$30 an hour by pay period
Before taxes, working 40 hours a week all year:
| Period | Pay before tax |
|---|---|
| Year (2,080 hours) | $62,400 |
| Month | $5,200.00 |
| Every two weeks (80 hours) | $2,400.00 |
| Twice a month | $2,600.00 |
| Week (40 hours) | $1,200.00 |
| Day (8 hours) | $240.00 |
The quick way to estimate: double the hourly rate and add three zeros. $30 × 2 = 60, so about $60,000 a year. The exact figure, $62,400, 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, $62,400 a year leaves about $52,318, or $2,012.25 every two weeks. Federal income tax takes $5,308 and Social Security and Medicare take $4,774. Married filing jointly on one income, take-home rises to about $54,498.
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 | $600.00 | $31,200 |
| 25 hours a week | $750.00 | $39,000 |
| 30 hours a week | $900.00 | $46,800 |
| 35 hours a week | $1,050.00 | $54,600 |
| 45 hours a week | $1,350.00 | $70,200 |
| 50 hours a week | $1,500.00 | $78,000 |
Hours over 40 a week usually earn time-and-a-half, $45.00 an hour, so a 45-hour week pays $1,425.00, not $1,350.00.
What $30 an hour can afford
A common guideline is to spend no more than 30% of gross income on rent, which at $62,400 a year is about $1,560 a month. Lenders typically cap a mortgage payment at 28% of gross income, about $1,456 a month; see how much house you can afford.