$15 an hour: what is the take-home pay?
Rates verified on 10/3/2026 — official sources
$15 an hour after tax: the breakdown
$15 an hour is a gross annual salary of $31,200.00 — $2,600.00 per month gives $2,270.77 take-home pay per month with default US assumptions — before pre-tax deductions that vary by employer. Employee deductions take $329.23 per month, an effective rate of 12.66%. The breakdown below covers federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare under the default assumptions — single filer, Texas (no state income tax).
Contribution breakdown
| Line | Rate | Base | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Security (OASDI, ≤ 184,500 $) | 6.20% | $31,200.00 | $1,934.40 |
| Medicare | 1.45% | $31,200.00 | $452.40 |
| Federal income tax (single, taxable 15,100 $) | 10.36% | $15,100.00 | $1,564.00 |
| Total employee contributions | $3,950.80 |
Excludes employer-specific insurance and benefits (which vary by plan) — indicative estimate, not contractual.
Refine with the calculator
| Line | Rate | Base | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Security (OASDI, ≤ 184,500 $) | 6.20% | $2,600.00 | $161.20 |
| Medicare | 1.45% | $2,600.00 | $37.70 |
| Federal income tax (single, taxable 15,100 $) | 10.36% | $1,258.33 | $130.33 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the take-home pay for $15 an hour?
$15 an hour gives $2,270.77 take-home pay per month — $27,249.20 per year — with default US assumptions, before pre-tax deductions like retirement contributions or health premiums. Employee deductions take $329.23 per month, an effective rate of 12.66%.
How much is $15 an hour per year?
$15 an hour corresponds to $31,200.00 gross per year (2,080 hours) and $27,249.20 take-home per year — $2,270.77 per month.
Why does my actual paycheck differ?
The figure shown is before employer-specific items: pre-tax deductions (401(k) contributions, health insurance premiums) vary by plan and are outside the calculator scope — see the methodology page.