18 Dollars An Hour Is How Much A Year: Can You Live Off Of It?
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18 dollars an hour is how much a year? Calculate your annual, monthly, and weekly salary (before and after taxes) and determine whether you can actually live off of $18 an hour.
This post is a complete guide to making $18 an hour including how much you’ll earn per year, month, and week (before and after taxes). You’ll also discover the answer to “Can I live off $18 an hour?” We even include a sample budget to get you started. Finally, we break down the best jobs that earn 18 dollars an hour without a degree!
Let’s get to it.
18 Dollars an hour is how much a year
$18 an hour is $37,440 per year.
Here’s how we arrived at this number:
40 hours of work per week multiplied by 52 (the number of weeks in a year) equals 2,080 hours worked per year.
Multiply the total hours worked per year (2,080) by $18 to get $37,440. This is the amount you’ll make in annual income per year before taxes, otherwise known as gross income.
Working full-time
For the record, in America, if you work between 35-40 hours a week, you are considered a full-time employee.
Our calculations above are based on a 40-hour workweek multiplied by 52 weeks a year.
If you work 35 hours per week and earn $18 an hour, you will make $32,760 per year.
35 hours per week multiplied by 52 weeks in the year is 1,820 hours worked. If you multiply 1,820 by $18 an hour, you get $32,760.
Working part-time
Part-time is considered anything under 35 hours worked per week. Typically, part-time employees work between 20-29 hours a week.
If you work 25 hours per week at $18 an hour, you will earn $23,400 a year before taxes.
How much is 18 dollars an hour a year after taxes?
If you make $37,440 a year, you’ll pay 15.1% (on average) of your income in federal taxes, social security, and Medicare. You’ll pay even more if you live in a state that collects an income tax.
This brings your approximate annual take-home pay or net income to $31,769 if you work full-time (40 hours per week) and about $20,473 a year if you work part-time (25 hours per week).
Now, let’s address the elephant in the room…
Can you live off of $18 an hour?
The US Census Bureau estimates that the annual median personal income for 2019 was $35,977. So, if you make $37,440 (or more) a year, you can consider yourself just above average (as far as earnings in America go).
The bright side is that a full-time job making $18 an hour would put you well above poverty guidelines ($12,750 a year) for a single individual.
Related: Can you live on $30 an hour?
That’s all well and good, but can you live (comfortably) on $18 an hour?
According to a recent study by Go Banking Rates you can’t, but this will really be determined by your spending habits and how you spend on your basic expenses.
Based on a recent survey they conducted, which took into account rising housing costs as well as basic living expenses, you’ll need to earn anywhere between $58,321 a year (to get by in Mississippi) all the way up to a minimum of $136,437 a year to get by in Hawaii.
I mean, really…who wants to live in Hawaii anyway?
I don’t know what kind of MATH their smoking because, up until recently, our family has never earned more than $50,000 a year…
In fact…
My husband and I lived on $40,000 ($19.23) an hour for years while raising our (3) children in Colorado (which has a state income tax), and somehow, we managed to survive.
We even bought a nice 3 bedroom 2 bath home on that salary which we later sold (in just 24-hours) for a tidy profit.
Currently, my son manages to live well on just $15 an hour, working part-time while living in a city with a high cost of living index.
Based on personal experience, if you are single, and live in an area with a low cost of living, you can live quite well on $18 an hour.
Can you buy a house making $18 an hour?
Mmmmm…MAYBE.
The answer to “can you buy a house when you make $18 an hour” is a tricky one that depends on a handful of factors.
For example, if you:
- Have a healthy savings account
- Know how to budget
- Live in a low-cost of living area
- Have a debt-to-income ratio <43%
Then, yes, you can afford to buy a (modest) home on $37,400 a year.
However, if you:
- Struggle to live on a budget
- Live in a city with a high cost of living index
- Have a debt-to-income ratio >43%
- Work less than full-time
You cannot afford to buy a house on $18 an hour.
Tips to live on $18 an hour
As I mentioned earlier, my son lives well on $15 an hour in a big (expensive) city. Here’s how he does it:
- With the exception of a small student loan (he does not have any debt)
- He keeps his food costs low
- He lives with a roommate
- He’s frugal and budgets his money wisely
- He lives on less than he earns
Ways to make more money if $18 an hour isn’t enough
If the tips above don’t appeal to you, there are a plethora of ways to increase your income if you find that $18 doesn’t quite get you the lifestyle of your dreams.
