Maybe you’re thinking, “How much is 18 dollars an hour, and is 18 dollars an hour enough to live on?“ This post will discuss the amount 18 dollars an hour pays and whether you can live on it.
Knowing how much you earn yearly will help you keep an eye on your money. Living within your means and saving for a rainy day will help you live within your means.
According to the US Department of Labor report, the federal minimum wage increased to $15 per hour in January 2022.
If you’re among the millions of Americans receiving a pay raise or looking for a new job, you might have to compare salaried pay with hourly wages. You may ask yourself whether you can survive on $18 per hour. This post will also show jobs that pay $18 an hour.
18 dollars an hour is how much a year?
You’ll make $37,440 annually if you earn 18 dollars an hour. Here’s how: Working 40 hours per week for 52 weeks in a year equals 2,080 hours of work.
To get $37,440, multiply 2,080 hours per year (work done in a year, in hours) by $18. This is the yearly pay before taxes.
Working full-time
Employees who work for around 35 and 40 hours a week are considered full-time in the United States. The numbers we calculated above are based on a 40-hour workweek performed over 52 weeks a year.
If you work for around 35 hours per week and make 18 dollars an hour, you will make $32,760 annually. Here’s how:
You get a working week of 1,820 hours when you multiply 35 hours by 52 weeks. If you multiply 1,820 hours by 18 dollars an hour, you’ll get $32,760.
Working part-time
Anything less than 35 hours per week is considered part-time. Typically, part-time employees work between 20 and 29 hours a week. You would earn $23,400 before taxes if you worked 25 hours a week at $18 an hour.
How much is 18 dollars an hour after taxes?
If you earn $37,440 annually, you’ll pay 15.1% (on average) of your income in federal taxes, social security, and Medicare payments. The State will deduct even more if you live in a place that levies an income tax.
Your annual after-tax income will be $31,769 if you work full-time (40 hours per week) or $20,473 if you work part-time (25 hours per week).
Some states do not levy income tax, while others do. In addition to the federal income tax, individuals pay state income taxes, which are calculated based on income and filing status.
The range of overall tax rates is 10% to 35%. Because the federal tax system is based on a progressive tax code, it taxes wages based on income.
How much is 18 dollars an hour every day?
You can make about $144 a day before taxes if you work full-time (8 hours) at $18 an hour. After taxes, you will earn about $122 a day. If you work five hours a day at that rate (18 dollars an hour), you will take home around $79.
How much is 18 dollars an hour every week?
A full-time job paying $18 an hour pays $720 before tax or $611 after tax for 40 hours. A part-time job paying $18 an hour pays $450 before tax or $394 after tax for 25 hours.
We calculate this by dividing your annual income by the number of weeks in a year. For example, if your yearly pay is $37440, then: $37440 ÷ 52 = $720
How much is 18 dollars an hour bi-weekly?
You earn $1440 every two weeks before taxes if you work 40 hours weekly for 18 dollars an hour. After taxes, this amounts to around $1,324 every two weeks. If you work 25 hours a week and make 18 dollars an hour, you will bring home about $853 every two weeks.
Divide $37440 by 26, the number of bi-weekly payments you would receive in a year, to determine your annual income in bi-weekly payments. For example, if your yearly pay is $37440, then: $37440 ÷ 26 = $1440.
How much is 18 dollars an hour every month?
You will make $3120 monthly if you work 40 hours a week at $18 an hour. If you earn $18 an hour and work 40 hours a week, you will take home around $2,647 monthly (after taxes).
Working part-time (25 hours a week) and earning $18 an hour, you will make $1,950 a month and take home around $1,706 a month(after taxes).
Divide the annual salary by 12 to get your monthly income. For example, if your yearly pay is $37440, then: $37440 ÷ 12 = $3120.
