5 min · 2026-10-12
Working hours or round the clock: which basis to use
The same salary gives two very different per-second figures. This explains the gap, and why expenses are only shown on one of the two bases.
Pick the two bases in turn with the same salary entered and the per-second figure jumps by roughly a factor of six. Neither number is wrong. They are answers to different questions.
Where the factor comes from
| Basis | Seconds used |
|---|---|
| Round the clock | 31,536,000 |
| Working hours (22 days × 8 hours × 12 months) | 7,603,200 |
Seconds in a year by basis, using the default working-hours settings
A factor of about four between the denominators, plus the difference between a yearly and a monthly input, is the whole story. There is no adjustment or weighting hidden anywhere.
Which one to use
- Round the clock, if you want the average value of your time across your whole life, not just the working parts.
- Working hours, if you want to watch the figure move while you are actually at work. This is the default on the counter screen for that reason.
Why expenses appear on only one basis
Rent, bills and subscriptions accrue continuously. They do not pause when you leave the office. Dividing them by working hours only, while dividing income by working hours too, would compare two things measured against different clocks.
The three settings
- Work days per month (default 22) — the denominator for the per-second figure.
- Paid hours per day (default 8) — used in both the per-second denominator and the daily figure.
- Work days per week (default 5) — used only for the weekly figure.
More guides
Why yearly pay does not divide neatly into months
Yearly ÷ 12 and the number in your account are different. Here is every reason why.
How earnings per second are calculated
The formula behind the counter, and why its figures always agree with each other.
The trap in simple saving and goal calculations
The formula for monthly saving and time-to-goal, and the four things it quietly assumes.
This piece explains how the calculations work. It does not promise any financial return and is not investment advice.