$8 an hour is $16,640 a year before taxes, at 40 hours a week for 52 weeks (2,080 hours). That is $1,387 a month, $640 every two weeks, $320 a week and $64 for an 8-hour day. After 2026 federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, a single filer in a state with no income tax takes home about $15,313 a year ($1,276 a month).
- Yearly at 40 hours a week: $16,640; with two unpaid weeks off (2,000 hours): $16,000.
- Take-home after federal tax and FICA: $15,313 a year, an all-in tax rate of 8.0%.
- Your top federal bracket is 10%; the next dollar you earn keeps 82.4% after tax.
- Each $1 an hour of raise is worth $2,080 a year before tax.
- $8 is 1.1× the federal minimum wage of $7.25.
$8 an hour comes to $16,640 a year for a full-time worker. It is the first step above the federal minimum, and it is where income tax first appears: $54 on a taxable income of $540. After all federal taxes you take home $15,313 a year, or $1,276 a month.
How to convert $8 an hour to a yearly salary
Multiply the hourly rate by the hours you are paid in a year. A full-time year is 40 hours × 52 weeks = 2,080 hours, so $8 × 2,080 = $16,640. A quick mental shortcut: double the hourly rate and add three zeros ($8 → about $16,000); it is 4% low because it assumes 2,000 hours.
$8 an hour by pay period
The table shows gross pay and the estimated take-home for each pay period at 40 hours a week.
| Period | Gross pay | Take-home (est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Hour | $8.00 | $7.36 |
| Day (8 hours) | $64 | $58.90 |
| Week (40 hours) | $320 | $294.48 |
| Two weeks (80 hours) | $640 | $588.96 |
| Half month (twice a month) | $693.33 | $638.04 |
| Month | $1,387 | $1,276 |
| Year | $16,640 | $15,313 |
$8 an hour at different hours per week
Full time is not always 40 hours. Here is the yearly pay at $8 an hour for common schedules; above 40 hours, the last column applies time-and-a-half overtime, which the Fair Labor Standards Act requires for non-exempt employees.
| Hours a week | Weekly pay | Yearly pay | Yearly with overtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 hours | $80 | $4,160 | — |
| 15 hours | $120 | $6,240 | — |
| 20 hours | $160 | $8,320 | — |
| 25 hours | $200 | $10,400 | — |
| 30 hours | $240 | $12,480 | — |
| 32 hours | $256 | $13,312 | — |
| 35 hours | $280 | $14,560 | — |
| 37.5 hours | $300 | $15,600 | — |
| 40 hours | $320 | $16,640 | — |
| 45 hours | $360 | $18,720 | $19,760 |
| 50 hours | $400 | $20,800 | $22,880 |
| 60 hours | $480 | $24,960 | $29,120 |
Paid weeks: what time off does to the total
If you are paid only for the weeks you work, unpaid holidays and vacation lower the total. Salaried and many hourly jobs pay for holidays, so check your offer letter.
| Paid weeks a year | Yearly pay | Monthly average |
|---|---|---|
| 52 weeks (2,080 hours) | $16,640 | $1,387 |
| 50 weeks (2,000 hours) | $16,000 | $1,333 |
| 48 weeks (1,920 hours) | $15,360 | $1,280 |
| 46 weeks (1,840 hours) | $14,720 | $1,227 |
| 40 weeks (1,600 hours) | $12,800 | $1,067 |
$8 an hour after taxes
On $16,640 a year, a single filer subtracts the $16,100 standard deduction, leaving $540 of taxable income. Federal income tax on that is $54, Social Security takes $1,032 and Medicare $241.28, so you keep $15,313 — 92.0% of gross. Your top federal bracket is 10%, but your average federal income tax rate is only 0.3%.
- Take-home $15,313 92.0%
- Federal income tax $54 0.3%
- Social Security $1,032 6.2%
- Medicare $241.28 1.5%
Employee (W-2) vs self-employed (1099)
A contractor paid $8 an hour pays both halves of Social Security and Medicare as self-employment tax, so the same rate is worth less. To match an employee's take-home, a contractor usually needs a rate 20–30% higher.
| Employee (W-2) | Self-employed (1099) | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $16,640 | $16,640 |
| Federal income tax | $54 | $0 |
| Social Security + Medicare (FICA) | $1,273 | — |
| Self-employment tax | — | $2,351 |
| Take-home a year | $15,313 | $14,289 |
| Take-home a month | $1,276 | $1,191 |
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 | $54 | $15,313 | $1,276 |
| Married filing jointly (only income) | $0 | $15,367 | $1,281 |
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. In other states the rate ranges from a few percent to over 10% at high incomes. 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 | $15,313 | $1,276 |
| Flat state tax of 3% | $14,849 | $1,237 |
| Flat state tax of 5% | $14,539 | $1,212 |
| Flat state tax of 7% | $14,230 | $1,186 |
Is $8 an hour good pay?
