$21 an hour is how much a year?
Before taxes, for a full-time job of 40 hours a week. Change the hours in the calculator below.
A year $43,680 40 hours × 52 weeks
A month $3,640 year ÷ 12
Every two weeks $1,680 year ÷ 26
A week $840 40 hours
What $21 an hour comes to
- Working full time (40 hours a week, 52 weeks), $21 an hour is $43,680 a year before taxes: $3,640 a month, $1,680 every two weeks or $840 a week.
- With two unpaid weeks off it is $42,000; part time at 20 hours a week it is $21,840.
- About 36% of US employees earn less than that (BLS, May 2025). The median US employee earns $50,980 a year ($24.51 an hour).
- Prices differ by state, so $43,680 is worth $50,243 in typical US prices in Arkansas, the cheapest state, but $39,451 in California.
- It covers the typical rent (no more than 30% of income) in 31 of the 383 metro areas with Zillow rent data, but in none of the 50 largest.
Gross pay, before federal, state and payroll taxes, which depend on your state and household. How we calculate.
Change the hours
$21 an hour at different hours
| Hours | A week | A month | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part time, 20 hours | $420 | $1,820 | $21,840 |
| Part time, 30 hours | $630 | $2,730 | $32,760 |
| 35 hours | $735 | $3,185 | $38,220 |
| Full time, 40 hours | $840 | $3,640 | $43,680 |
| 45 hours (5 overtime) | $998 | $4,323 | $51,870 |
| 50 hours (10 overtime) | $1,155 | $5,005 | $60,060 |
Overtime at time and a half over 40 hours, as federal law requires for most hourly workers.
What $43,680 is worth in each state
The same pay buys more where prices are lower. Worth = pay ÷ (state price level ÷ 100). derived
$43,680 goes furthest in Arkansas and least far in California
What $43,680 a year buys, in typical US prices: the 8 cheapest and 8 most expensive states (BEA price levels, 2024).
US average prices
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. Our calculation.
Show the numbers
| Worth | |
|---|---|
| Arkansas | $50,243 |
| Mississippi | $50,234 |
| Iowa | $49,771 |
| Oklahoma | $49,725 |
| Louisiana | $49,520 |
| South Dakota | $49,308 |
| Alabama | $49,176 |
| North Dakota | $49,101 |
| Maryland | $41,616 |
| Massachusetts | $41,302 |
| Washington | $40,817 |
| New York | $40,474 |
| New Jersey | $40,145 |
| District of Columbia | $39,745 |
| Hawaii | $39,727 |
| California | $39,451 |
All 50 states and DC
| State | Worth, in US prices | Price level (US = 100) | Median pay, all jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | $50,243 | 86.9 | $43,630 |
| Mississippi | $50,234 | 87.0 | $40,120 |
| Iowa | $49,771 | 87.8 | $48,540 |
| Oklahoma | $49,725 | 87.8 | $45,600 |
| Louisiana | $49,520 | 88.2 | $45,520 |
| South Dakota | $49,308 | 88.6 | $47,080 |
| Alabama | $49,176 | 88.8 | $45,670 |
| North Dakota | $49,101 | 89.0 | $52,480 |
| West Virginia | $48,806 | 89.5 | $45,300 |
| Kansas | $48,497 | 90.1 | $48,010 |
| Nebraska | $48,478 | 90.1 | $48,980 |
| Kentucky | $48,448 | 90.2 | $46,920 |
| Missouri | $48,097 | 90.8 | $47,800 |
| Tennessee | $47,545 | 91.9 | $47,380 |
| New Mexico | $47,369 | 92.2 | $47,210 |
| Wyoming | $47,124 | 92.7 | $50,270 |
| Ohio | $47,082 | 92.8 | $49,380 |
| Indiana | $46,802 | 93.3 | $47,860 |
| South Carolina | $46,592 | 93.7 | $46,490 |
| Wisconsin | $46,421 | 94.1 | $50,270 |
| North Carolina | $46,307 | 94.3 | $47,970 |
| Montana | $46,151 | 94.6 | $48,740 |
| Idaho | $45,741 | 95.5 | $47,970 |
| Michigan | $45,397 | 96.2 | $49,270 |
| Georgia | $45,362 | 96.3 | $48,170 |
| Maine | $45,008 | 97.0 | $51,430 |
| Texas | $45,004 | 97.1 | $48,620 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,767 | 97.6 | $49,690 |
| Vermont | $44,591 | 98.0 | $56,390 |
| Minnesota | $44,291 | 98.6 | $56,920 |
| Utah | $44,182 | 98.9 | $50,110 |
| Delaware | $43,764 | 99.8 | $52,190 |
| Illinois | $43,698 | 100.0 | $51,960 |
| Nevada | $43,689 | 100.0 | $47,660 |
| Arizona | $43,386 | 100.7 | $50,060 |
| Virginia | $43,203 | 101.1 | $55,690 |
| Rhode Island | $42,706 | 102.3 | $56,780 |
| Alaska | $42,673 | 102.4 | $61,000 |
| Colorado | $42,386 | 103.1 | $59,800 |
| Oregon | $42,260 | 103.4 | $57,000 |
| Florida | $42,238 | 103.4 | $47,880 |
| Connecticut | $42,158 | 103.6 | $59,690 |
| New Hampshire | $41,933 | 104.2 | $55,880 |
| Maryland | $41,616 | 105.0 | $59,510 |
| Massachusetts | $41,302 | 105.8 | $63,590 |
| Washington | $40,817 | 107.0 | $62,990 |
| New York | $40,474 | 107.9 | $59,670 |
| New Jersey | $40,145 | 108.8 | $58,570 |
| District of Columbia | $39,745 | 109.9 | $91,540 |
| Hawaii | $39,727 | 110.0 | $56,320 |
| California | $39,451 | 110.7 | $58,240 |
Can you afford rent on $21 an hour?
