$18 an hour is how much a year?

Full breakdown: gross pay, taxes, and take-home across states and schedules (2025-2026)

ⓘ Note: The take-home and net pay figures on this page are calculated estimates based on 2025-2026 tax brackets for a single filer. Your actual net pay will vary based on your state, filing status, dependents, and pre-tax deductions (health insurance, 401k, etc.). For verified real paychecks, browse WAGETru wage data or use our net pay calculator.
$37,440/year

gross annual salary at 40 hours/week

Hourly
$18.00
gross
Daily (8hr)
$144
before taxes
Weekly
$720
40 hrs
Biweekly
$1,440
every 2 weeks
Monthly
$3,120
gross
Annual
$37,440
before taxes

Take-home pay after taxes (California)

Here's what $18/hour actually looks like after federal and California state taxes:

Filing StatusAnnual GrossTotal TaxesAnnual NetBiweekly NetHourly Net
Single$37,440-$6,982$30,458$1,171$14.64
Married jointly$37,440-$6,233$31,207$1,200$15.00
Head of household$37,440-$6,533$30,907$1,189$14.86

Based on 2025-2026 federal brackets + CA state tax + FICA. Does not include health insurance, 401k, or union dues. Use our Net Pay Calculator for personalized results.

Tax breakdown (Single filer, CA, 40 hrs/wk)

DeductionAnnualPer Paycheck (2wk)
Federal Income Tax-$2,995-$115
California State Tax-$1,123-$43
Social Security (6.2%)-$2,321-$89
Medicare (1.45%)-$543-$21
Total Taxes-$6,982-$269
Net Take-Home$30,458$1,171

$18/hr at 36 hours/week (3x 12-hr shifts)

Many healthcare and shift workers do 36-hour weeks:

Annual Gross
$33,696
Annual Net (CA)
$27,546
Biweekly Net
$1,059
Net Hourly
$14.71

State-by-State Comparison: $18/hr Take-Home

The same $18/hour gives you very different take-home depending on your state:

StateAnnual GrossAnnual NetMonthly NetDifference vs TX
Texas (no tax)$37,440$31,581$2,632baseline
Florida (no tax)$37,440$31,581$2,632$0
Washington$37,440$31,393$2,616-$188/yr
New York$37,440$29,521$2,460-$2,060/yr
California$37,440$30,046$2,504-$1,535/yr

Estimates for single filer, standard deduction. Use our calculator for exact figures.

Overtime Scenarios at $18/hr

ScheduleHours/WeekAnnual GrossBiweekly GrossExtra vs 40hr
Standard40$37,440$1,440
Light OT (5hrs)45$44,460$1,710+$7,020/yr
Moderate OT (10hrs)50$51,480$1,980+$14,040/yr
Heavy OT (20hrs)60$65,520$2,520+$28,080/yr

OT rate: $27.00/hr (1.5x). You typically keep 60-65% of overtime after higher marginal taxes.

Shift Differentials at $18/hr

ShiftEffective RateAnnual (40hr/wk)Extra per Year
Day (base)$18.00/hr$37,440
Evening (+$2.50/hr)$20.50/hr$42,640+$5,200/yr
Night (+$4.00/hr)$22.00/hr$45,760+$8,320/yr
Weekend (+$3.00/hr, 16h/wk)$21.00/hr$39,936+$2,496/yr

See our differential guide for real hospital data.

Different Work Schedules at $18/hr

ScheduleHours/WeekAnnual GrossMonthly Gross
Part-time20$18,720$1,560
3x12 shifts36$33,696$2,808
Standard full-time40$37,440$3,120
4x10 shifts40$37,440$3,120
Mandatory OT (48hr)48$48,672$4,056

Quick reference

PeriodGrossNet (Single, CA)
Hourly$18.00$14.64
Daily (8hr)$144$117
Weekly$720$586
Biweekly$1,440$1,171
Monthly$3,120$2,538
Annual$37,440$30,458

See what real workers take home

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Other hourly rates

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Related Resources

Net Pay Calculator Annual salary guide Salary After Taxes by State All Employers Salary by Job Guides & Articles Best States for Take-Home