$42 an hour by hours worked
Part-time or overtime? Here is what the same hourly rate pays at different weekly schedules (overtime premium not included).
| Hours per week | Per week | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 h | $840.00 | $3,640.00 | $43,680 |
| 25 h | $1,050.00 | $4,550.00 | $54,600 |
| 30 h | $1,260.00 | $5,460.00 | $65,520 |
| 35 h | $1,470.00 | $6,370.00 | $76,440 |
| 37.5 h | $1,575.00 | $6,825.00 | $81,900 |
| 40 h | $1,680.00 | $7,280.00 | $87,360 |
| 45 h | $1,890.00 | $8,190.00 | $98,280 |
| 50 h | $2,100.00 | $9,100.00 | $109,200 |
What $42 an hour is worth
- This rate beats the minimum wage in 51 of the 50 states and DC, and is $34.75 above the federal minimum of $7.25.
- If you are eligible for overtime, each hour beyond 40 in a week pays $63.00. Five overtime hours a week add $16,380 a year before tax.
- Each additional dollar per hour is worth $2,080 a year for a full-time schedule.
- Asking for part of any raise as employer 401(k) matching can be worth more than the same amount in cash, because matches are not taxed until retirement.
$42 an hour after tax by pay period (Texas)
Use this table to plan your budget around your actual paycheck, not your gross salary.
| Pay period | Gross pay | Taxes | Take-home pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly | $87,360 | $17,072 | $70,288 |
| Monthly | $7,280.00 | $1,422.69 | $5,857.31 |
| Semi-monthly | $3,640.00 | $711.34 | $2,928.66 |
| Bi-weekly | $3,360.00 | $656.62 | $2,703.38 |
| Weekly | $1,680.00 | $328.31 | $1,351.69 |
| Daily | $336.00 | $65.66 | $270.34 |
| Hourly | $42.00 | $8.21 | $33.79 |
$42 an hour after taxes in the largest states
Where you live changes what $42 an hour is really worth. Yearly take-home pay in the 12 most populous states:
Where your taxes go
- Take-home pay$70,28880.5%
- Federal income tax$10,38911.9%
- Social Security$5,4166.2%
- Medicare$1,2671.5%
- Federal income tax ($10,389). Charged on $71,260 of taxable income after the standard deduction, with a top rate of 22% on your last dollar.
- Social Security ($5,416). 6.2% of wages up to $184,500. It funds retirement and disability benefits.
- Medicare ($1,267). 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?
Without paid vacation, every week off costs $42 × 40 hours = $1,680 of income:
| Schedule | Yearly pay before tax |
|---|---|
| No paid time off (52 weeks) | $87,360 |
| 2 weeks unpaid | $84,000 |
| 4 weeks unpaid | $80,640 |
Frequently asked questions
$42 an hour is how much a year?
$42 an hour is $87,360 a year before taxes, based on 40 hours a week and 52 weeks (2,080 hours).
$42 an hour is how much a month?
About $7,280.00 per month before taxes.
$42 an hour is how much every two weeks?
$3,360.00 per bi-weekly paycheck before taxes.
How much is $42 an hour after taxes?
It depends on your state. A single filer keeps about $70,288 a year in Texas (no state income tax) and $65,273 in California.
Is $42 an hour a good wage?
$42 is 5.8 times the federal minimum wage of $7.25 and higher than the minimum wage in 51 of 51 states. Full time, it adds up to $87,360 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.