Compare the real hourly rate for finance professions after commuting, overtime, and hidden expenses. See which finance jobs actually pay the best.
| Profession | Salary | Nominal Rate | True Rate | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accountant | $79,880 | $39.94/hr | $26.20/hr | 34% |
| Lawyer | $145,760 | $72.88/hr | $45.57/hr | 37% |
| HR Manager | $130,000 | $65.00/hr | $45.94/hr | 29% |
| Financial Analyst | $95,080 | $47.54/hr | $30.77/hr | 35% |
| Real Estate Agent | $52,030 | $26.02/hr | $14.63/hr | 44% |
Your Income
Hidden Time
Hours you work for free
Hidden Costs
Money you spend because you have a job
Gas, public transit, or rideshare
What you spend that you wouldn't at home
Tools, certifications, dry cleaning, etc.
Among finance professions, lawyers have the highest nominal salary at $145,760/year, with a true hourly rate of $45.57/hr. However, jobs with less overtime and shorter commutes may have better true rates relative to their salary.
Finance professionals typically lose 25–40% of their nominal hourly rate to hidden costs and unpaid time. The biggest factors are commuting (40–60 min/day), unpaid overtime (8–10 hrs/week), and daily work expenses.
In finance, overtime ranges from 8 to 10 hours per week. Higher-paying positions like lawyer often require more unpaid hours, which significantly reduces the true hourly rate.