$30 an Hour is How Much a Year?

Based on 2,080 standard annual work hours. With 2 weeks unpaid vacation (50 weeks): $30 × 40 × 50 = $60,000.

Part-time: At 30 hrs/week = $46,800/year. At 20 hrs/week = $31,200/year. Use the hourly to salary calculator for custom scenarios.

At $62,400 gross, a single filer hits the 22% federal bracket. After the $15,700 standard deduction, taxable income is about $46,700.

No-tax states like Texas maximize your paycheck. California taxes reduce take-home further. See our take-home pay guide.

At $30/hour, you earn 29% above the U.S. median of $23.25/hour and 4.1× the federal minimum wage. This places you in the top 40% of individual earners nationally.

Living wage context: In cities like Austin, Nashville, and Phoenix, $30/hour provides a comfortable single-person lifestyle with room for savings. In San Francisco or Manhattan, it covers basics but leaves limited discretionary income. Following the 30% housing rule, you can afford up to $1,560/month in rent.

See how neighboring rates compare: $25/hour ($52,000/yr) or $35/hour ($72,800/yr).

1. Get licensed or certified. A master electrician license, PMP certification, or RN-BSN upgrade can move you from $30 to $40+/hour. See what $40/hour earns annually.

2. Pursue leadership roles. Shift supervisors, team leads, and project managers earn $35–$45/hour in the same industries. That $5/hour jump adds $10,400/year.

3. Leverage overtime. At $30/hour, OT pays $45/hour. Just 5 extra hours weekly adds $11,700/year. See how overtime impacts your salary.

4. Negotiate location-based pay. The same role may pay $25/hour in rural areas and $38/hour in metro areas. Remote work can let you earn metro rates with suburban costs.