You can:
- Ask for a raise
- Look for ways to make money online-blogging, surveys, freelance writing, become a VA, sell your skills on Fiverr
- Take on a part-time side hustle-clean houses, babysit, drive for Uber, do odd jobs
- Turn your hobby into a cash cow
- Sell feet pics for extra cash
Jobs that earn $18 an hour
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the majority of jobs that make $18 an hour do not require prior experience or formal education, however, you will need a high school diploma to be considered for employment just about anywhere.
| Job | Average pay (per hour) | What they do |
|---|---|---|
| Animal Control Worker | $18.07 | Controls abandoned, dangerous, or unattended animals |
| Audiovisual Equipment Install/Repair | $18.99 | Install, repair, or adjust audio or other electronic entertainment equipment in homes or other venues |
| Camera Repair Tech | $18.69 | Repair and adjust cameras and photographic equipment, including commercial video and motion picture camera equipment |
| Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setter | $18.06 | Set up, operate, and repair machines that crush, grind, or polish materials |
| Healthcare Support Worker | $18.49 | Home health aides, nursing assistants, physical therapy assistants |
| Quality Control Inspector | $18.82 | Examine products and materials for defects |
| General Maintenance and Repair Worker | $18.79 | Fix and maintain machines, mechanical equipment, and buildings |
| Motorcycle Mechanic | $18.19 | Inspect, service, and repair motorized power equipment |
| Optician | $18.19 | Help fit eyeglasses and contact lenses, following prescriptions from ophthalmologists and optometrists. |
| Pipe Layer | $18.66 | Lay pipe for storm or sanitation sewers, drains, and water mains |
Sample budget for $18 an hour
Here’s a sample budget example for someone who earns $2,647 per month after taxes using a 70/20/10 budget (70% of income spent on monthly expenses including entertainment, 20% set aside for retirement & savings, and 10% allocated for debt repayment):
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| Rent/Mortgage | $950 |
| Utilities | $150 |
| Transportation | $225 |
| Groceries | $300 |
| Charitable Contributions | $100 |
| Entertainment | $127.90 |
| Long/Short-Term Savings | $529.40 |
| Debt Repayment | $264.70 |
How much is $18 an hour per day?
$18 dollars an hour times 8 hours equals $144 a day before taxes. After taxes, you’ll net about $122 per day if you work full-time.
If you work 5 hours a day at 18 dollars an hour, you’ll take home approximately $79 a day after taxes.
How much is 18 dollars an hour per week?
18 dollars an hour at 40 hours a week is $720 per week (before taxes) and around $611 per week after taxes.
$18 dollars an hour at 25 hours a week (part-time) is $450 per week (before taxes) and about $394 after taxes.
$18 an hour is how much bi-weekly?
$35 an hour (@40 hours a week) is $1440 every (2) weeks before taxes. This averages out to around $1,324 bi-weekly after taxes.
If you work 25 hours a week earning $18 an hour, you’ll take home around $853 every 2 weeks.
How much is 18 dollars an hour per month?
If you work 40-hours a week at $18 an hour, you’ll gross $3120 per month.
You’ll take home (net) around $2,647 a month if you earn $18 an hour and work 40 hours a week.
Working part-time (25 hours a week) making $18 an hour, you’ll gross $1,950 a month and take home (net) about $1,706 a month.
$18 an hour final thoughts
In short, 18 dollars is $37,440 a year which is above the minimum wage and is enough to live on in most areas as long as you do not have any dependents.
Most jobs earning $18 an hour do not require a degree and are in stable, high-growth industries such as manufacturing, health care, and technical fields. The majority of these jobs offer opportunities for growth relative to training/increased education.
If you learn the importance of budgeting, live a frugal lifestyle, and look for ways to increase your income as your expenses increase, there’s a good chance you’ll do just fine on $18 an hour.
Brian Hebert is a Certified Financial Coach and a graduate of the Villanova University Business School. He specializes in practical debt-elimination strategies, disciplined budgeting, and building long-term financial stability.
Brian’s unique, mission-focused approach to personal finance is rooted in his career in high-stakes, high-discipline roles.
Professional Experience: As a Professional Airline Pilot, a former USAF Fighter and Mobility Pilot, and a Supervisor Air Interdiction Agent with Homeland Security, Brian is an expert in risk mitigation, systematic planning, and disciplined execution. These are the same principles he applies directly to financial success.
Expertise & Certification: He holds a Certified Financial Coach designation and is a graduate of the rigorous Dave Ramsey Financial Coach Masterclass.
Discipline & Trust: Brian’s foundation in discipline is further cemented as a dedicated Martial Arts Practitioner, demonstrating the long-term commitment and systematic practice required for mastery—qualities directly transferable to achieving long-term financial goals. His public service background further reinforces his exceptional level of integrity and commitment.
Brian uses his unique experience in high-accountability environments to help readers treat their financial goals like a mission, providing clear, actionable, and trusted advice.
