$18 an hour by hours worked
Not everyone works 40 hours. This table shows $18 an hour at common part-time and full-time schedules.
| Hours per week | Per week | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 h | $360.00 | $1,560.00 | $18,720 |
| 25 h | $450.00 | $1,950.00 | $23,400 |
| 30 h | $540.00 | $2,340.00 | $28,080 |
| 35 h | $630.00 | $2,730.00 | $32,760 |
| 37.5 h | $675.00 | $2,925.00 | $35,100 |
| 40 h | $720.00 | $3,120.00 | $37,440 |
| 45 h | $810.00 | $3,510.00 | $42,120 |
| 50 h | $900.00 | $3,900.00 | $46,800 |
What $18 an hour is worth
- This rate beats the minimum wage in 50 of the 50 states and DC, and is $10.75 above the federal minimum of $7.25.
- If you are eligible for overtime, each hour beyond 40 in a week pays $27.00. Five overtime hours a week add $7,020 a year before tax.
- Each additional dollar per hour is worth $2,080 a year for a full-time schedule.
- At this wage, refundable credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit can boost your income at tax time, especially if you have children.
$18 an hour after tax by pay period (Texas)
Most US employers pay bi-weekly (26 paychecks a year) or semi-monthly (24 paychecks). This table shows every common schedule.
| Pay period | Gross pay | Taxes | Take-home pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly | $37,440 | $5,177 | $32,263 |
| Monthly | $3,120.00 | $431.41 | $2,688.59 |
| Semi-monthly | $1,560.00 | $215.71 | $1,344.29 |
| Bi-weekly | $1,440.00 | $199.11 | $1,240.89 |
| Weekly | $720.00 | $99.56 | $620.44 |
| Daily | $144.00 | $19.91 | $124.09 |
| Hourly | $18.00 | $2.49 | $15.51 |
$18 an hour after taxes in the largest states
State income tax can cost a full-time hourly worker thousands of dollars a year. Compare the largest states:
Where your taxes go
- Take-home pay$32,26386.2%
- Federal income tax$2,3136.2%
- Social Security$2,3216.2%
- Medicare$5431.5%
- Federal income tax ($2,313). Charged on $21,340 of taxable income after the standard deduction, with a top rate of 12% on your last dollar.
- Social Security ($2,321). 6.2% of wages up to $184,500. It funds retirement and disability benefits.
- Medicare ($543). Charged at 1.45% on every dollar you earn, with no wage cap.
- State income tax ($0). Texas does not tax wages.
What if you take unpaid time off?
Hourly workers are only paid for the hours they work. Unpaid weeks off reduce your yearly income:
| Schedule | Yearly pay before tax |
|---|---|
| No paid time off (52 weeks) | $37,440 |
| 2 weeks unpaid | $36,000 |
| 4 weeks unpaid | $34,560 |
Frequently asked questions
$18 an hour is how much a year?
$18 an hour is $37,440 a year before taxes, based on 40 hours a week and 52 weeks (2,080 hours).
$18 an hour is how much a month?
About $3,120.00 per month before taxes.
$18 an hour is how much every two weeks?
$1,440.00 per bi-weekly paycheck before taxes.
How much is $18 an hour after taxes?
It depends on your state. A single filer keeps about $32,263 a year in Texas (no state income tax) and $31,296 in California.
Is $18 an hour a good wage?
$18 is 2.5 times the federal minimum wage of $7.25 and higher than the minimum wage in 50 of 51 states. Full time, it adds up to $37,440 a year.
Figures use 2026 IRS federal brackets, the standard deduction, Social Security and Medicare rates, and each state's income tax rules for a W-2 employee. Read our methodology. Last updated September 25, 2026. Estimates for information only, not tax advice.