Hourly Paycheck Calculator
Free hourly paycheck calculator. Calculate your take-home pay based on hourly rate, hours worked, overtime, and tax deductions for 2026.
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Understanding Your Hourly Paycheck
When you work hourly, your paycheck depends on three key components: regular hours (up to 40/week), overtime hours (paid at 1.5x your regular rate for hours over 40, as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act), and deductions (taxes, benefits, retirement contributions). A common mistake hourly workers make is budgeting based on gross pay — your actual take-home is typically 25-35% less than gross due to federal tax, state tax, Social Security (6.2%), and Medicare (1.45%).
For example, at $20/hour working 40 hours/week: your gross annual pay is $41,600. After taxes and FICA on a single filer, you will take home approximately $32,000-$34,000 depending on your state. That is effectively $15.40-$16.35/hour in real take-home pay. Understanding this gap is essential for budgeting — plan your expenses based on net pay, not gross. Track your spending with our 50/30/20 Budget Calculator.
Overtime Pay: How It Works and How to Maximize It
Under federal law (FLSA), non-exempt employees must be paid 1.5 times their regular rate for all hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek. On a $25/hour rate, overtime pays $37.50/hour. Some states have stricter rules — California requires overtime after 8 hours in a single day, not just 40 hours in a week. Some employers offer double-time (2x) for holidays or extreme overtime, though this is not legally required except in specific states and union contracts.
Overtime is one of the fastest ways to boost income as an hourly worker. Working just 5 hours of overtime per week at $25/hour adds $9,750/year in gross pay ($37.50 × 5 × 52). However, overtime income is taxed at your marginal rate, which may be higher than your average rate — so the net benefit is typically 60-75% of the gross overtime amount. Be strategic: if you are close to a higher tax bracket, the marginal benefit of additional overtime decreases. Use our Take-Home Pay Calculator to model different scenarios.
Hourly vs Salary: Which Is Better?
The hourly vs salary debate depends on your situation. Advantages of hourly work: you get paid for every hour worked (including overtime), you have clearer work-life boundaries, and your pay directly reflects your effort. Advantages of salary: predictable income regardless of hours, typically better benefits (health insurance, retirement matching, PTO), and career advancement opportunities.
To truly compare, convert both to an effective hourly rate. A $60,000 salary sounds great, but if you work 50 hours/week with no overtime pay, your effective rate is $23.08/hour. An hourly worker at $22/hour working 45 hours/week (5 hours overtime at $33) earns $62,920/year — more than the salaried worker — and gets paid for every hour. Compare your options with our Hourly to Salary Converter and True Hourly Wage Calculator.