$18 an hour by pay period
Before taxes, working 40 hours a week all year:
| Period | Pay before tax |
|---|---|
| Year (2,080 hours) | $37,440 |
| Month | $3,120.00 |
| Every two weeks (80 hours) | $1,440.00 |
| Twice a month | $1,560.00 |
| Week (40 hours) | $720.00 |
| Day (8 hours) | $144.00 |
The quick way to estimate: double the hourly rate and add three zeros. $18 × 2 = 36, so about $36,000 a year. The exact figure, $37,440, is a bit higher because a year has 2,080 work hours, not 2,000.
After taxes
For a single filer in 2026 with the standard deduction and no state income tax, $37,440 a year leaves about $32,263, or $1,240.89 every two weeks. Federal income tax takes $2,313 and Social Security and Medicare take $2,864. Married filing jointly on one income, take-home rises to about $34,052.
State tax, 401(k) contributions and health insurance lower this further. See take-home pay for your state with the paycheck calculator by state.
Part-time and longer weeks
| Hours | Per week | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| 20 hours a week | $360.00 | $18,720 |
| 25 hours a week | $450.00 | $23,400 |
| 30 hours a week | $540.00 | $28,080 |
| 35 hours a week | $630.00 | $32,760 |
| 45 hours a week | $810.00 | $42,120 |
| 50 hours a week | $900.00 | $46,800 |
Hours over 40 a week usually earn time-and-a-half, $27.00 an hour, so a 45-hour week pays $855.00, not $810.00.
What $18 an hour can afford
A common guideline is to spend no more than 30% of gross income on rent, which at $37,440 a year is about $936 a month. Lenders typically cap a mortgage payment at 28% of gross income, about $874 a month; see how much house you can afford.