Why hourly and salary figures are hard to compare
Job adverts in Europe quote pay in whatever unit suits the employer: an hourly rate for shift work, a monthly salary for office roles, an annual package for senior positions. Without converting to a common unit, you cannot tell whether €25 an hour beats a €48,000 salary. The maths is simple — hourly rate × hours per week × weeks per year — but the hours part is where people go wrong, because "full-time" means different things in different countries.
Methodology
Monthly = annual ÷ 12 · Weekly = hourly rate × hours per week · Daily = hourly rate × 8
The presets reflect common conventions, not legal definitions: France's statutory 35-hour week, the UK's widespread 37.5-hour contracts, roughly 38 hours as a German average across sectors, and 40 hours as the EU's most common full-time reference. If your contract states different hours, use the custom field — the contract always wins over the preset.
These are gross figures before tax and social charges. To see what you'd keep, run the result through the relevant country calculator — for example our UK take-home pay calculator or German income tax calculator.
Worked example
€25/hour, 40 hours/week, 52 weeks: €25 × 40 = €1,000 per week; €1,000 × 52 = €52,000 per year (€4,333.33/month, €200/day). The same €25/hour on a French 35-hour week is only €45,500 a year — a €6,500 difference from the hours alone. Always check which week the rate assumes before comparing offers.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours is full-time in Europe?
There is no single EU figure. France uses a statutory 35-hour week; the UK commonly contracts 37.5 hours; Germany averages around 38; 40 hours is the most common reference across the EU. Your employment contract is what counts.
Should I use 52 weeks even with paid holiday?
Yes, if your holiday is paid — you receive the salary for those weeks. Only reduce the weeks figure for genuinely unpaid time off.
Does this include overtime?
No. This converts your contracted regular hours. Overtime is usually paid at a premium — use our overtime pay calculator for that.
Is the result gross or net?
Gross — before income tax and social security. Net pay will be lower; how much lower depends on your country.
How do I compare an hourly offer with a monthly salary?
Convert both to annual gross with this calculator, then compare. Remember to also compare hours: a higher hourly rate for fewer hours can still mean less total pay.
Last reviewed October 2026