Salary Answer

$30 an Hour is How Much a Year?
The Complete 2026 Breakdown

Annual Salary
$62,400
40 hrs/wk · 52 wks
Monthly
$5,200
gross/month
Biweekly
$2,400
per paycheck
Weekly
$1,200
gross/week
After-Tax Est.
~$50,544
approx take-home
Last updated: January 15, 2026 Source: BLS · IRS 2026 tax tables Formula: $30 × 40 hrs × 52 wks = $62,400
← $29/hr
$30.00 / hour
$31/hr →

📊 $30/Hour — Full Salary Breakdown Table

Time Period Gross Pay After-Tax (est.) Hours
Annual (52 weeks) $62,400 ~$50,544 2,080
Monthly $5,200 ~$4,212 173.3
Biweekly (26×/yr) $2,400 ~$1,944 80
Weekly $1,200 ~$972 40
Daily (8 hrs) $240 ~$197 8
Hourly $30.00 ~$24.3 1

* Based on 40 hrs/week, 52 weeks/year (2,080 total hours). After-tax estimates assume single filer, standard deduction, ~22% federal effective rate + FICA. Get your precise after-tax number →

⏰ $30/Hour at Different Hours Per Week

Not everyone works 40 hours. Here's what $30/hour looks like at various weekly schedules:

Hours/Week Schedule Type Annual Salary Monthly
15 hrs/wkPart-time (light)$23,400$1,950
20 hrs/wkHalf-time$31,200$2,600
25 hrs/wkPart-time$39,000$3,250
30 hrs/wkPart-time (near full)$46,800$3,900
35 hrs/wkReduced full-time$54,600$4,550
40 hrs/wkStandard full-time$62,400$5,200
45 hrs/wkFull-time + overtime$70,200$5,850
50 hrs/wkHeavy overtime$78,000$6,500
Overtime note: Under the FLSA, hours over 40/week must be paid at 1.5× your rate — that's $45.00/hour. The table above does not include overtime premium. Use our overtime calculator for overtime-included totals.

💡 Is $30 an Hour Good Pay in 2026?

Yes — $30/hour is very good pay in 2026. At $62,400/year, you are in the top 25% of U.S. wage earners. Provides a comfortable lifestyle in most U.S. cities including many high-cost metros.

Above Median — Good Middle-Class Income

$30/hr ($62,400/yr) is 12% above the national median ($26.80/hr) and provides a comfortable lifestyle in most U.S. cities.

$30/Hour vs. National Benchmarks (2026 BLS Data)
BenchmarkHourlyAnnualvs. $30/hr
Federal minimum wage$7.25$15,080+314%
U.S. living wage (single adult)$20.00$41,600+50%
National median hourly wage$26.80$55,744+12%
National mean hourly wage$28.50$59,280−12.3%
Your rate$30.00$62,400

🗺️ $30/Hour After-Tax by State

Your take-home pay at $30/hour varies significantly by state. No-income-tax states let you keep much more of your $52,000 salary:

🏖️ Texas
No state income tax
~$50,419/yr
🌴 Florida
No state income tax
~$50,419/yr
☀️ Nevada
No state income tax
~$50,419/yr
🌲 Washington
No state income tax
~$49,920/yr
🌾 Illinois
4.95% flat rate
~$47,424/yr
🗽 New York
6.85% (+ NYC local)
~$45,427/yr
🌁 California
6–9.3% bracket
~$44,428/yr
🌲 Oregon
up to 9.9%
~$43,929/yr

Estimates assume single filer, standard deduction, federal + state income tax + FICA. Get your exact after-tax for any state →

💰 $62,400/Year Budget Breakdown

On a $62,400 salary (~$4,160/month after tax in most states), here's a recommended budget using the 50/30/20 rule:

🏠 Housing (rent/mortgage)
$1,228/mo
30% of take-home • max recommended
🚗 Transportation
$1,232/mo
12% of take-home
🍽️ Food & Groceries
$505/mo
12% of take-home
🏥 Healthcare
$202/mo
6% of take-home
🎯 Savings & Emergency Fund
$818/mo
20% of take-home • recommended minimum
🎬 Entertainment & Discretionary
$842/mo
20% of take-home
Housing tip: At $30/hr, your safe housing budget is ~$1,248/month. Achievable as a solo renter in most mid-cost U.S. cities.

💼 Jobs That Pay Around $30 an Hour in 2026

Many in-demand careers pay close to $30/hour without requiring a 4-year degree. Here are common occupations at this wage level per BLS OEWS data:

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Healthcare · 1-year nursing program
$27–34/hr
HVAC Technician
Trades · Vocational training 6–12 months
$27–34/hr
IT Help Desk Technician
Tech · CompTIA A+ certification helpful
$27–34/hr
Dental Assistant
Healthcare · Short certification program
$27–34/hr
Electrician Apprentice (Advanced)
Trades · 4–5 yr apprenticeship
$28–34/hr
Medical Coder (CPC)
Healthcare Admin · CPC certification
$27–34/hr
Paralegal
Legal · Associate's degree or certificate
$27–34/hr
Customer Success Manager
Tech/SaaS · Remote options available
$28–34/hr

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

$30 an hour equals $62,400 per year for a standard full-time schedule (40 hours/week × 52 weeks). The calculation: $30 × 40 × 52 = $62,400. Monthly that's $5,200, biweekly $2,400, and weekly $1,200. After federal taxes and FICA, your estimated take-home is approximately $49,100–$50,000 per year depending on your state.

The national median hourly wage is approximately $26.80/hr per 2026 BLS data, so $25/hr places you just below median nationally. It's well above the living wage ($18–22/hr) for a single adult in most cities, and provides a comfortable lifestyle in mid-cost areas. However, in high-cost cities like San Francisco or New York, $25/hr ($52,000/year) may feel tight due to housing costs.

At $62,400/year (single filer, standard deduction), estimated deductions include federal income tax (~$5,990), Social Security ($3,224), and Medicare ($754). In a state with no income tax (TX, FL, NV, WA), your take-home is approximately $50,000/year ($4,167/month). In California, it drops to approximately $37,400/year after state taxes. Use our after-tax calculator for your exact state.

$30/hour equals $5,200 per month gross (before taxes), calculated as $62,400 ÷ 12 months. After taxes in most states, your monthly take-home is approximately $4,092–$4,167. Note: if you're paid biweekly (every 2 weeks), you'll receive $2,400 per paycheck — 2 paychecks most months, but 3 paychecks in two months of the year.

$62,400 divided by 12 equals $5,200 per month (rounded to $4,333). This is your gross monthly income before taxes. To find your hourly rate from $52,000/year: $62,400 ÷ 2,080 hours = $30.00/hour exactly. Use our yearly to hourly calculator for any annual salary.

At $62,400/year, you can potentially qualify for a mortgage of approximately $150,000–$200,000 using a 28% front-end debt ratio, assuming good credit and minimal other debt. This is sufficient to buy a home in many mid-cost markets (Midwest, South, rural areas) but challenging in high-cost metros. A down payment of 5–20% would be required. Consult a mortgage broker for your specific situation and local market.