Whether you’re building a staffing plan, setting PTO policies, or calculating labor costs, one number underpins it all: total annual work hours.
But here’s the thing—it’s not just 40 hours a week times 52. Holidays, vacation time, sick leave, and part-time schedules all shift the math.
If you don’t account for those variables, you risk underestimating workloads, misaligning budgets, or overcommitting your team.
In this guide, we’ll break down how many hours people actually work in a year—plus how to calculate it correctly based on your real-world schedule and time-off policy. You’ll also find an easy calculator to do the math for you.
How Many Work Hours Are in a Year?
The quick answer? There are 2,080 work hours in a year, assuming 40-hour workweeks times 52 weeks.
But that number doesn’t reflect reality for most people. Very few actually work all 52 weeks straight—paid holidays, vacation time, and sick days cut into that total. Depending on time off, the real number of work hours in a year usually falls somewhere between 1,700 and 1,900 hours.
Did You Know?
The average US worker only logs about 1,770 hours per year, according to OECD data—far less than the standard 2,080. Why? Paid time off, sick leave, and holidays add up.
Common Work Schedules and Annual Hours
| Schedule Type | Hours/Week | Weeks/Year | Total Hours/Year |
| Full-time (no time off) | 40 | 52 | 2,080 |
| Full-time (3 weeks off) | 40 | 49 | 1,960 |
| Full-time (4 weeks off) | 40 | 48 | 1,920 |
| Part-time (30 hrs/week) | 30 | 52 | 1,560 |
| Part-time (20 hrs/week) | 20 | 52 | 1,040 |
| Part-time (15 hrs/week) | 15 | 52 | 780 |
How Many Non-Working Hours Are in a Year?
Let’s do a simple calculation to find how many non-working hours there are in a year. We can start with what we already know:
- In a non-leap year, there are 365 days in a year.
- One day has 24 hours in it.
- 365 days × 24 hours = 8,760 hours per year.
Since there are 8,760 hours in a year, we can just subtract 2,080 working hours to find out how many non-working hours there are:
8,760 – 2,080 = 6,680 non-working hours per year.
That gives us 6,680 hours a year not spent working. This isn’t just free time—it includes everything outside of scheduled work: sleep, weekends, holidays, and personal time.
Looking at the ratio of working to non-working hours helps make more informed decisions about staffing, workloads, and how much flexibility is actually available across the year.
How to Calculate Working Hours Per Year
Before we jump into formulas, let’s consider the factors that affect total working hours. Most people don’t work all 52 weeks of the year because they take time off. It depends on your company’s policy, but most U.S. employers can account for:
- Holidays: ~11 days.
- Vacation days: 10 – 15 days.
- Sick and personal days: 5 – 7 days.
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Now, let’s use a basic formula to calculate how many working hours you have per year:
Hours per day × Days per week × Weeks in a year = Hours per year
For most full-time employees, that means:
8 hours a day × 5 days a week × 52 weeks = 2,080 hours per year.
If we factor in time off, the number varies. For example, if an employer offers 3 weeks off per year, we can subtract those weeks from the annual total:
52 weeks – 3 weeks = 49 working weeks per year.
8 hours a day × 5 days a week × 49 weeks = 1,960 hours per year.
This adjusted number gives you a more realistic estimate for annual work hours, which comes in handy for planning your yearly schedule.
Pro Tip
When calculating work hours for payroll or capacity planning, always subtract time off from your total. Even just 3 weeks off per employee equals 120 hours less per year.
Annual work hours calculator
Use this free calculator to estimate total working hours based on your schedule and time off policy.
Start by entering your regular weekly schedule: hours per day, days per week, and any overtime.
Next, add your time off: federal holidays, vacation days, sick days, and personal days.
The calculator will automatically display:
- Standard working hours
- Time off hours
- Overtime hours
- Total annual work hours
Try it out and adjust to match your company’s time off policy.
Annual Work Hours Calculator
Work Schedule
Time Off
*US Federal Holidays: New Year’s Day, MLK Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus/Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas
Yearly Work Hours for Exempt vs. Non-Exempt Employees
Employee classification under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) affects how work hours are managed and tracked. The FLSA defines exempt and non-exempt employees based on their job duties and how they’re paid. The distinction matters because it changes how you track and calculate work hours over the year.
Exempt Employees (Salaried)
Exempt employees are typically salaried and not eligible for overtime pay. Even though they aren’t clocking hours, a full-time exempt role is generally based on 40 hours per week, or 2,080 hours per year.
