Unpaid weeks on a 1099 contract: what they really cost
Updated October 25, 2026
On a W-2 job, holidays, sick days and vacation may come with a paycheck. On a 1099 contract, a week you do not work is a week you are not paid. Here is how to count that before you compare offers.
The short answer
- Count only the hours you will really be paid, not 52 weeks.
- Every unpaid week costs you the hours you would have worked times your rate.
- With fewer paid weeks, you need a higher rate to earn the same year.
- Ask about canceled shifts and gaps between contracts before you sign.
What counts as unpaid time
- Vacation and days off you choose to take
- Holidays and sick days
- Shifts the facility cancels
- Gaps between contracts
- Waiting for credentialing or a start date
A worked example (made-up numbers)
You are offered $100 an hour for 36 hours a week. You expect to be paid for 46 weeks, which is 1,656 paid hours. Then you plan for 4 more unpaid weeks, so you are paid for 42 weeks.
| 46 paid weeks | 42 paid weeks | |
|---|---|---|
| Paid hours (36 a week) | 1,656 | 1,512 |
| Pay at $100 an hour | $165,600 | $151,200 |
| Difference | $14,400 less | |
Four unpaid weeks cost $14,400 in pay. To earn the same $165,600 with 42 paid weeks, you would need about $109.52 an hour, which is about 9.5% more. This example leaves out taxes and costs, so the real effect on your take-home is more complicated. It shows why the number of paid weeks matters as much as the rate.
Questions to ask
- How many paid weeks can I expect in this contract?
- Are any hours guaranteed? What happens if a shift is canceled?
- How much notice is needed to cancel or end the contract?
- How long do credentialing and onboarding usually take before the first paid shift?
More on the contract side: ten questions to ask before you sign.
Plan for the gaps
One way to handle gaps is to keep a cash cushion in savings, sized to your own monthly spending. Another is to build a few unpaid weeks into every comparison, so a good offer still looks good after the gaps. The calculator lets you enter the hours and months you expect to be paid, so you can try a few versions.
Try a few versions of your own year
Enter the hours and months you expect to be paid and see how the rate you need changes. Free. No sign-up. What you type stays in your browser.
Open the free calculatorScrubs & Fine Print gives educational information only, not personal tax, legal or financial advice. Rules, limits and dates change, and your situation may differ. Examples use made-up numbers. Check with a CPA or a lawyer before you decide. Figures are for tax year 2026.