$20 an Hour Is How Much a Year? (2026 Pay Chart)
Working full time at $20 an hour pays about $41,600 a year before taxes, which is about $3,467 a month or $1,600 every two weeks. The math is $20 × 40 hours × 52 weeks. After federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, a single filer in a state with no income tax takes home about $35,600 a year, or roughly $2,967 a month.
How to convert hourly pay to yearly pay
Multiply your hourly rate by your hours per week, then by 52 weeks. A standard full-time year is 40 hours × 52 weeks = 2,080 hours. To go the other way, divide a yearly salary by 2,080 to get an hourly rate. The hourly to salary calculator does both and lets you change the hours per week.
Hourly pay chart (full time, before taxes)
| Hourly rate | Yearly | Monthly | Every two weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15 | $31,200 | $2,600 | $1,200 |
| $18 | $37,440 | $3,120 | $1,440 |
| $20 | $41,600 | $3,467 | $1,600 |
| $25 | $52,000 | $4,333 | $2,000 |
| $30 | $62,400 | $5,200 | $2,400 |
| $40 | $83,200 | $6,933 | $3,200 |
What $20 an hour is after taxes
For a single filer with no state income tax and no 401(k) in 2026:
| Item | Per year |
|---|---|
| Gross pay | $41,600 |
| Federal income tax | -$2,812 |
| Social Security | -$2,579 |
| Medicare | -$603 |
| Take-home | $35,606 (about $2,967 a month, $1,369 every two weeks) |
If your state taxes wages, your take-home will be lower. Use the paycheck calculator or your state's page for a closer estimate.
Overtime pay
Under federal law, most hourly workers (non-exempt employees) must be paid at least 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. At $20 an hour, overtime is $30 an hour. If you work 45 hours in a week, you earn 40 × $20 + 5 × $30 = $950 before taxes. Some states have stricter rules, such as daily overtime, so check your state. The overtime pay calculator works it out for any rate.
If you work fewer hours or take unpaid time off
Part-time work changes the total. At 30 hours a week, $20 an hour pays about $31,200 a year. Two weeks of unpaid time off reduces a full-time year to 2,000 hours, or $40,000. Compare job offers by total pay, and also look at paid time off, health insurance and retirement matches, which can add thousands of dollars of value.
What a $2 raise is worth
A raise from $20 to $22 an hour adds $2 × 2,080 hours = $4,160 a year before tax, bringing the yearly pay to $45,760. At this income, a single filer's next dollar is taxed at 12% federal plus 7.65% payroll tax, so about 80 cents of each extra dollar stays with you. That is roughly $3,343 more in take-home pay per year.
Hourly vs salaried: what to compare
- Overtime: most hourly workers get time-and-a-half after 40 hours, while many salaried workers do not.
- Stable hours: a salary pays the same each period even if hours change. Hourly pay can vary with your schedule.
- Benefits: health insurance, paid time off and retirement matches can be worth thousands of dollars a year, so include them when comparing offers.
To compare an hourly job with a salaried offer, divide the salary by 2,080 to see the hourly equivalent.
Is $20 an hour enough?
It depends on where you live and your expenses. Use take-home pay as your budget base and try the budget calculator to see how rent, bills and savings fit. Our guide to the 50/30/20 rule is a useful starting point, and the rent affordability calculator shows a comfortable rent for your income.
Try the calculators
Frequently asked questions
How much is $20 an hour per month?
About $3,467 a month before taxes for full-time work (2,080 hours a year).
How much is $20 an hour biweekly?
$1,600 every two weeks for 80 hours, before taxes.
How much is $20 an hour part time?
It depends on your hours. At 20 hours a week, it is about $20,800 a year before taxes.
This guide is for general information. Figures use 2026 US federal rules and the assumptions stated above, and are estimates, not financial, tax or legal advice. Check IRS.gov or a qualified professional for your situation.