How the number is calculated
$18 × 40 hours × 52 weeks = $37,440
A full-time US job is usually counted as 40 hours a week and 52 weeks a year, or 2,080 paid hours. Multiplying $18 by 2,080 gives the gross yearly pay. If your two weeks of vacation are unpaid, use 50 weeks instead: $36,000 a year.
$18 an hour at different schedules
| Hours a week | Weekly | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 hours | $360.00 | $1,560.00 | $18,720 |
| 25 hours | $450.00 | $1,950.00 | $23,400 |
| 30 hours | $540.00 | $2,340.00 | $28,080 |
| 32 hours | $576.00 | $2,496.00 | $29,952 |
| 35 hours | $630.00 | $2,730.00 | $32,760 |
| 37.5 hours | $675.00 | $2,925.00 | $35,100 |
| 40 hours | $720.00 | $3,120.00 | $37,440 |
| 45 hours | $810.00 | $3,510.00 | $42,120 |
| 50 hours | $900.00 | $3,900.00 | $46,800 |
Overtime at $18 an hour
Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, non-exempt employees earn at least 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. At $18 an hour, that is $27.00 per overtime hour. Five overtime hours a week add $135.00 a week, or about $7,020 a year.
A 50/30/20 budget on $18 an hour
The 50/30/20 rule splits take-home pay into needs, wants and savings. Taxes depend on your state, filing status and benefits, so the split below uses gross pay of $3,120 a month as a starting point. Use the 50/30/20 budget calculator with your actual take-home pay.
| Category | Share | Monthly (gross) |
|---|---|---|
| Needs | 50% | $1,560 |
| Wants | 30% | $936 |
| Savings and debt | 20% | $624 |
$18 an hour is 2.5 times the federal minimum wage of $7.25. Many states and cities set a higher minimum, so check your state labor department for the local rate.
Want a different rate or schedule? Try the salary to hourly calculator.