Non-Exempt Employees (Hourly)
Non-exempt employees are paid by the hour and eligible for overtime pay for every hour worked beyond 40 in a week. Their actual annual hours may vary based on schedules, overtime, and time off.
Part-Time Employees
Part-time schedules vary widely, but here’s a quick reference:
| Weekly Hours | Estimated Annual Hours |
| 30 hrs/week | 1,560 hours |
| 20 hrs/week | 1,040 hours |
| 15 hrs/week | 780 hours |
Track Actual Work Hours with Connecteam
Knowing how many hours your team is supposed to work is one thing—tracking how many hours they actually work is where things get complicated. Between PTO, sick days, holidays, overtime, and shift changes, even the best-laid schedules rarely go exactly as planned.
That’s where Connecteam comes in.
Track Time Accurately
Employees can clock in and out right from their phones using Connecteam’s time clock, with real-time visibility for managers and optional GPS tracking for teams in the field.
Manage PTO and Time Off
Automatically track vacation days, sick leave, personal time, and holidays with custom PTO policies that fit your business. No more spreadsheets or back-and-forth emails.
See Total Hours Worked—Week to Year
Generate detailed timesheet reports showing regular hours, overtime, and time off. Instantly understand how many hours each employee actually worked this week, this month, or this year.
Stay Compliant and Error-Free
With built-in pay rules, approval workflows, and payroll integrations, Connecteam helps you prevent mistakes and stay on the right side of labor laws—no matter how complex your schedules get.
👉 Start using Connecteam for free and take control of your team’s time—day by day, shift by shift, and year by year.
Pro Tip
Use Connecteam to compare scheduled vs. actual hours worked so you can spot trends, reduce burnout, and plan smarter for the year ahead.
The Bottom Line
Knowing how many work hours there are in a year isn’t just a math exercise—it’s a smarter way to plan schedules, manage time off, and set realistic expectations for your team. When you factor in holidays, vacation, and sick days, you get a clearer view of how much time is actually available to get work done.
With Connecteam’s all-in-one scheduling and time tracking tools, you can easily customize work hours, manage PTO, and see the big picture at a glance. Track actual hours worked, account for downtime, and stay in control of your team’s time every day of the year.
FAQs
How many hours a month is 40 hours a week?
There are 160 to 173 working hours in a month, depending on the number of weeks in the month.
How many hours in a year at 40 hours a week?
There are 2,080 hours a week in a full year (40 × 52 weeks).
How many hours a year is a full-time job?
A full-time job typically has 2,080 hours per year, based on 40 hours a week across 52 weeks. The actual number of hours is usually less once you subtract any time off like holidays or vacation.
How many work hours is a standard year?
The standard is 2,080 hours, based on a 40-hour workweek for 52 weeks, not including time off.
How do holidays and PTO affect annual work hours?
Paid holidays, vacation days, and sick leave reduce the total number of hours an employee works in a year. While a full-time job is often based on 2,080 hours, most people end up working 1,800–1,950 hours annually when time off is factored in. The more generous your PTO policy, the fewer actual working hours you’ll have available per employee.
How many working hours are there in Canada, the UK, and Australia?
The number of working hours per year varies by country based on national labor standards and cultural norms:
- Canada: The typical full-time schedule is 40 hours/week × 52 weeks = 2,080 hours, but time off like statutory holidays and vacation reduces that. Most full-time employees end up working 1,800–1,950 hours annually.
- United Kingdom: Full-time is usually defined as 37.5 to 40 hours/week. With 28 days of paid leave (including public holidays), annual work hours often fall between 1,680–1,880 hours.
- Australia: The standard full-time workweek is 38 hours. With 20 annual leave days and 10+ public holidays, the average full-time employee works around 1,760–1,850 hours per year.
Is 2,080 hours really considered full-time?
Yes—2,080 hours per year (40 hours/week × 52 weeks) is the standard benchmark for full-time work in the United States. It’s used for payroll calculations, benefits eligibility, and federal reporting. However, this number assumes:
- No vacation, sick days, or holidays taken
- A consistent 40-hour workweek all year
In reality, most full-time employees work 1,850–1,950 hours annually after time off is factored in. So while 2,080 is the official baseline, it doesn’t reflect actual hours worked for most people. That’s why tracking time accurately, including PTO, is key for planning and budgeting.