Compare the real hourly rate for tech professions after commuting, overtime, and hidden expenses. See which tech jobs actually pay the best.
| Profession | Salary | Nominal Rate | True Rate | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | $127,260 | $63.63/hr | $43.86/hr | 31% |
| Data Analyst | $83,750 | $41.88/hr | $29.36/hr | 30% |
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 tech professions, software engineers have the highest nominal salary at $127,260/year, with a true hourly rate of $43.86/hr. However, jobs with less overtime and shorter commutes may have better true rates relative to their salary.
Tech professionals typically lose 25–40% of their nominal hourly rate to hidden costs and unpaid time. The biggest factors are commuting (45–40 min/day), unpaid overtime (3–5 hrs/week), and daily work expenses.
In tech, overtime ranges from 3 to 5 hours per week. Higher-paying positions like software engineer often require more unpaid hours, which significantly reduces the true hourly rate.