$16 an Hour: What It Means
Earning $16 an hour translates to $33,280 per year. You are now earning above the $15 threshold that many advocate as a living wage baseline. This rate is typical for bookkeepers, veterinary technicians, and legal secretaries, and it offers a comfortable launching pad for career advancement.Quick math: $16/hour × 40 hours/week × 52 weeks = $33,280 gross annual income before taxes.
$16/Hour Earnings Breakdown
Full-time earnings at $16 per hour across every pay frequency.
| Period | Gross | Tax | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual | $33,280 | $5,013 | $28,267 |
| Monthly | $2,773 | $418 | $2,356 |
| Bi-Weekly | $1,280 | $193 | $1,087 |
| Weekly | $640 | $96 | $544 |
| Daily | $128 | $19 | $109 |
| Hourly | $16 | $2 | $14 |
$16/Hour After Tax by State
Estimated annual take-home pay at $16/hour for every US state, based on single filing status.
| State | Gross Annual | Total Tax | Take-Home | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $33,280 | $6,000 | $27,280 | 18.0% |
| Alaska | $33,280 | $4,501 | $28,779 | 13.5% |
| Arizona | $33,280 | $4,968 | $28,312 | 14.9% |
| Arkansas | $33,280 | $5,739 | $27,541 | 17.2% |
| California | $33,280 | $5,013 | $28,267 | 15.1% |
| Colorado | $33,280 | $5,305 | $27,975 | 15.9% |
| Connecticut | $33,280 | $5,749 | $27,531 | 17.3% |
| Delaware | $33,280 | $5,781 | $27,499 | 17.4% |
| District of Columbia | $33,280 | $5,422 | $27,858 | 16.3% |
| Florida | $33,280 | $4,501 | $28,779 | 13.5% |
| Georgia | $33,280 | $5,669 | $27,611 | 17.0% |
| Hawaii | $33,280 | $6,393 | $26,887 | 19.2% |
| Idaho | $33,280 | $5,584 | $27,696 | 16.8% |
| Illinois | $33,280 | $6,011 | $27,269 | 18.1% |
| Indiana | $33,280 | $5,516 | $27,764 | 16.6% |
| Iowa | $33,280 | $5,766 | $27,514 | 17.3% |
| Kansas | $33,280 | $5,742 | $27,538 | 17.3% |
| Kentucky | $33,280 | $5,706 | $27,574 | 17.1% |
| Louisiana | $33,280 | $5,460 | $27,820 | 16.4% |
| Maine | $33,280 | $5,584 | $27,696 | 16.8% |
| Maryland | $33,280 | $5,908 | $27,372 | 17.8% |
| Massachusetts | $33,280 | $5,945 | $27,335 | 17.9% |
| Michigan | $33,280 | $5,677 | $27,603 | 17.1% |
| Minnesota | $33,280 | $5,502 | $27,778 | 16.5% |
| Mississippi | $33,280 | $5,487 | $27,793 | 16.5% |
| Missouri | $33,280 | $5,227 | $28,053 | 15.7% |
| Montana | $33,280 | $5,379 | $27,901 | 16.2% |
| Nebraska | $33,280 | $5,118 | $28,162 | 15.4% |
| Nevada | $33,280 | $4,501 | $28,779 | 13.5% |
| New Hampshire | $33,280 | $4,501 | $28,779 | 13.5% |
| New Jersey | $33,280 | $5,013 | $28,267 | 15.1% |
| New Mexico | $33,280 | $5,137 | $28,143 | 15.4% |
| New York | $33,280 | $5,766 | $27,514 | 17.3% |
| North Carolina | $33,280 | $5,425 | $27,855 | 16.3% |
| North Dakota | $33,280 | $4,865 | $28,415 | 14.6% |
| Ohio | $33,280 | $4,699 | $28,581 | 14.1% |
| Oklahoma | $33,280 | $5,592 | $27,688 | 16.8% |
| Oregon | $33,280 | $6,888 | $26,392 | 20.7% |
| Pennsylvania | $33,280 | $5,523 | $27,757 | 16.6% |
| Rhode Island | $33,280 | $5,353 | $27,927 | 16.1% |
| South Carolina | $33,280 | $5,004 | $28,276 | 15.0% |
| South Dakota | $33,280 | $4,501 | $28,779 | 13.5% |
| Tennessee | $33,280 | $4,501 | $28,779 | 13.5% |
| Texas | $33,280 | $4,501 | $28,779 | 13.5% |
| Utah | $33,280 | $6,049 | $27,231 | 18.2% |
| Vermont | $33,280 | $5,380 | $27,900 | 16.2% |
| Virginia | $33,280 | $5,898 | $27,382 | 17.7% |
| Washington | $33,280 | $4,501 | $28,779 | 13.5% |
| West Virginia | $33,280 | $5,503 | $27,777 | 16.5% |
| Wisconsin | $33,280 | $5,254 | $28,026 | 15.8% |
| Wyoming | $33,280 | $4,501 | $28,779 | 13.5% |
Part-Time and Overtime at $16/Hour
At $16/hour, your overtime rate (1.5x) would be $24.00/hour. Working 10 hours of overtime per week would add approximately $12,480 to your annual gross income before taxes.
Is $16 an Hour Good?
$16 per hour brings in $33,280 annually, which exceeds the $15 living wage benchmark. This is a solid wage for entry-level work in most regions and allows for basic financial comfort. With continued skill development, moving into the $18-22 range is a natural and achievable progression.Jobs That Pay $16/Hour
Common positions with an hourly rate near $16.
Tips to Make the Most of $16/Hour
To advance past $16 an hour, consider specializing within your field. Veterinary technicians can specialize in surgery or dental care for higher pay. Bookkeepers who learn advanced accounting software or payroll management can move to $20-24/hour. Pursuing a supervisory role or industry-specific certification is often the fastest path to a meaningful raise.$16/Hour FAQ
$16 an hour equals $33,280 per year working full-time (40 hours/week, 52 weeks). This is the gross annual salary before any taxes or deductions.
After federal and state taxes, $16/hour typically results in about $25,958-$28,288 in annual take-home pay, depending on your state, filing status, and deductions. Use our calculator for a precise estimate based on your specific situation.
Living on $16/hour is possible in lower cost-of-living areas with careful budgeting. In more expensive cities, you may need a roommate or supplemental income. Many workers at this rate are building toward higher-paying positions through experience and training.
Jobs paying around $16/hour include bank tellers, pharmacy technicians, dental assistants, veterinary assistants, and office clerks. These roles often require some training or certification and offer clear paths to higher-paying positions.
At $16/hour ($33,280/year), you are approaching the lower end of the middle-class income range. The middle class is generally defined as earning between roughly $30,000-$90,000 for a single earner, depending on your area's cost of living.