$15 an Hour Is How Much a Year? (After Taxes, 2026)
At $15 per hour for 40 hours a week, you earn $31,200 per year before taxes. After federal income tax and FICA in a no-income-tax state, your estimated take-home is about $27,240 annually, or roughly $2,270 per month. That hourly rate is below the national living-wage benchmark in many metro areas, though cost of living varies widely by city. In California or other states with income tax, you would keep less.
Written by Elena Marquez
Tax Research Lead
Reviewed by Jordan Avery
Lead Editor
Last updated July 3, 2026
Fact-checked: IRS Publication 15-T and 2026 SSA wage-base data
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Annual, monthly, and paycheck breakdown
Figures below use 2026 federal tax brackets, FICA (Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500 and Medicare 1.45%), and single filing status. Take-home in a no-income-tax state (Texas baseline). In California, estimated annual take-home is about $26,590, roughly $650 less per year.
| Period | Gross | Take-home (TX) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual | $31,200 | $27,240 |
| Hourly (take-home) | $15.00 | $13.10 |
| Monthly | $2,600 | $2,270 |
| Biweekly | $1,200 | $1,048 |
| Weekly | $600 | $524 |
Tax breakdown (annual)
Federal income tax: $1,574. FICA (Social Security + Medicare): $2,387. State income tax in Texas: $0. Effective tax rate: 12.7%. You keep about 87% of gross pay after taxes and before pre-tax deductions.
Use our free paycheck calculator to model your exact filing status, state, and 401(k) deductions. For a deeper walkthrough, see our how to calculate take-home pay guide and pre-tax vs post-tax deductions guide.