Summary table of 18 dollars an hour (working part-time)
The table below shows you how much a year, month, week, and day you earn when making 18 dollars an hour.
| Time frame | No. of working hours | Income before taxes | Income after taxes |
| Daily | 5 | $90 | $79 |
| Weekly | 25 | $450 | $395 |
| Bi-weekly | 50 | $900 | $853 |
| Monthly | 108 | $1,950 | $1,706 |
| Yearly | 1300 | $23,400 | $20,473 |
Summary table of 18 dollars an hour (working full-time)
The table below shows you how much a year, month, week, and day you earn when making 18 dollars an hour (working full-time).
| Time frame | No. of working hours | Income before taxes | Income after taxes |
| Daily | 8 | $144 | $122 |
| Weekly | 40 | $720 | $611 |
| Bi-weekly | 80 | $1,440 | $1,324 |
| Monthly | 174 | $3,120 | $2,647 |
| Yearly | 2,080 | $37,440 | $31,769 |
Jobs that pay 18 dollars an hour
The BLS (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) reports that most jobs that pay $18 an hour do not require prior experience or college. Still, it will help if you have a high school diploma to be evaluated for employment anywhere.
Here are ten jobs that offer 18 dollars an hour.
1. Customer Service Representative
A customer service representative interacts with clients about a firm’s products or services. A CSR may contact clients via telephone, email, or in person.
You must have excellent people skills to become a CSR. Some businesses also require prior experience in a similar position.
2. Warehouse Workers
A Warehouse worker processes and packages orders. They also check inventory and re-stocks as needed. They typically use a forklift or hand truck to transport goods to the loading trucks.
Most employers prefer applicants with a high school diploma and relevant work experience. Helmets and protective clothing are a must for warehouse workers.
3. Administrative Assistant
An administrative assistant helps administrators by overseeing daily office operations. In addition to assisting administrators, administrative assistants communicate with clients and maintain records in some companies.
With a high school diploma and administrative experience, this position requires minor qualifications.
4. Delivery Drivers
You can get delivery jobs from apps like DoorDash, Postmates, and UberEats. You can make quick money during downtime, but rates will vary depending on where you are.
For example, a year of driving experience is what you need if you’re delivering by car. UberEats has a variety of programs that may boost your revenue.
5. Proofreader
It’s straightforward to make money as a proofreader. Proofreader checks for grammatical mistakes, narrative inconsistencies, formatting, punctuation, and other issues in written material.
Some businesses hiring proofreaders may require a bachelor’s degree in English, but Fiverr and Upwork offer entry-level proofreading jobs.
6. Virtual Assistant
Companies and individuals hire Virtual Assistants (VAs) to handle daily business tasks, such as answering emails, maintaining social media accounts, and arranging appointments. Belay connects VAs with clients to provide expert assistance in your job.
7. Website Developer
Web developers create and maintain websites. You may work for a company or freelance as a web developer.
Web development is a financially rewarding profession with many possibilities. Use GitHub and AuthenticJobs to locate your first job as a web developer.
8. Freelance Writer
A freelance writer writes articles for websites, magazines, and businesses. Pay may vary depending on the client and job magnitude. Apply on sites like Problogger and Flexjobs to get writing jobs.
9. Photographer
A person who loves to take pictures can become a photographer, even if they don’t have a college degree. You can specialize in news photography, portraiture, or nature photography, among other things.
You may also earn extra money by freelancing at events. There are innumerable different niches to choose from for photography.
Photographers sell their premium work on Getty Images, Etsy, and Shutterstock, among other places.
10. Dog Walker
You may be the ideal candidate for this position if you’re a dog lover. To become a dog walker, you only need a driver’s license and a mobile phone to connect with pet owners.
You may sign up with Indeed to become a member of a pet care team. There are many dog walking positions for both day and night shifts.
Budget sample for 18 dollars an hour
Look at how an individual allocates their monthly cash flow using the 70/20/10 budgeting method (70% of income is for monthly expenses, including entertainment, 20% is for retirement and savings, and 10% is for debt repayment).
In this budget sample, our monthly income for working full-time after taxes is $2,647.
| Expense | Amount |
| Rent/Mortagage | $950 |
| Utilities | $150 |
| Transportation | $225 |
| Groceries | $300 |
| Charitable contributions | $100 |
| Entertainment | $127.90 |
| Long/Short term savings | $529.40 |
| Debt repayment | $264.70 |
| Total income after taxes | $2,647 |
Is 18 dollars an hour enough to live on?
