Standard working days represent all days from Monday to Friday. In some countries, such as the UAE, these instead refer to days from Sunday to Thursday.
Most years have 365 days. Every fourth year is a leap year, which has 366 days. This is because it takes 365.25 days for the Earth to complete its journey around the Sun.
But though many people know these facts, very few think about how many working days there are in a year. However, this fact is just as important. Counting your expected working days can help you estimate your annual income. It can also help you manage your time better, a task many people underestimate.
But how many working days are there in a year? In this article, we’ll analyze how much you can expect to work over different time periods.
What is the total number of working days in a year?
Each year comes with 260 working days. This represents most of the overall 365 days. Understanding how much time you’ll spend working can help you create a solid annual budget. Additionally, it will tell you how much time you’ll have to pursue your hobbies and other goals.
Assuming you work 8 hours a day 5 days per week, you work for a total of 40 hours each week. Since every year has 52 weeks, this represents 2080 annual working hours. This is just a rough estimate as working conditions differ from company to company.
The table below depicts the working days of each month:
| January | 21 |
| February | 20 |
| March | 23 |
| April | 21 |
| May | 22 |
| June | 21 |
| July | 22 |
| August | 23 |
| September | 21 |
| October | 22 |
| November | 21 |
| December | 22 |
How many working days are there in a year and how to calculate their total number
Weekend days aren’t the only ones that don’t count toward the total. Every country has its public holidays, and the US is no exception. The country observes 11 federal holidays on which you don’t have to work.
As we established in the previous section, every year has 260 working days. If we further subtract these federal holidays, we get a total of 249 working days. Just keep in mind that this applies specifically to the US. Other countries might have fewer or more holidays to factor in.
Factors to account for when calculating the total number of working days
While weekends and bank holidays will reduce your total number of working days, you should look out for these additional factors:
Work policy
Work policies vary from business to business. Many companies take long breaks, especially between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Most people stay home during this time, so the business has no reason to stay open.
Other companies merely cut down on their working hours during this time. This is a less widely known fact. But if you want to be thorough in calculating your work pay, you need to consider it.
Public holidays work differently in the private sector
Private-sector companies aren’t obliged to respect federal holidays. You might not get certain days off if you work for a private company. Many private employers don’t respect the following 4 holidays: Martin Luther King Jr’s Birthday, Washington’s Birthday, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day.
Many private companies offer holidays with pay
On the other hand, working for a private company comes with one major boon – you get statutory holidays with pay! These include New Year’s Eve, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
Keep in mind that while most private employers offer them, they’re not obliged to do so.
Additional days off
Remember that you’re eligible for vacation days too. Whether you get paid for these or not depends on the company you work for. If you decide to use them all, you should be ready to adjust your workday plan as necessary.
Don’t forget that people get sick from time to time, especially during the flu season. You might have to take several sick leaves depending on your immune system and luck. You can examine how often you got sick last year to find a good average. Then, you simply subtract it from the overall total.
What makes a good work-life balance so important?
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. As cliche as the statement sounds, it’s very true. A good work-life balance is crucial for your well-being. Most US citizens work 5 days a week for a total of 40 hours. When these hours become longer, it can result in serious health issues.
Depression and anxiety
Though work can be very exciting, it’s easy to get lost in it. When it consumes us, we often ignore everything else around us. This is especially common among new entrepreneurs, who become outright obsessed with their businesses.
High expectations that don’t always work out can lead to increased anxiety and even depression. While these issues are easy to address early on, they can truly cement themselves in your mind as time goes on. Remember that you’re a human being, not a robot. You deserve some time off here and there.
Sleep deprivation and low energy levels
Some jobs are more demanding than others. Many may require you to work long hours. Between juggling work and your personal life, it’s all too easy to neglect your sleep. But sleep is a vital part of our lives. Deprived of it, our performance will quickly deteriorate.
Make sure you get at least 8 hours of sleep each night. Though burning the midnight oil might be necessary sometimes, don’t make it a habit.
Burnout and job dissatisfaction
For some people work can feel like a chore, something they have to do if they want to live decent lives. But many of us find fulfillment in our jobs. However, even the sweetest fruit will turn bitter if we eat it too much.
