The Invisible Pay Cut: How Commuting Costs Workers an Average of $8,000 a Year in Lost Time

Workers lose an average of 223 hours—valued at about $8,158—each year to commuting, creating an “invisible pay cut” that effectively reduces the real value of their time, especially in major metros like San Jose, San Francisco and New York where losses exceed $12,000 annually.

Because long daily travel quietly reduces people’s usable hours and financial flexibility, it increases their need for solutions that save time, reduce stress and offer better value—making them more receptive to messages that highlight convenience, efficiency and smart spending.