Here are some of the things that affect whether your current income is sufficient to sustain you:
- The number of dependents in your family
- The cost of living in your state
- Your lifestyle, such as where you shop, how often you eat out, etc.
- The cost of transportation Savings Loan repayments.
Keeping all these things in mind, a salary of $18 an hour may be sufficient for some and meager for others.
For example, if you have to make monthly payments on personal or educational loans, that will consume a significant portion of your income, leaving you with less money to spend at home. It will also require you to budget a part of your cash to go out to eat.
In addition to eating out frequently, more household members mean higher food costs, more groceries, more school supplies, and a generally higher cost of living, especially when there is only one working member.
If you have these responsibilities, you may need more than 18 dollars an hour to live on. But if you live alone and have a modest lifestyle, you can live comfortably for 18 dollars an hour.
Can you buy a house when making 18 dollars an hour?
You can invest in a house with enough savings to make a down payment. Your credit score, as well as your expenses, will also be checked. The less debt you have, the higher your chances of buying a house.
When prequalifying for a mortgage program, they will check your other debt payments, such as car and college tuition. The lender will approve the loan based on your debt-to-income ratio.
You should spend 28% of your gross income on housing expenses and 36% on debt repayments. You can estimate how much house you can afford using this information.
Some mortgage programs only require a 3% downpayment for a home.
Tips to live on 18 dollars an hour
It’s more complicated to live on 18 dollars an hour, depending on your circumstances. However, if you take cautious steps or alter your lifestyle, you’ll no longer worry about looking at your bank balance. Here are some suggestions to assist you:
1. Create a Budget
Creating a budget is the best method to spend your money wisely. Starting with your non-recurring and recurring expenditures, list your expenses.
Recurring expenses are ones that you pay every month, such as rent, phone bills, and mortgages. Non-recurring expenditures change every month. Every day non-recurring expenses include clothes, food, and leisure.
You may allocate funds to your expenses by setting a budget percentage. Assign 50% of your earnings to needs, 30% to wants, and 20% to savings and debts, and then track your expenses to ensure that you stick to your budget.
Use printable budget templates to create your monthly or yearly budget quickly.
2. Pay Off Debt
Establishing a debt repayment plan is a smart choice if you want to get out of debt quickly. You’ll save money in the long run by making more than the minimum payments.
Debt-free living improves your mental health and allows you to focus on savings and investments.
3. Pick Up an Additional Side Hustle
Even if $18 is not enough, you can still pick up an additional side hustle to boost your income and help you live better. You may not always want to downgrade your lifestyle, but you may still want to get extra money.
4. Cut Down on Unnecessary Expenses
According to Hloom’s survey, Americans spend too much on unnecessary products. The most significant money wasters are streaming services, eating out, alcohol, credit card interest, and uneaten/expired food.
Budgeting and purchasing only what you require to avoid these issues is best. Clothing and household expenses also add up.
If you no longer need your clothing and household items, you may put more money in your pocket by selling them through a consignment store near you or online.
5. Keep an eye out for discounts
Look for bargains when shopping. Whether its clothes, groceries, or anything else, be bright. Thrifting or buying on sale are both excellent options.
You may be amazed by the heavy discounts at Dollar Tree or Walmart. Many grocery stores provide coupons, deals, and cash-back rewards on your credit cards.
Wrapping Up
Is it feasible to live on $18 an hour? If you have a side venture that supplements your wages, you can survive on 18 dollars an hour. In most states of the United States, an hourly wage of $18 is insufficient to maintain a decent standard of living.
It will help if you cover rent, health insurance, utilities, food, and other living costs. If you are a teenager who earns $18 an hour living at home, it’s a good wage. Living with a roommate might be an option if your rent is high.
According to CNBC, inflation has forced 58 percent of Americans to live paycheck to paycheck. Make a budget and maintain a low debt-to-income ratio at all costs.
