$11,000 a year is $5.29 an hour at 40 hours a week for 52 weeks (2,080 hours). It is $916.67 a month, $423.08 every two weeks and $211.54 a week before taxes. After 2026 federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, a single filer in a state with no income tax keeps about $10,158 a year ($846.54 a month), or $4.88 per hour worked.
- Hourly at 40 hours a week: $5.29; at 45 hours: $4.70; at 50 hours: $4.23.
- Take-home after federal tax and FICA: $10,158 a year, an all-in tax rate of 7.6%.
- Monthly before tax: $916.67; after tax: $846.54.
- Top federal bracket: 0%; average federal income tax rate: 0.0%.
Earning $11,000 a year equals $5.29 an hour if you work a standard 2,080 hour year. That sits below the federal minimum wage of $7.25, so a salary this size almost always reflects fewer hours, seasonal work or a stipend, not a full-time job.
How to convert $11,000 a year to an hourly rate
Divide the salary by the hours you work in a year. A full-time year is 40 hours × 52 weeks = 2,080 hours, so $11,000 ÷ 2,080 = $5.29 an hour. Mental shortcut: halve the salary and drop three zeros ($11,000 → about $5.50); it reads 4% high because it assumes 2,000 hours.
$11,000 a year by pay period
| Period | Gross pay | Take-home (est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Hour (2,080 a year) | $5.29 | $4.88 |
| Day (8 hours) | $42.31 | $39.07 |
| Week | $211.54 | $195.36 |
| Two weeks (26 paychecks) | $423.08 | $390.71 |
| Half month (24 paychecks) | $458.33 | $423.27 |
| Month | $916.67 | $846.54 |
| Year | $11,000 | $10,158 |
Your real hourly rate if you work longer weeks
A salary does not grow with your hours. If $11,000 comes with 50-hour weeks, your effective rate is $4.23, not $5.29. Compare offers on this number, not only the headline salary.
| Hours a week | Hourly (gross) | Hourly (after tax) |
|---|---|---|
| 35 hours | $6.04 | $5.58 |
| 37.5 hours | $5.64 | $5.21 |
| 40 hours | $5.29 | $4.88 |
| 45 hours | $4.70 | $4.34 |
| 50 hours | $4.23 | $3.91 |
| 55 hours | $3.85 | $3.55 |
| 60 hours | $3.53 | $3.26 |
| Weeks worked | Hourly at 40 h/week |
|---|---|
| 52 weeks of work | $5.29 |
| 50 weeks of work | $5.50 |
| 48 weeks of work | $5.73 |
| 46 weeks of work | $5.98 |
$11,000 a year after taxes
A single filer subtracts the $16,100 standard deduction, leaving $0 of taxable income. Federal income tax is $0, Social Security $682 and Medicare $159.50, so take-home is $10,158 (92.3% of gross). The top bracket is 0%, but the average federal income tax rate is 0.0%.
- Take-home $10,158 92.3%
- Federal income tax $0 0.0%
- Social Security $682 6.2%
- Medicare $159.50 1.5%
Employee (W-2) vs self-employed (1099)
As a contractor billing $11,000 a year, you pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare, so the same gross leaves less.
| Employee (W-2) | Self-employed (1099) | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $11,000 | $11,000 |
| Federal income tax | $0 | $0 |
| Social Security + Medicare (FICA) | $841.50 | — |
| Self-employment tax | — | $1,554 |
| Take-home a year | $10,158 | $9,446 |
| Take-home a month | $846.54 | ≈$790 |
Single vs married filing jointly
Filing status changes the standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly) and how wide each bracket is, so the same pay keeps more when it is a married couple's only income.
| Filing status | Federal income tax | Take-home a year | Take-home a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | $0 | $10,158 | $846.54 |
| Married filing jointly (only income) | $0 | $10,158 | $846.54 |
2026 payroll tax rates (quick reference)
| Tax | Rate | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security (employee) | 6.2% | Up to $184,500 of wages |
| Medicare (employee) | 1.45% | All wages |
| Additional Medicare | 0.9% | Wages above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly) |
| Self-employment tax | 15.3% | On 92.35% of net earnings (12.4% Social Security up to the wage base + 2.9% Medicare) |
| Federal income tax | 10%–37% | 2026 brackets, after the standard deduction |
State income tax
Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming do not tax wages. Rough take-home at a flat state rate (state tax estimated on 93% of gross):
| State tax | Take-home a year | Take-home a month |
|---|---|---|
| No state income tax | $10,158 | $846.54 |
| Flat state tax of 3% | $9,852 | $820.97 |
| Flat state tax of 5% | $9,647 | $803.92 |
| Flat state tax of 7% | $9,442 | $786.87 |
Is $11,000 a year a good salary?
On its own, $11,000 a year is a very low income. It is 78% below the U.S. median of $50,981 for a full-time year, and a landlord using the 30% rule would want your rent at $275 a month, which is rarely possible. Because it is below the $16,100 standard deduction, you owe no federal income tax, only payroll tax.
Typical earners at this level are students, part-time workers, people between jobs and anyone adding a small side income to other support. Married with one income, you would still keep $10,158 a year. At the same hourly rate, cutting to 20 hours a week would pay just $5,500 a year.
