How an hourly paycheck is calculated
Gross pay is your hourly rate times the hours you worked, plus overtime at 1.5 times your rate for hours over 40 in a week (more in some states with daily overtime). From that, payroll withholds federal income tax using your Form W-4, 6.2% Social Security, 1.45% Medicare, and state and local taxes where they apply. What is left is take-home pay.
Because hourly pay varies, many people use a standard 40-hour week (2,080 hours a year) to compare jobs. Enter your real hours above for an accurate figure, then pick weekly pay if you want a weekly paycheck calculator or biweekly for the most common schedule. Learn how frequency changes things in biweekly vs semi-monthly pay.
Hourly wage to take-home pay, 40 hours a week
Single filer, no overtime, no deductions, 2026 rules. Weekly take-home is shown for three states, plus the Texas annual figure (the same in every state without an income tax).
| Hourly wage | Gross / year | Texas weekly | California weekly | New York weekly | Texas annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15/hr | $31,200 | $524 | $511 | $500 | $27,249 |
| $18/hr | $37,440 | $620 | $602 | $589 | $32,263 |
| $20/hr | $41,600 | $685 | $662 | $649 | $35,606 |
| $25/hr | $52,000 | $845 | $810 | $798 | $43,962 |
| $30/hr | $62,400 | $1,006 | $956 | $947 | $52,318 |
| $35/hr | $72,800 | $1,155 | $1,087 | $1,084 | $60,045 |
| $40/hr | $83,200 | $1,295 | $1,207 | $1,213 | $67,361 |
| $50/hr | $104,000 | $1,577 | $1,446 | $1,470 | $81,994 |
See the state-by-state hourly tables on each state paycheck calculator, and a gross conversion chart in hourly wage to salary.
Pick your hourly wage
Each wage has its own after-tax page with take-home pay in every state:
- $12 an hour
- $13 an hour
- $14 an hour
- $15 an hour
- $16 an hour
- $17 an hour
- $18 an hour
- $19 an hour
- $20 an hour
- $21 an hour
- $22 an hour
- $23 an hour
- $24 an hour
- $25 an hour
- $26 an hour
- $27 an hour
- $28 an hour
- $29 an hour
- $30 an hour
- $32 an hour
- $35 an hour
- $38 an hour
- $40 an hour
- $42 an hour
- $45 an hour
- $48 an hour
- $50 an hour
- $55 an hour
- $60 an hour
- $65 an hour
- $70 an hour
- $75 an hour
- $80 an hour
- $85 an hour
- $90 an hour
- $95 an hour
- $100 an hour
Overtime and hourly pay
Add overtime hours in the calculator and they are paid at 1.5 times your rate. Overtime is not taxed at a special higher rate; it is added to your income and taxed like the rest. For a clear view of what overtime adds to take-home pay, open the overtime pay calculator, or read overtime and taxes.
How this estimate works
This page uses the same engine as every calculator on the site: IRS Publication 15-T for federal withholding, FICA, and each state’s 2026 rules, with state-specific local taxes and payroll programs where we model them. Read the methodology for assumptions and limits.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my paycheck from an hourly wage?
Multiply your hourly rate by hours worked, add overtime at 1.5 times the rate for hours over 40 in a week, then subtract federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and any state and local tax. The calculator above does all of that for weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly or monthly pay.
How much is $20 an hour after taxes?
At $20 an hour for 40 hours a week ($41,600 a year), a single filer in a state with no income tax takes home about $35,600 a year, roughly $685 a week. State income tax lowers that further. See the table for $15 to $50 an hour.
Does this work as a weekly paycheck calculator?
Yes. Choose “Weekly” as the pay frequency and the result is your weekly take-home pay. The same hourly inputs also give biweekly, semi-monthly and monthly amounts.
How are overtime hours taxed?
Overtime is taxed as ordinary income at the same rates as regular pay. Enter your overtime hours and the calculator pays them at 1.5 times your rate. For a breakdown of what you keep, use the overtime pay calculator.
Why is my actual paycheck different from the estimate?
Employers may round differently, apply year-to-date caps, or use different benefit deductions. Your W-4 answers also change federal withholding. Use the estimate as a close guide, not a payroll record.
Does hourly pay change the tax rules?
No. Hourly workers face the same federal brackets, FICA and state rules as salaried workers. The only difference is that gross pay varies with the hours you work.
Sources & methodology
- IRS — Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods
- IRS — Topic no. 751, Social Security and Medicare withholding rates
- U.S. Department of Labor — Overtime pay
- PaycheckByState — Methodology and data sources
Estimates for information only, not tax advice. See our methodology, disclaimer and editorial policy.