$8 an hour is low pay. It is only 1.1x the federal minimum wage of $7.25 and 67% below the U.S. median hourly pay of $24.51 for all jobs, a median that equals $50,981 a year at full time. A rent budget of 30% of gross would be $416 a month.
People earning $8 an hour are mostly in starting jobs, seasonal work or part-time roles. Some states set their own minimum above the federal level, so check whether this rate is even legal where you live. A married worker whose spouse earns nothing would take home $15,367 a year, slightly more than a single filer, because the larger standard deduction covers the income tax.
A monthly budget on $8 an hour
Take your $1,276 of monthly take-home and split it with the 50/30/20 rule in the table: $638.04 for needs, $382.83 for wants and $255.22 for savings. If rent and food alone use more than the needs slice, shrink wants first and keep even a small savings transfer. Moving it automatically on payday works better than relying on whatever is left at month end.
| Category | Share | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Needs (rent, food, transport, insurance) | 50% | $638.04 |
| Wants (eating out, travel, hobbies) | 30% | $382.83 |
| Savings and debt payoff | 20% | $255.22 |
How to compare a $8 an hour offer
With a rate this low, the quality of the schedule is part of the pay. Two jobs at $8 an hour can differ by thousands of dollars a year once hours, benefits and unpaid time are counted. Compare offers by what lands in your account, using the checklist below.
- Ask how many hours a week the employer expects to give you, and whether that number is written into the offer.
- Ask whether you are paid for holidays, sick days and training time, or only for hours on the floor.
- Check whether the role is non-exempt, which means overtime at 1.5 times your rate once you pass 40 hours.
- Ask what the health plan costs you per paycheck, and when you become eligible for it.
- Ask about any raise schedule, since a first review at three or six months can matter more than the starting rate.
- Confirm you are an employee; a contractor at this rate would keep $14,289 after self-employment and income tax.
Jobs that pay about $8 an hour
These occupations have a national median wage closest to $8 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 |
Typical jobs near this pay level pay more than $8: Cooks, fast food ($14.85/h), Cashiers ($15.83/h) and Retail salespersons ($17.03/h). If your offer is below those wages, it is worth applying to similar roles elsewhere before you accept.
What a raise from $8 an hour is worth
A pay bump matters more here than it looks. An extra $1 an hour is worth $2,080 a year, and a 10% raise adds $1,664. If you are offered the posted rate, ask whether new hires with some experience start higher. Staying silent can lock in a low base for years, because later raises are usually a percentage of it. Also ask for a review date and a clear path to a higher rate, and weigh stable hours alongside the pay itself.
Common mistakes when converting $8 an hour
- Using 4 weeks per month Multiplying your $320 weekly pay by 4 gives $1,280, which understates a month. Over a year a month averages 4.33 weeks, so gross pay is $1,387 a month.
- Mixing up gross and net Your gross is $16,640, but you keep $15,313 after federal tax, Social Security of $1,032 and Medicare of $241.28. Rent and bills must be paid from the smaller figure.
- Ignoring unpaid time off Take two weeks without pay and your year falls to $16,000; four weeks drops it to $15,360. Hourly workers often lose pay on holidays and sick days, so plan for it.
- Forgetting Social Security and Medicare Even at $8 an hour, payroll tax starts from the first dollar. Counting only the $54 of income tax would hide the $1,032 and $241.28 that Social Security and Medicare also take.
- Comparing hourly pay with no benefits check A salaried job paying a bit less per hour may include paid leave and health coverage. Compare $16,640 a year against the real package, not only the hourly rate.
Frequently asked questions
$8 an hour is $7.36 an hour after taxes, which is $15,313 a year at full time. Federal income tax takes $54, Social Security takes $1,032 and Medicare takes $241.28, an all-in rate of 8.0% of your gross pay.
At $8 an hour you earn $1,387 a month before tax and $1,276 a month after tax, assuming 40 hours each week. Those monthly figures are averages across a 52-week year, so individual months will vary by a few days.
A biweekly check at $8 an hour is $640 before tax and $588.96 after tax. Your weekly amounts are $320 gross and $294.48 net. Health premiums or other payroll deductions would reduce the deposit further.
$8 an hour pays $320 a week before tax for 40 hours, and about $294.48 after tax. A single 8-hour day brings in $64 gross. If you work 20 hours, the week is $160 gross.
At 30 hours a week, $8 an hour pays $12,480 a year. At 50 hours a week with overtime at 1.5 times after 40 hours, it pays $22,880. At 45 hours the yearly figure is $19,760, if your job is overtime eligible.
$8 an hour is usually not a livable wage on its own. Your take-home is $1,276 a month, and a place costing 30% of gross would run $416. Most people at this rate need roommates, family support, extra hours or a second income to cover basics.
A rent target of 30% of gross income puts you at $416 a month on $8 an hour. Against take-home of $1,276 that is a bit under a third, so utilities, food and transport have to fit in what remains.
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.
