Is a Second Job Worth It in Canada? Calculator
Find out what a second job really adds to your week, before tax, once commuting and work costs are subtracted.
Second Job Calculator
Your results
How this calculator works
We take your extra gross income from the second job, subtract its commute cost (fuel and parking) and any other work expenses, and divide the result by your total time commitment — hours worked plus hours commuting — for an effective hourly rate. Every figure is labelled before tax, since a second job's income is often taxed at your marginal rate rather than a flat amount, which this tool cannot calculate reliably.
Example
Example
A second job pays $19/hour for 12 hours/week over 3 days, with a 10 km, 18-minute one-way drive and no parking. Gross weekly income is $228. Weekly driving costs roughly $7.90 in fuel. Remaining income before tax is about $220, spread over 12 worked hours plus roughly 1.8 hours of commuting — an effective rate near $16/hour before tax.
What your result means
What your result means
If the effective rate is much lower than the posted wage, ask whether the schedule, commute, or fatigue from a second job are worth it for you — and remember your actual take-home pay will be lower still once tax is withheld on top of these costs.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn't this calculate my actual take-home pay?
Tax on a second income depends on your total income for the year, your province, and how your employer withholds tax — it isn't a fixed percentage, so an accurate number needs your full tax situation, not just this job.
Should I include gas for the whole tank or just the commute?
Just the commute — the calculator already estimates your fuel cost for the distance and vehicle efficiency you enter, so you don't need to add full tank costs separately.
Can I use this for gig work instead of a traditional second job?
For per-delivery or per-task gig work, our Delivery Driver Profit Calculator is a better fit, since it works from total income and kilometres rather than an hourly wage.