How $18 an hour adds up
To turn an hourly wage into a yearly salary, multiply the rate by hours worked per week, then by weeks worked per year: $18 × 40 × 52 = $37,440 before tax. That is the standard full-time assumption; if you take unpaid time off, use fewer weeks (for example 50 weeks gives $36,000).
The $37,440 figure is gross pay. After federal income tax and FICA (no state income tax), take-home is about $32,122 a year for a single US filer — $2,677 a month or $618 a week. The exact amount depends on your circumstances, so run it through the calculator below for your own numbers.
What $18 an hour looks like by pay period
Gross: $720 a week, $1,440 every two weeks, $3,120 a month, $37,440 a year. Take-home (after tax): about $618 a week, $2,677 a month, $32,122 a year.
Estimate for a single US filer, 2025, federal income tax and FICA (no state income tax). Assumes 40 hours/week × 52 weeks and no overtime, bonuses or other income. Not tax advice — verify at IRS.gov.