Part-Time FTE Income Impact Calculator

More and more physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other clinicians choose part-time work to reduce burnout, care for family or make room for other interests. The pay cut is often smaller than people expect, but benefits can change sharply at certain thresholds. This calculator shows the real trade-off.

What this calculator does

Enter your full-time salary, the part-time FTE you're considering, any other household income, your filing status, state tax rate, the value of your benefits, the minimum FTE for full benefits and your full-time hours per week. It shows:

• the share of take-home pay you'd keep,
• your part-time and full-time take-home,
• the take-home and benefits you'd give up each year,
• the hours freed each week, and
• the after-tax cost of each freed hour.

The formula in plain English

Part-time salary = full-time salary × FTE.

Take-home is calculated for both salaries using 2026 federal tax, Social Security and Medicare, and your state rate. If you have other household income, the calculator counts only the change in household take-home.

Share kept = part-time take-home ÷ full-time take-home.

Benefits lost = the full value of benefits, if the new FTE falls below the threshold.

Given up = full-time take-home − part-time take-home + benefits lost.

Hours freed = full-time hours × (1 − FTE).

Cost per freed hour = amount given up ÷ (hours freed per week × 48 weeks).

A worked example

Dr. Chen earns $260,000 full-time, working about 50 hours a week. She's single, pays about 5% state tax, and is considering 0.8 FTE. Her benefits are worth $30,000 and stay at full value at 0.75 FTE or higher.

• Full-time take-home: about $176,700.
• Part-time take-home: about $144,400.
• She'd keep about 82% of her take-home while working 80% of the time.
• Given up: about $32,300 a year, with no loss of benefits.
• Hours freed: 10 a week.
• Cost per freed hour: about $67.

At 0.7 FTE, she'd drop below the benefits threshold and give up $30,000 more, which would make that extra 0.1 FTE very expensive.

Why it matters at each career stage

If you're: Employed

If you're feeling burned out, part-time may cost less than you think. Run this alongside your budget to see whether your savings and loan payments still work at a lower FTE. Coast FI makes it even easier.

If you're: Practice owner

For practice owners, cutting back affects practice income and overhead coverage, not just salary. Bringing in an associate to cover your reduced time may keep the practice healthy.

If you're: Resident / fellow

Part-time training is rare but growing in some specialties. If you're planning for family or other needs, ask programs about flexible or part-time pathways.

Before you go part-time

Check benefits thresholds. Health insurance, retirement match, disability coverage and CME may all change.

Look at disability insurance. Some policies base benefits on your income at the time of disability. Lower income can mean lower coverage.

Watch PSLF eligibility. Make sure your hours still count as full-time if you're pursuing forgiveness.

Ask about call and admin time. Make sure your schedule really drops.

Update your budget. Plan for the new take-home before your first part-time paycheck.

The value of time

The dollar cost of each freed hour is only half of the decision. More time with family, better sleep and lower burnout have real value for you and your patients. This calculator helps you see whether the price is one you're comfortable paying.

Next, check whether you've reached Coast FI, plan childcare costs, and see your full take-home pay.