If you’re managing payroll, planning projects, or trying to create a detailed resource allocation strategy, one key question arises: How many working hours are there in a year or a month?
Whether you’re benchmarking productivity, determining if you’re meeting industry standards, or just planning employee workloads, understanding work hours is critical. This guide will walk you through calculating work hours by year, month, and week while addressing the factors that can impact employee availability. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of work hour benchmarks to help keep your business competitive.
How Many Work Hours Are in a Year (2025)?
To calculate total work hours for 2025, simply multiply the number of hours in a workweek by the number of weeks in the year:
- A typical full-time workweek is 40 hours.
- There are 52 weeks in a year.
40 hours/week × 52 weeks = 2,080 hours per year
However, this number assumes an ideal scenario without factoring in holidays, sick leave, vacation days, or other forms of time off. In reality, most employees don’t work the full 2,080 hours.
For accurate planning, consider your team’s specific schedules. Employees with fluctuating hours or flexible schedules may require you to track and adjust their hours manually. It’s also helpful to remember that, on average, employees in the private sector take about seven paid sick days per year.
How Many Work Hours Are in a Month?
When planning by month or quarter, avoid oversimplifying the calculation by multiplying one workweek by four. Months vary in length, so the calculation should be more precise:
- First, calculate total annual work hours (2,080 hours, assuming a 40-hour workweek).
- Then divide that number by 12 months.
2,080 ÷ 12 = 173.33 hours per month
Keep in mind that months with additional workdays, like January or March, will have slightly higher totals, while February will generally have fewer work hours.
What Are the Average Hours Worked Per Week?
While the standard full-time workweek is 40 hours, employees often work slightly more or less depending on their roles, education levels, and other factors. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):
- The average U.S. employee works 8.09 hours per day or 40.45 hours per week.
- Employees with a bachelor’s degree or higher tend to work fewer hours (7.99 hours/day or 39.95 hours/week).
- Those with some college or an associate degree clock more hours (8.44 hours/day or 42.2 hours/week).
Interestingly, holding multiple jobs doesn’t significantly affect total hours worked. Multiple jobholders average about 40 hours per week, similar to single jobholders.
Full-Time vs. Part-Time Work Hours
Full-Time Employees
The BLS defines full-time employment as working 35+ hours per week. On average, full-time employees work:
- 8.49 hours per day
- 42.45 hours per week
- 2,207.4 hours per year
Part-Time Employees
Part-time workers, defined as those working fewer than 35 hours per week, clock an average of:
- 5.31 hours per day
- 26.55 hours per week
- 1,380.6 hours per year
Federal Public Holidays in the U.S.
The U.S. observes 11 federal public holidays each year. In certain years, federal employees in Washington, D.C., also observe Inauguration Day as an additional holiday. However, private employers are not required by law (including the Fair Labor Standards Act) to provide paid time off for federal holidays.
As a business owner, you have the flexibility to decide whether to offer PTO for these holidays but offering competitive benefits can improve employee satisfaction and retention.
How Much Paid Time Off (PTO) Do Employees Receive?
Paid time off varies widely between employers. On average:
- After one year of service, 32% of employees receive 5–9 days of PTO.
- After 5 or 10 years, most employees receive 15–19 days of PTO.
- After 20 years, about 32% of employees receive more than 24 days of PTO.
Paid leave policies often depend on tenure, seniority, and company size. Offering robust PTO options can make your business more competitive and attractive to potential employees.
Factors That Affect Work Hours in a Year
The total number of work hours in a year can fluctuate due to several factors:
- Weekends: The day of the week the year starts can affect the total number of workdays.
- Leap Years: Leap years add an extra day, typically increasing work hours.
- Election Years: Some states observe Election Day as a holiday, reducing annual workdays.
- Monthly Variations: Each month’s work hours depend on the number of weekdays it includes.
- Employment Status: Full-time employees work at least 35 hours per week, while part-time employees work fewer hours.
- Vacation and Personal Days: Many employers offer at least five vacation days and additional personal or sick leave, further reducing annual hours.
Failing to account for these variables can complicate budgeting and resource planning.
ASI and Sage Can Help to Streamline Payroll and Scheduling
Managing payroll, tracking work hours, and accounting for paid leave can be overwhelming. That’s where tools like Sage’s cloud accounting software come in handy. Automating payroll and scheduling tasks not only helps you avoid costly errors but also keeps your business compliant with labor laws. With accurate tracking and streamlined processes, you can focus on growing your business instead of getting bogged down in administrative tasks.
By understanding the nuances of work hours and offering competitive benefits, you’ll set your business up for success—both in terms of operations and employee satisfaction. ASI can help. Contact us or schedule your free consultation today to get started with Sage 100.