If you are new to the world of employment, you may be surprised by the different terms used to describe how much you earn. One such term is gross salary. However, not knowing what it means can affect you as it is integral to understanding your financial situation.
In this article, we’ll look at gross salary, how it affects you, and how you can calculate your gross income.
So, what is a gross salary?
Quite simply, gross salary is the total amount of money that you earn BEFORE deductions, taxes, contributions, and anything else.
It is also the figure used when jobs are advertised and during salary negotiations. The agreed-upon gross salary is usually specified within an employment contract. This is different than a net salary which is after deductions, taxes, and contributions.
Gross salary is the total value of everything you earn from employment. Additional forms of income include tips, bonuses, commissions, or any other financial incentive you receive from an employer. These different forms of income will increase the value of your gross salary.
However, gross salary is all a part of your total taxable income, and taxes and deductions are calculated based on the entire figure.
The value of taxes and deductions will vary depending on a few factors. This includes the taxes set by the state and what contributions an employee makes.
How do I calculate my gross salary?
For salaried employees who receive a fixed income, gross salary should be readily available within an employment contract.
However, if you receive an additional payment from other forms, such as commissions, a bonus, or tips, you should calculate a basic gross salary. This would be the agreed-upon salary that you receive regardless of any extras; this may entail a minimum wage or an hourly rate that you earn. Once you have this figure, you can estimate how much you earn from the different sources of income and then add that to the base gross pay.
The gross salary for an hourly paid colleague can be calculated by taking the hourly pay rate and multiplying it by hours worked over a length of time. For example, $16 multiplied by 80 hours worked in a month would be $1280 as a gross monthly wage.
Is gross salary yearly or monthly?
Gross salary is commonly used to refer to an employee’s annual salary before any taxes and deductions are applied. For example, lawyers earn $150,000 a year at XYZ law firm.
However, a monthly gross salary can also be given for short-term work or contracts. For example, a contract of 3 months at $3000 a month. The $3000 is the gross monthly salary, and the total gross salary for the contract would be $9000.
What is a gross monthly salary?
Gross monthly salary refers to the amount earned in a month before any deductions are taken. So, for example, if Fred earns $90,000 a year as a salaried employee. $90,000 divided by 12 as the number of pay periods; this would equal $7500 as a gross monthly salary. This entire salary is classed as taxable income.
Whereas, if Fred was not a salaried employee and worked on an hourly basis instead, then you would take the hourly rate and multiply it by the number of hours worked over the month. This would provide the gross salary. In addition, if Fred was to earn more due to overtime pay, then this would also be included in the total amount.
What is a gross annual salary?
Gross annual salary is the total amount earned in a year before any deductions are taken. Usually, when an individual is asked how much they earn, they will reply with the gross annual salary rather than deducting taxes.
Gross annual salary can also be affected by the addition of other financial incentives. For example, if Fred earns $90,000 as a base salary and then receives an extra $60,000 through a bonus and commission, his gross annual salary will then be $150,000.
Why is my gross monthly salary higher than what I actually receive in my bank account?
Gross income is subject to a deduction which comes in different forms. The total can vary depending on your contributions; however, the final amount of money you receive is your net pay or your take-home pay.
Here are some examples of payroll deductions that reduce your gross monthly income:
- Federal income taxes /Social Security taxes/Fica taxes
- Retirement contributions and investments or 401(k)
- Health insurance premiums
- Medicare taxes
- State/local income tax
The majority of these deductions are mandatory and have to be deducted by the employer before sending the final wage. However, if you work on a self-employed basis, then you would still be expected to make these payments. This is because it is a legal requirement, and failure to do so could see you landing in trouble with the Internal Revenue Service.
Bottom Line
Gross salary is an important figure as you need to know how much you’re earning on a yearly basis. This can help not only with better budgeting in personal finance, but if you have a figure in mind of how much you want to be paid monthly, then you can work out how much your gross pay should be. This can help you decide whether to negotiate salary, work more overtime or look for better employment.
Make sure you’re aware of your gross salary to ensure you stay well aware of your financial situation and stay competitive in terms of employability.
We hope you enjoyed this article and were able to get a better understanding of what gross pay is and how it affects you. If you are looking for a new career or want to know how much you could be making, then make sure you check out our salary comparisons and compensation information.