$12 an Hour Is How Much a Year?
Full time, $12 an hour is $24,960 a year before taxes. After federal, Social Security and Medicare taxes, a single filer keeps about $22,165 in a state with no income tax.
| Yearly | $24,960.00 |
| Monthly | $2,080.00 |
| Twice a month | $1,040.00 |
| Every 2 weeks | $960.00 |
| Weekly | $480.00 |
| Daily (8 hours) | $96.00 |
| Hourly | $12.00 |
| Federal income tax | -$886 |
| Social Security + Medicare | -$1,909 |
| Take-home pay | $22,165 |
$12 an hour after taxes by state
Single filer, full time, no pre-tax deductions, 2026 rules. Typical local taxes included where they apply. Sorted from most to least take-home pay.
| State | Per year | Every 2 weeks | Per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $22,165 | $852.48 | $10.66 |
| Florida | $22,165 | $852.48 | $10.66 |
| Nevada | $22,165 | $852.48 | $10.66 |
| Tennessee | $22,165 | $852.48 | $10.66 |
| South Dakota | $22,165 | $852.48 | $10.66 |
| Wyoming | $22,165 | $852.48 | $10.66 |
| New Hampshire | $22,165 | $852.48 | $10.66 |
| North Dakota | $22,165 | $852.48 | $10.66 |
| Alaska | $22,040 | $847.68 | $10.60 |
| New Mexico | $21,975 | $845.17 | $10.56 |
| South Carolina | $21,966 | $844.86 | $10.56 |
| Idaho | $21,950 | $844.23 | $10.55 |
| Missouri | $21,942 | $843.91 | $10.55 |
| Utah | $21,938 | $843.78 | $10.55 |
| Arizona | $21,934 | $843.63 | $10.55 |
| Connecticut | $21,910 | $842.70 | $10.53 |
| Mississippi | $21,898 | $842.24 | $10.53 |
| Iowa | $21,868 | $841.07 | $10.51 |
| Nebraska | $21,818 | $839.17 | $10.49 |
| Washington | $21,818 | $839.17 | $10.49 |
| Maine | $21,810 | $838.85 | $10.49 |
| Louisiana | $21,802 | $838.54 | $10.48 |
| Wisconsin | $21,784 | $837.84 | $10.47 |
| Washington, D.C. | $21,766 | $837.16 | $10.46 |
| Montana | $21,748 | $836.47 | $10.46 |
| Vermont | $21,738 | $836.08 | $10.45 |
| California | $21,731 | $835.82 | $10.45 |
| Arkansas | $21,717 | $835.26 | $10.44 |
| North Carolina | $21,677 | $833.75 | $10.42 |
| Hawaii | $21,674 | $833.61 | $10.42 |
| Georgia | $21,668 | $833.37 | $10.42 |
| Ohio | $21,665 | $833.28 | $10.42 |
| Colorado | $21,665 | $833.27 | $10.42 |
| New Jersey | $21,604 | $830.94 | $10.39 |
| West Virginia | $21,589 | $830.36 | $10.38 |
| Oklahoma | $21,587 | $830.26 | $10.38 |
| Rhode Island | $21,571 | $829.65 | $10.37 |
| Minnesota | $21,538 | $828.38 | $10.35 |
| Virginia | $21,531 | $828.10 | $10.35 |
| Kansas | $21,530 | $828.09 | $10.35 |
| Kentucky | $21,409 | $823.41 | $10.29 |
| Pennsylvania | $21,381 | $822.34 | $10.28 |
| Michigan | $21,355 | $821.33 | $10.27 |
| Delaware | $21,345 | $820.95 | $10.26 |
| New York | $21,275 | $818.26 | $10.23 |
| Alabama | $21,226 | $816.38 | $10.20 |
| Massachusetts | $21,122 | $812.37 | $10.15 |
| Indiana | $21,083 | $810.90 | $10.14 |
| Illinois | $21,074 | $810.53 | $10.13 |
| Maryland | $20,757 | $798.36 | $9.98 |
| Oregon | $20,720 | $796.92 | $9.96 |
Part time and overtime
| Schedule | Per week | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| 20 hours a week | $240.00 | $12,480 |
| 30 hours a week | $360.00 | $18,720 |
| 40 hours a week | $480.00 | $24,960 |
| 40 hours + 5 overtime | $570.00 | $29,640 |
| 40 hours + 10 overtime | $660.00 | $34,320 |
How $12 an hour compares
$12 an hour is below the median wage in every state. It is below the 2026 minimum wage in 23 states (Washington, D.C. $18.40, Washington $17.13, Connecticut $16.94, California $16.90, Hawaii $16.00, New York $16.00, Rhode Island $16.00, New Jersey $15.92 and 15 more), so it can't be the base wage for most jobs there.
- Highest federal tax bracket: 10% for a single filer (2026 brackets).
- A $1,000 raise adds about $824 after tax in a state with no income tax, or $31.67 per paycheck.
- Total tax rate in a no-income-tax state: 11.2% of gross pay.
Median wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025. Minimum wages as of 2026.
The lowest-paying common jobs
No common occupation has a national median wage as low as $12 an hour. These are the lowest-paid of the occupations we track, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025); half of workers in each earn more than the median.
| Occupation | Median hourly | Median yearly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast food cooks | $14.85 | $30,890 |
| Fast food and counter workers | $15.00 | $31,200 |
| Cashiers | $15.81 | $32,880 |
| Bartenders | $16.51 | $34,340 |
| Dishwashers | $16.73 | $34,810 |
Compare nearby wages
Common questions
$12 an hour is how much a year?
Working full time (40 hours a week, 52 weeks), $12 an hour is $24,960 a year before taxes. That is $2,080.00 a month and $960.00 every two weeks.
How much is $12 an hour after taxes?
For a single filer, $12 an hour full time leaves about $22,165 a year in Texas, which has no state income tax. It ranges from $22,165 in Texas to $20,720 in Oregon once state and typical local taxes are included.
How much is $12 an hour biweekly?
$12 an hour for 80 hours is $960.00 every two weeks before taxes, or about $852.48 after federal taxes, Social Security and Medicare in a no-income-tax state.
How much is $12 an hour part time?
At 20 hours a week, $12 an hour is $12,480 a year. At 30 hours a week it is $18,720 a year.
What jobs pay $12 an hour?
No common occupation has a national median wage as low as $12 an hour. The lowest medians, around $15 an hour, are for jobs such as fast food cooks, fast food and counter workers, cashiers, bartenders, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). Entry-level workers in these jobs may start lower, down to the minimum wage.
Is $12 an hour a good wage?
$12 an hour is below the median wage in every state. It is below the 2026 minimum wage in 23 states (Washington, D.C. $18.40, Washington $17.13, Connecticut $16.94, California $16.90, Hawaii $16.00, New York $16.00, Rhode Island $16.00, New Jersey $15.92 and 15 more), so it can't be the base wage for most jobs there.
What is $12 an hour with overtime?
Overtime is usually paid at 1.5 times your rate, so each overtime hour pays $18.00 at $12 an hour. Five overtime hours a week adds $4,680 a year before tax.