$18 an hour: what is the take-home pay?
Rates verified on 10/3/2026 — official sources
$18 an hour after tax: the breakdown
$18 an hour is a gross annual salary of $37,440.00 — $3,120.00 per month gives $2,688.59 take-home pay per month with default US assumptions — before pre-tax deductions that vary by employer. Employee deductions take $431.41 per month, an effective rate of 13.83%. 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% | $37,440.00 | $2,321.28 |
| Medicare | 1.45% | $37,440.00 | $542.88 |
| Federal income tax (single, taxable 21,340 $) | 10.84% | $21,340.00 | $2,312.80 |
| Total employee contributions | $5,176.96 |
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% | $3,120.00 | $193.44 |
| Medicare | 1.45% | $3,120.00 | $45.24 |
| Federal income tax (single, taxable 21,340 $) | 10.84% | $1,778.33 | $192.73 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the take-home pay for $18 an hour?
$18 an hour gives $2,688.59 take-home pay per month — $32,263.04 per year — with default US assumptions, before pre-tax deductions like retirement contributions or health premiums. Employee deductions take $431.41 per month, an effective rate of 13.83%.
How much is $18 an hour per year?
$18 an hour corresponds to $37,440.00 gross per year (2,080 hours) and $32,263.04 take-home per year — $2,688.59 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.