A monthly budget on $11,000 a year
Your take-home is $846.54 a month. The 50/30/20 rule turns that into $423.27 for needs, $253.96 for wants and $169.31 for savings or debt, as in the table. The needs share will not stretch far, so list your fixed bills first, look into any benefits you qualify for, and keep even a small savings amount going.
| Category | Share | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Needs (rent, food, transport, insurance) | 50% | $423.27 |
| Wants (eating out, travel, hobbies) | 30% | $253.96 |
| Savings and debt payoff | 20% | $169.31 |
How to compare a $11,000 a year offer
Before you accept a role that pays $11,000 a year, work out the hourly rate it really implies. Long hours or unpaid prep time can push it far below a decent wage. These checks will help you see the true value of the offer.
- Ask how many hours a week are expected, because 50-hour weeks would drop the rate to $4.23 an hour.
- Ask whether you are classed as non-exempt, so that overtime past 40 hours is paid.
- Ask whether you are an employee or a contractor, since a contractor takes home about $9,446.
- Ask whether housing, meals, transport or tuition support is part of the package.
- Ask if the schedule is fixed, and whether time off or sick days are paid.
Jobs that pay about $5.29 an hour
These occupations have a national median wage closest to $5.29 an hour in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). Half of the workers in each job earn more than the median and half earn less.
| Occupation | Median hourly | Yearly at 2,080 hours |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, fast food | $14.85 | $30,888 |
| Cashiers | $15.83 | $32,926 |
| Waiters and waitresses | $16.94 | $35,235 |
| Retail salespersons | $17.03 | $35,422 |
| Home health and personal care aides | $17.21 | $35,797 |
Jobs whose hourly pay is nearest include Cooks, fast food ($14.85/h), Cashiers ($15.83/h), Waiters and waitresses ($16.94/h), Retail salespersons ($17.03/h) and Home health and personal care aides ($17.21/h). They pay far more per hour, so $11,000 a year matches only a small part-time load in those jobs.
What negotiating $11,000 up is worth
When the base is small, ask for the things that change daily life. A 5% raise is $550 a year, 8% is $880 and 15% is $1,650. Accepting the first offer means those amounts stay on the table every year. Ask about fixed hours, a steady schedule, paid time off, meals, transport help or training support. A stable schedule can be worth as much as a small increase in pay.
Common mistakes when converting $11,000 a year
- Using 2,000 hours for the rate Dividing by 2,000 gives $5.50 an hour. A full-time year is 2,080 hours, which gives $5.29, so the shorter count makes the pay look better than it is.
- Not counting the real week At 45 hours a week, $11,000 a year is only $4.70 an hour. Unpaid extra hours quietly shrink what a small salary is worth.
- Confusing gross with take-home You pay no federal income tax, but Social Security takes $682 and Medicare takes $159.50. Your yearly pay is $10,158, not $11,000.
- Mixing up pay periods A biweekly check is $423.08 gross and $390.71 after taxes, and there are 26 per year. Twice-monthly pay is $458.33 gross over 24 checks.
- Overlooking state tax These numbers assume none. A flat 5% state income tax would reduce your yearly take-home to about $9,647.
Frequently asked questions
$11,000 a year is $5.29 an hour using 2,080 hours. With 2,000 hours it is $5.50 an hour, and with 45-hour weeks it is $4.70. That is below the federal minimum wage of $7.25.
$11,000 a year is $10,158 after tax for a single filer with no state income tax. You pay $0 in federal income tax, $682 in Social Security and $159.50 in Medicare. That is $4.88 an hour.
$11,000 a year is $916.67 a month before tax and $846.54 after tax. If you are paid twice a month, each gross paycheck is $458.33, and you get 24 a year.
$11,000 a year is $423.08 every two weeks before tax and $390.71 after tax. That schedule pays 26 times a year, so two months have three checks.
$11,000 a year is $211.54 a week before tax, or $42.31 for an 8 hour day. After tax, the weekly pay is about $195.36.
$11,000 a year is 78% below the U.S. median, and $846.54 a month after tax is very tight. People manage with shared housing, family support or benefits, but it works best as a supplement to other income.
The 30% of gross rule gives $275 a month in rent on $11,000 a year. Since you take home $846.54, most people at this level need roommates, subsidized housing or other help.
How we calculated this
Gross pay uses 40 hours a week for 52 weeks (2,080 hours), the standard payroll year. Take-home pay applies the federal income tax brackets and standard deduction for a single filer, Social Security (6.2% up to the wage base) and Medicare (1.45%, plus 0.9% above $200,000). It leaves out state and local income tax, pre-tax retirement contributions and health premiums, each of which lowers take-home pay; use the calculator to add a state rate. The self-employed figures add the 15.3% self-employment tax on 92.35% of net earnings and its half deduction, and leave out business expenses and the qualified business income deduction, both of which lower the tax bill.
- Federal income tax brackets and standard deduction for 2026: IRS — source.
- Social Security wage base $184,500 and FICA rates: SSA — source.
- Wages by occupation: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 — source.
These are estimates for planning, not tax advice.