At some point, our jobs may lose their charm. This often happens when we dedicate more time to them than their worth. Don’t neglect your hobbies for the sake of work. These are often great forms of relaxation since they allow you to think about something else for a change.
Poor interpersonal relationships
Unless you’re a modern-day hermit, you’re likely surrounded by family and a network of friends. To make any kind of relationship work, you must nurture it regularly. Working too much can often make you forget about the people in your life. This can eventually lead to lost friendships and even divorces.
It’s always a good idea to set some time aside for your friends and family. You should cherish them while you can as you never know what tomorrow will bring.
How to plan effectively
Planning can go a long way. Although you can’t conjure a prophecy that lists all your upcoming expenses next year, some remain constant. You can manage your finances better when you understand how much you’ll work each year.
Use a standard calendar
Some prefer to stick to the classics. A good old-fashioned calendar can help you mark important days and occasions in advance. If you’re feeling creative, you can also use different colors for different types of occasions. This can be the perfect way to manage both your professional and personal events.
Use a mobile calendar
Though physical calendars can add great aesthetic value to your office, they have one major drawback – you can’t always have them on you. Even if you have a pocket calendar, it’s not very practical.
Thankfully, your smartphone comes with multiple useful features. The digital calendar is one of them. With it, you keep track of your upcoming events wherever you go. They’re often optimized to automatically save special events. For example, they often save birthday dates from your contact list.
Use the Google work calendar
Google rules in terms of useful services. One of their best ones is the Google work calendar. This allows you to create a very detailed and personalized work schedule. Unlike on mobile calendars, you can open it from different devices.
FAQ about how many working days are there in a year
How many working days are there in a year?
Based on a 5-day workweek and 52 weeks in a year, there are normally 252 working days. On weekends and holidays, though, this can change.
How many weekdays are there in a year?
Based on a 5-day workweek and 52 weeks in a year, there are typically 260 weekdays in a year. Holidays and weekends are not included in this.
How many business days are there in a year?
Based on how many weekends and holidays fall on weekdays, there are approximately 251-253 business days in a year. Weekdays, excluding holidays, are included in this.
How many workdays are there in a year?
Based on how many weekends and holidays fall on weekdays, there are approximately 251-253 workdays in a year. Weekdays, excluding holidays, are included in this.
How many hours are there in a work year?
Based on a 40-hour workweek and 48–49 working weeks per year, there are typically 1,920–1,928 working hours.
How many days off do I get in a year?
Your employer, the nation or region you are in, and the number of vacation days you receive each year will all affect this. Employees typically have a set amount of paid holidays, sick days, and other types of leave available to them.
How many vacation days do I get in a year?
Your employer and the nation or region you are in will determine how many vacation days you receive each year. A minimum amount of paid vacation days is required by legislation in some nations, whereas in others the employer is in charge.
How many public holidays are there in a year?
Depending on your country or location, there may be a certain amount of public holidays each year. Public holidays vary greatly amongst nations, with some having numerous throughout the year and others have few.
What is the average number of working days per month?
The number of weekdays in each month, as well as any weekends or public holidays that fall on weekdays, will determine the average number of working days per month.
What is the standard number of working days in a week?
Although some firms may have various policies for their employees, such as a 4-day workweek or a flexible schedule, the normal number of working days in a week is typically five.
How many working days are there in a year? Our final thoughts
Counting your working day can help you understand how much time you’ll spend working every year. Because most contracts are hourly, you can also estimate your yearly income. This will help you create an annual budget and adjust your lifestyle accordingly.
Additionally, you will also find out how many days off you get each year. As a result, you’ll be able to better manage your free time.
Though there are 260 working days in a year, several factors can change this number. Each country has its public holidays which don’t count towards this total. Furthermore, working days are different between the private and public sectors. Sick leave and vacation days further subtract from the total.
If you liked this article about how many working days are in a year, you should check out this one with public holidays in the land down under.
You should also check out these other articles of ours about public holidays in France, UK bank holidays, US Federal holidays, Canadian holidays, New Zealand holidays, and also public holidays in Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.
