$15.50 an hour is $32,240 a year
$15.50 an hour is $32,240 a year before tax at 40 hours a week. After 2026 federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare:
You keep
$28,085
a year after taxes
- Every two weeks
- $1,080
- A month
- $2,340
- Effective tax rate
- 12.9%
US Before state and local income tax
| Line | Every two weeks | Year |
|---|---|---|
GROSS Gross pay |
$1,240.00 | $32,240.00 |
FED Federal income tax |
-$64.95 | -$1,688.80 |
OASDI Social Security tax |
-$76.88 | -$1,998.88 |
MED Medicare tax |
-$17.98 | -$467.48 |
NET Take-home pay | $1,080.19 | $28,084.84 |
Most states also tax wages. Take-home pay in all 50 states and DC is further down.
$15.50 an hour per paycheck, month and day
| Period | Gross | Taxes | Take-home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | $32,240 | -$4,155 | $28,085 |
| Month | $2,687 | -$346 | $2,340 |
| Every two weeks | $1,240 | -$160 | $1,080 |
| Week | $620 | -$80 | $540 |
| Day | $124 | -$16 | $108 |
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 | $16,120 | $14,885 |
| 25 | $20,150 | $18,204 |
| 30 | $24,180 | $21,522 |
| 35 | $28,210 | $24,841 |
| 40 | $32,240 | $28,085 |
| 45 (5 overtime) | $38,285 | $33,184 |
| 50 (10 overtime) | $44,330 | $38,283 |
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 $15.50 an hour affords
- Rent at 30% of gross pay
- $806 a month
- Needs (50% of take-home)
- $1,170 a month
- Wants (30%)
- $702 a month
- Savings and debt (20%)
- $468 a month
The 30% rule is the benchmark HUD uses for housing cost burden. The 50/30/20 split applies to the $2,340 monthly take-home figure above.
$15.50 an hour after taxes in every state
8 states take no state income tax or payroll contributions from $15.50 an hour ($32,240 a year). Among the rest, Alaska takes the least ($161 a year) and Oregon the most ($2,085, or $80 per biweekly paycheck).
| State | State taxes | Take-home a year |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | $0 | $28,085 |
| Nevada | $0 | $28,085 |
| New Hampshire | $0 | $28,085 |
| North Dakota | $0 | $28,085 |
| South Dakota | $0 | $28,085 |
| Tennessee | $0 | $28,085 |
| Texas | $0 | $28,085 |
| Wyoming | $0 | $28,085 |
| Alaska | $161 | $27,924 |
| South Carolina | $343 | $27,742 |
| New Mexico | $402 | $27,683 |
| Arizona | $404 | $27,681 |
| Ohio | $416 | $27,669 |
| Washington | $447 | $27,638 |
| Mississippi | $558 | $27,527 |
| Missouri | $558 | $27,527 |
| Iowa | $573 | $27,512 |
| Louisiana | $582 | $27,503 |
| Nebraska | $602 | $27,483 |
| Idaho | $610 | $27,474 |
| Utah | $645 | $27,440 |
| Vermont | $646 | $27,439 |
| California | $691 | $27,393 |
| Wisconsin | $702 | $27,383 |
| Arkansas | $705 | $27,380 |
| Connecticut | $736 | $27,349 |
| New Jersey | $749 | $27,336 |
| Montana | $759 | $27,326 |
| North Carolina | $778 | $27,307 |
| West Virginia | $798 | $27,287 |
| Hawaii | $801 | $27,283 |
| Maine | $816 | $27,269 |
| District of Columbia | $834 | $27,250 |
| Colorado | $852 | $27,233 |
| Georgia | $860 | $27,225 |
| Oklahoma | $905 | $27,180 |
| Indiana | $922 | $27,163 |
| Rhode Island | $947 | $27,138 |
| Kentucky | $1,011 | $27,074 |
| Pennsylvania | $1,012 | $27,073 |
| Kansas | $1,013 | $27,072 |
| Virginia | $1,040 | $27,045 |
| Minnesota | $1,051 | $27,034 |
| Michigan | $1,117 | $26,968 |
| Maryland | $1,165 | $26,919 |
| Delaware | $1,241 | $26,843 |
| Alabama | $1,279 | $26,806 |
| New York | $1,314 | $26,770 |
| Massachusetts | $1,440 | $26,645 |
| Illinois | $1,451 | $26,634 |
| Oregon | $2,085 | $26,000 |
Questions people ask about $15.50 an hour
$15.50 an hour is how much a year?
$15.50 an hour is $32,240 a year before tax at 40 hours a week and 52 paid weeks. At 35 hours a week it is $28,210, and at 30 hours $24,180.
How much is $15.50 an hour after taxes?
After 2026 federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, a single filer keeps $28,085 a year. State tax brings that down to between $26,000 (Oregon) and $28,085 (Wyoming, no state tax).
How much is $15.50 an hour biweekly after taxes?
$15.50 an hour is $1,240 gross every two weeks. After taxes (before state tax) a biweekly paycheck comes to about $1,080.
$15.50 an hour is how much a month?
$15.50 an hour is $2,687 a month before tax and about $2,340 after tax before state tax, averaged over 12 months.
How much rent can I afford on $15.50 an hour?
The 30% rule puts rent at $806 a month on $2,687 gross. Budgeting from take-home pay with 50/30/20, all needs including rent get $1,170.
Which state takes the least tax from $15.50 an hour?
8 states take no state income tax or payroll contributions from wages, so $15.50 an hour leaves $28,085 there. Oregon leaves the least, $26,000.
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