About PayCalcTools

PayCalcTools is a free collection of interactive pay calculators built for workers, freelancers, and HR managers in the United States and United Kingdom. Every tool on this site does one job: give you the right number, instantly, without a sign-up form, a spreadsheet, or a paywall getting in the way.

Why we built this site

Pay calculations are genuinely confusing — and the stakes are real.

Getting your overtime rate wrong means leaving money on the table every single paycheck. Setting your freelance day rate too low means working full time for less than minimum wage when you account for taxes and dry months. Not knowing your statutory notice period before you resign can put you in breach of your employment contract.

The tools that exist to help with these calculations are either buried inside HR software subscriptions, plastered with misleading advertising, or so poorly designed that you need an accounting degree to use them. We built PayCalcTools because workers deserve something better: free, honest, plain-English tools built on the actual law — not rough estimates and guesswork.

What the tools are based on

Every calculator on this site is built on official employment law and publicly available legal guidance. We do not make up formulas or use industry approximations where the law is clear.

For US calculators: All calculations are based on the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) — the federal law that governs minimum wage, overtime pay, and employment standards for the majority of American workers. Where relevant, we also reference state-specific rules, IRS guidance, and Department of Labor publications.

For UK calculators: All calculations are based on UK employment legislation including the Employment Rights Act 1996, the Working Time Regulations 1998, the National Minimum Wage Act 1998, and HMRC guidance. Where relevant, we reference ACAS guidance as a secondary source.

Every page shows its legal source in plain text. We link to the original legislation so you can verify anything for yourself. When the law changes — like when the FLSA salary thresholds are updated, or when the UK National Minimum Wage changes each April — we update our tools and content to match.

Who reviews these calculators

The formulas used in each calculator are checked against the official legal sources listed above before publication. Every calculator page includes a “Last reviewed” date and a disclaimer reminding users that results are for guidance and that complex situations always benefit from professional advice.

We take accuracy seriously because the information on this site falls into what Google calls YMYL — Your Money or Your Life — content. Getting it wrong has real consequences for real people. We would rather say “we don’t know” than publish something inaccurate.

What this site is not

PayCalcTools is not a law firm, accountancy practice, or HR consultancy. The tools and content on this site are for guidance purposes only and do not constitute legal, financial, or professional payroll advice.

If you have a complex situation — a dispute with your employer, an unusual contract, multiple jobs, or a question about your specific tax position — please contact a qualified professional:

  • US workers: Contact the Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division at dol.gov/agencies/whd or consult a licensed employment attorney
  • UK workers: Contact ACAS on 0300 123 1100 (free, confidential helpline) or consult an employment solicitor

The tools are free — and always will be

Every calculator on PayCalcTools is completely free to use. There are no premium tiers, no features locked behind a subscription, and no email address required to get your result.

The site is funded by display advertising through Google AdSense. Advertisers pay to show their ads to our visitors — we do not charge our users anything, and we do not sell user data. The numbers you enter into our calculators never leave your browser.

Get in touch

Found an error in one of our calculators? Have a suggestion for a new tool? Spotted a law change we haven’t updated for yet?

We genuinely want to hear from you. Use the contact page to send us a message and we will get back to you.