The answer
1,872 hours a year
36 hours × 52 weeks = 1,872. That is 156 hours a month on average and 72 hours every two weeks.
Thirty-six hours is three twelve-hour shifts, the pattern used in many round-the-clock roles. This schedule is 90% of a 40-hour week and counts as full-time work.
How the hours break down
| Measure | Hours |
|---|---|
| Per week | 36 |
| Per bi-weekly period | 72 |
| Per semi-monthly period (average) | 78 |
| Per month (average) | 156 |
| Per quarter | 468 |
| Per year (52 weeks) | 1872 |
Spread over a 5-day week that is 7.2 hours a day; over a 4-day week 9 hours a day; over 3 days 12 hours a day.
Worked example
36 hours a week at $20 an hour
Weekly gross = 36 h × $20 = $720.00. Annual = $720.00 × 52 = $37,440.00. Two unpaid weeks would remove $1,440.00, leaving $36,000.00.
Pay at common hourly rates
| Hourly rate | Weekly | 52 weeks | 50 weeks (2 unpaid) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00/h | $540.00 | $28,080.00 | $27,000.00 |
| $20.00/h | $720.00 | $37,440.00 | $36,000.00 |
| $25.00/h | $900.00 | $46,800.00 | $45,000.00 |
| $30.00/h | $1,080.00 | $56,160.00 | $54,000.00 |
All figures are gross, before taxes.
If you have unpaid time off
| Scenario | Hours per year | Hours per month |
|---|---|---|
| Paid all 52 weeks | 1872 h | 156 h |
| 2 unpaid weeks | 1800 h | 150 h |
| 4 unpaid weeks | 1728 h | 144 h |
Overtime
At 36 hours a week there is no federal overtime. You would need 4 more hours in a workweek to reach 40; any hours beyond that are overtime for non-exempt employees. See overtime rules and the calculator for state differences.