Typical rent in the 50 largest metro areas (September 2026, Zillow) and the income needed to keep it to 30% of pay. $43,680 covers it in none of them.
| Metro area | Typical rent | Income needed | Rent share of $43,680 | Covered? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville, KY | $1,339 | $53,600 | 37% | No |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $1,384 | $55,400 | 38% | No |
| Memphis, TN | $1,393 | $55,700 | 38% | No |
| Birmingham, AL | $1,404 | $56,200 | 39% | No |
| San Antonio, TX | $1,415 | $56,600 | 39% | No |
| St. Louis, MO | $1,427 | $57,100 | 39% | No |
| Cleveland, OH | $1,440 | $57,600 | 40% | No |
| Buffalo, NY | $1,451 | $58,000 | 40% | No |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $1,467 | $58,700 | 40% | No |
| Detroit, MI | $1,514 | $60,600 | 42% | No |
| Cincinnati, OH | $1,522 | $60,900 | 42% | No |
| Columbus, OH | $1,525 | $61,000 | 42% | No |
| Indianapolis, IN | $1,528 | $61,100 | 42% | No |
| Kansas City, MO | $1,534 | $61,400 | 42% | No |
| Milwaukee, WI | $1,549 | $62,000 | 43% | No |
| New Orleans, LA | $1,577 | $63,100 | 43% | No |
| Austin, TX | $1,603 | $64,100 | 44% | No |
| Houston, TX | $1,638 | $65,500 | 45% | No |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $1,644 | $65,800 | 45% | No |
| Dallas, TX | $1,659 | $66,400 | 46% | No |
| Raleigh, NC | $1,669 | $66,800 | 46% | No |
| Jacksonville, FL | $1,680 | $67,200 | 46% | No |
| Richmond, VA | $1,706 | $68,200 | 47% | No |
| Phoenix, AZ | $1,720 | $68,800 | 47% | No |
| Las Vegas, NV | $1,732 | $69,300 | 48% | No |
| Charlotte, NC | $1,735 | $69,400 | 48% | No |
| Minneapolis, MN | $1,736 | $69,400 | 48% | No |
| Portland, OR | $1,803 | $72,100 | 50% | No |
| Nashville, TN | $1,803 | $72,100 | 50% | No |
| Atlanta, GA | $1,843 | $73,700 | 51% | No |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $1,886 | $75,400 | 52% | No |
| Denver, CO | $1,900 | $76,000 | 52% | No |
| Philadelphia, PA | $1,903 | $76,100 | 52% | No |
| Orlando, FL | $1,929 | $77,200 | 53% | No |
| Baltimore, MD | $1,937 | $77,500 | 53% | No |
| Tampa, FL | $1,991 | $79,600 | 55% | No |
| Hartford, CT | $1,998 | $79,900 | 55% | No |
| Chicago, IL | $2,163 | $86,500 | 59% | No |
| Providence, RI | $2,166 | $86,600 | 60% | No |
| Seattle, WA | $2,250 | $90,000 | 62% | No |
| Sacramento, CA | $2,269 | $90,800 | 62% | No |
| Washington, DC | $2,407 | $96,300 | 66% | No |
| Riverside, CA | $2,533 | $101,300 | 70% | No |
| Miami, FL | $2,654 | $106,200 | 73% | No |
| Los Angeles, CA | $2,929 | $117,200 | 80% | No |
| San Diego, CA | $2,967 | $118,700 | 82% | No |
| Boston, MA | $2,987 | $119,500 | 82% | No |
| San Francisco, CA | $3,445 | $137,800 | 95% | No |
| New York, NY | $3,546 | $141,800 | 97% | No |
| San Jose, CA | $3,812 | $152,500 | 105% | No |
Jobs that pay about $21 an hour
Occupations whose US median pay is within 5% of $43,680 a year, most common first (BLS, May 2025).
| Job | Median a year | Hourly | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer service representative | $44,770 | $21.52 | 2,595,750 |
| Office Clerks, General | $45,010 | $21.64 | 2,464,940 |
| CNA | $42,260 | $20.32 | 1,448,910 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,650 | $21.47 | 1,405,030 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,080 | $21.19 | 1,223,240 |
| Light Truck Drivers | $44,860 | $21.57 | 983,300 |
| Medical assistant | $45,690 | $21.97 | 817,870 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $45,260 | $21.76 | 816,870 |
| Substitute teacher | $41,670 | $20.03 | 524,770 |
| Pharmacy technician | $45,750 | $22.00 | 471,680 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,220 | $20.78 | 379,060 |
| Bank teller | $43,030 | $20.69 | 329,480 |
Other amounts
Sources and limits
- Conversions assume 40 hours a week and 52 paid weeks (2,080 hours), the convention BLS uses for yearly pay. Your pay may count fewer paid weeks.
- Pay of US employees: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Rank among workers is estimated between BLS's published percentiles.
- Prices: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. Rents: Zillow Observed Rent Index, September 2026; Data Provided by Zillow Group. The 30% line is the Census Bureau's measure of housing cost burden.
- Taxes are not deducted. Take-home pay depends on federal, state and local taxes and on deductions such as health insurance.