D.C. paycheck calculator employers use for hourly paychecks
At the top of this page, employers in Washington, D.C. can find a paycheck calculator designed to help them double-check the figures for hourly staff, ensuring they receive the correct net take-home pay. Below, we offer more details on how the process of calculating pay differs between salaried employees and those paid by the hour.
How Does Payroll Vary for Salaried vs. Hourly Employees?
Ultimately, the actual process of running payroll remains largely similar regardless of the employee type. It involves taking an individual’s gross wages (the total amount earned during a pay period) and then applying the necessary withholding for local, state, and federal payroll taxes. Any additional payroll deductions—such as for health benefits, a retirement plan, or garnishments—are also applied.
The journey from gross wages to net wages (the take-home amount) is relatively consistent. The primary difference lies in the initial step: how you calculate those gross wages.
Gross Wages for Hourly Employees
For workers whose pay is based on the time they clock in, calculating the gross wage is straightforward: simply multiply the number of hours worked during the pay period by their established hourly pay rate.
While this is generally simple, many states have overtime laws that must be accounted for. These laws can mandate an increased pay rate if an employee works beyond a specific number of hours in a day (typically 8 hours) or in a week (usually 40 hours). Be sure to consider these potential adjustments when processing payroll for your hourly staff.
Gross Wages for Salaried Employees
For those who receive an annual salary, the gross pay is calculated by dividing their annual salary by the total number of pay periods in the year.
For instance, if an employee has an annual salary of $100,000, their gross wages for different pay frequencies would be as follows (assuming no other pre-tax deductions):
| Pay Schedule | Gross Wages (Based on $100k Salary) |
| Weekly (52 pay periods/year) | $1,923.08 |
| Bi-Weekly (26 pay periods/year) | $3,846.15 |
| Bi-Monthly (24 pay periods/year) | $4,166.67 |
| Monthly (12 pay periods/year) | $8,333.33 |
Who Should Be Salaried and Who Should Be Paid Hourly?
When an employer hires someone, they generally have some flexibility in classifying them as hourly or salaried. Typically, employees who maintain fixed or consistent hours, as well as those at higher compensation levels, are offered a salary. Conversely, workers at lower compensation levels whose schedules are more variable usually receive an hourly paycheck.
Regardless of the compensation method you choose, certain federal rules must be followed, most notably the regulations concerning exempt and non-exempt employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Essentially, the FLSA mandates that employees are entitled to overtime pay when they work more than 40 hours in a week, unless they qualify as “exempt” by fitting into one of these categories:
– They are an executive.
– They offer skilled professional services.
– They possess administrative or management responsibilities.
– They are highly compensated (earning more than $151,164 per year in 2025).
– They work as a computer programmer or analyst.
– They hold an outside sales role.
There are a few other minor exceptions. If you have any complex classification questions, you should consult an employment or tax professional.
From Gross Wages to the Final Paycheck
Once the gross wages have been determined, the next step is to calculate the final payroll amount by withholding federal, state, and local payroll taxes and applying any other relevant employee deductions. This procedure works nearly identically for all employees, whether they are salaried or hourly.
Additional Resources for D.C. Employers (Trusted by Beyond)
If you’ve finished using the paycheck calculator for Washington, D.C. employers, you may find the following resources helpful:
State Minimum Wage: $17.50 through 6/30/2025.
Is Workers’ Comp Required? Yes, for most employers.
New Hire Reporting Required? Yes.
2025 State Unemployment Insurance (SUI) Rate:
– Taxable wage base: $9,000.
– Rates range from 1.9% to 7.4%.
– Tax rate for new employers: 2.7%.
This article (and the mentioned paycheck calculator tool) is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for tax, legal, or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal, and accounting advisors for formal consultation and final payroll numbers.