$15 an Hour is How Much a Year? (2026 Full Breakdown)
$15 an hour equals $31,200 per year if you work 40 hours a week for all 52 weeks. That breaks down to $2,600 per month, $1,200 every two weeks, $600 per week, and $120 per day. These figures are based on the standard 2,080 working hours per year (52 weeks × 40 hours). If you take unpaid time off, your actual annual earnings will be lower — two weeks unpaid reduces the total to $30,000.
After federal income tax, FICA (Social Security + Medicare), and no state income tax, a single filer earning $15/hr takes home approximately $27,107 per year — about $2,259 per month. Your effective federal tax rate at this income level is roughly 13%. State income tax, health insurance premiums, and 401(k) contributions would reduce take-home further. In states with income tax (averaging 4-6%), expect your net pay to be $25,752–$26,294 annually.
A $15/hr wage is below the US median annual wage of ~$59,000. Jobs that commonly pay around this rate include retail associates, fast-food workers, entry-level warehouse staff, and cashiers. Whether $15/hr is a good wage depends heavily on your location — in a low cost-of-living area like rural Texas or Mississippi, $31,200/year may be comfortable for a single person. In high-cost cities like San Francisco or New York, the same income will cover only basic expenses. Use the calculator below to model your exact take-home pay based on your pay frequency and hours worked.
Key Data & Statistics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Hourly Rate | $15.00 |
| Annual Salary (2,080 hrs) | $31,200 |
| Annual Salary (2,000 hrs — 2 wks off) | $30,000 |
| Monthly Income | $2,600 |
| Biweekly Paycheck (gross) | $1,200 |
| Weekly Pay | $600 |
| Daily Pay (8 hrs) | $120 |
| Estimated Annual Net Pay (no state tax) | ~$27,107 |
| Estimated Monthly Take-Home | ~$2,259 |
| Effective Tax Rate (federal + FICA) | ~13% |
Pre-Calculated Examples
| Scenario | Gross | Net / Result | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 hrs/wk, 52 wks (full year) | $31,200 | ~$27,107 | Standard full-time, no unpaid time off |
| 40 hrs/wk, 50 wks (2 wks off) | $30,000 | ~$26,064 | 2 weeks unpaid vacation |
| 40 hrs/wk, 48 wks (4 wks off) | $28,800 | ~$25,022 | 4 weeks unpaid (or paid vacation) |
| 35 hrs/wk, 52 wks (part-time+) | $27,300 | ~$23,719 | Reduced hours schedule |
| 20 hrs/wk, 52 wks (part-time) | $15,600 | ~$13,554 | Part-time, no overtime |
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Who Uses This Calculator?
Job offer comparison
Use this page to quickly verify what a $15/hr offer translates to annually before accepting. Knowing you'd earn $31,200/year helps you compare against salaried positions.
Budget planning
With ~$2,259/month take-home, plan your rent (ideally ≤$678), savings, and expenses. Use the 50/30/20 rule as a guide.
Raise negotiation
If you currently earn less than $15/hr, knowing the annual equivalent ($31,200) helps you frame your ask — a $1/hr raise adds $2,080/year to gross pay.
Overtime planning
At $15/hr, overtime (1.5×) pays $22.50/hr. Each extra hour of OT adds $7.50 above your regular rate. 10 hours of OT/week adds $3,900/year.