$12 an hour is $24,960 a year
$12 an hour is $24,960 a year before tax at 40 hours a week. After 2026 federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare:
You keep
$22,165
a year after taxes
- Every two weeks
- $852
- A month
- $1,847
- Effective tax rate
- 11.2%
US Before state and local income tax
| Line | Every two weeks | Year |
|---|---|---|
GROSS Gross pay |
$960.00 | $24,960.00 |
FED Federal income tax |
-$34.08 | -$886.00 |
OASDI Social Security tax |
-$59.52 | -$1,547.52 |
MED Medicare tax |
-$13.92 | -$361.92 |
NET Take-home pay | $852.48 | $22,164.56 |
Most states also tax wages. Take-home pay in all 50 states and DC is further down.
$12 an hour per paycheck, month and day
| Period | Gross | Taxes | Take-home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | $24,960 | -$2,795 | $22,165 |
| Month | $2,080 | -$233 | $1,847 |
| Every two weeks | $960 | -$108 | $852 |
| Week | $480 | -$54 | $426 |
| Day | $96 | -$11 | $85 |
Biweekly means 26 paychecks a year. A day is one of 260 working days (five a week). "Taxes and deductions" includes every line on the stub above.
If you work more or fewer hours
| Hours a week | Yearly gross | Yearly take-home |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | $12,480 | $11,525 |
| 25 | $15,600 | $14,407 |
| 30 | $18,720 | $17,026 |
| 35 | $21,840 | $19,595 |
| 40 | $24,960 | $22,165 |
| 45 (5 overtime) | $29,640 | $26,175 |
| 50 (10 overtime) | $34,320 | $30,131 |
From 2026, federal income tax exempts the overtime premium (the extra half of time-and-a-half) up to $12,500 a year for single filers. Social Security, Medicare still apply to it.
What $12 an hour affords
- Rent at 30% of gross pay
- $624 a month
- Needs (50% of take-home)
- $924 a month
- Wants (30%)
- $554 a month
- Savings and debt (20%)
- $369 a month
The 30% rule is the benchmark HUD uses for housing cost burden. The 50/30/20 split applies to the $1,847 monthly take-home figure above.
$12 an hour after taxes in every state
9 states take no state income tax or payroll contributions from $12 an hour ($24,960 a year). Among the rest, Alaska takes the least ($125 a year) and Oregon the most ($1,467, or $56 per biweekly paycheck).
| State | State taxes | Take-home a year |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | $0 | $22,165 |
| Nevada | $0 | $22,165 |
| New Hampshire | $0 | $22,165 |
| North Dakota | $0 | $22,165 |
| Ohio | $0 | $22,165 |
| South Dakota | $0 | $22,165 |
| Tennessee | $0 | $22,165 |
| Texas | $0 | $22,165 |
| Wyoming | $0 | $22,165 |
| Alaska | $125 | $22,040 |
| New Mexico | $134 | $22,031 |
| South Carolina | $198 | $21,966 |
| Arizona | $222 | $21,943 |
| Missouri | $223 | $21,942 |
| Idaho | $225 | $21,940 |
| Utah | $226 | $21,938 |
| Connecticut | $254 | $21,910 |
| Mississippi | $266 | $21,898 |
| Iowa | $297 | $21,868 |
| Nebraska | $346 | $21,818 |
| Washington | $346 | $21,818 |
| Maine | $357 | $21,807 |
| Louisiana | $364 | $21,801 |
| Hawaii | $366 | $21,799 |
| Wisconsin | $381 | $21,784 |
| District of Columbia | $398 | $21,766 |
| Vermont | $402 | $21,762 |
| Montana | $416 | $21,748 |
| California | $446 | $21,719 |
| Arkansas | $448 | $21,717 |
| North Carolina | $487 | $21,677 |
| Georgia | $497 | $21,668 |
| Colorado | $500 | $21,665 |
| New Jersey | $560 | $21,604 |
| West Virginia | $575 | $21,589 |
| Oklahoma | $578 | $21,587 |
| Rhode Island | $594 | $21,571 |
| Minnesota | $629 | $21,535 |
| Virginia | $634 | $21,531 |
| Kansas | $634 | $21,530 |
| Indiana | $707 | $21,458 |
| Kentucky | $756 | $21,409 |
| Pennsylvania | $784 | $21,381 |
| Michigan | $808 | $21,357 |
| Maryland | $820 | $21,345 |
| Delaware | $820 | $21,345 |
| New York | $890 | $21,275 |
| Alabama | $939 | $21,226 |
| Massachusetts | $1,047 | $21,117 |
| Illinois | $1,091 | $21,074 |
| Oregon | $1,467 | $20,697 |
Questions people ask about $12 an hour
$12 an hour is how much a year?
$12 an hour is $24,960 a year before tax at 40 hours a week and 52 paid weeks. At 35 hours a week it is $21,840, and at 30 hours $18,720.
How much is $12 an hour after taxes?
After 2026 federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, a single filer keeps $22,165 a year. State tax brings that down to between $20,697 (Oregon) and $22,165 (Wyoming, no state tax).
How much is $12 an hour biweekly after taxes?
$12 an hour is $960 gross every two weeks. After taxes (before state tax) a biweekly paycheck comes to about $852.
$12 an hour is how much a month?
$12 an hour is $2,080 a month before tax and about $1,847 after tax before state tax, averaged over 12 months.
How much rent can I afford on $12 an hour?
The 30% rule puts rent at $624 a month on $2,080 gross. Budgeting from take-home pay with 50/30/20, all needs including rent get $924.
Which state takes the least tax from $12 an hour?
9 states take no state income tax or payroll contributions from wages, so $12 an hour leaves $22,165 there. Oregon leaves the least, $20,697.
Try your own numbers
Sources and assumptions
Tax year 2026. Annual tax for a filer with no dependents, no other income and no credits, working 52 weeks. Hours over 40 a week are paid at 1.5×. Local income taxes are not included. How we calculate.
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32: federal brackets and standard deduction (retrieved 2026-09-26)
- Social Security Administration: 2026 wage base; IRS: Medicare and Additional Medicare Tax