$30 an Hour: What It Means
Making $30 an hour means earning $62,400 annually before taxes. The $30/hour mark is a significant achievement, putting you well above the national median. Registered nurses, journeyman electricians, and junior database administrators commonly earn at this level, and it provides financial comfort in most US markets.Quick math: $30/hour × 40 hours/week × 52 weeks = $62,400 gross annual income before taxes.
$30/Hour Earnings Breakdown
Full-time earnings at $30 per hour across every pay frequency.
| Period | Gross | Tax | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual | $62,400 | $12,313 | $50,087 |
| Monthly | $5,200 | $1,026 | $4,174 |
| Bi-Weekly | $2,400 | $474 | $1,926 |
| Weekly | $1,200 | $237 | $963 |
| Daily | $240 | $47 | $193 |
| Hourly | $30 | $6 | $24 |
$30/Hour After Tax by State
Estimated annual take-home pay at $30/hour for every US state, based on single filing status.
| State | Gross Annual | Total Tax | Take-Home | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $62,400 | $13,178 | $49,222 | 21.1% |
| Alaska | $62,400 | $10,223 | $52,177 | 16.4% |
| Arizona | $62,400 | $11,418 | $50,982 | 18.3% |
| Arkansas | $62,400 | $12,743 | $49,657 | 20.4% |
| California | $62,400 | $12,313 | $50,087 | 19.7% |
| Colorado | $62,400 | $12,309 | $50,091 | 19.7% |
| Connecticut | $62,400 | $12,905 | $49,495 | 20.7% |
| Delaware | $62,400 | $13,119 | $49,281 | 21.0% |
| District of Columbia | $62,400 | $12,930 | $49,470 | 20.7% |
| Florida | $62,400 | $10,223 | $52,177 | 16.4% |
| Georgia | $62,400 | $12,990 | $49,410 | 20.8% |
| Hawaii | $62,400 | $14,443 | $47,957 | 23.1% |
| Idaho | $62,400 | $12,996 | $49,404 | 20.8% |
| Illinois | $62,400 | $13,175 | $49,225 | 21.1% |
| Indiana | $62,400 | $12,126 | $50,274 | 19.4% |
| Iowa | $62,400 | $12,594 | $49,806 | 20.2% |
| Kansas | $62,400 | $13,123 | $49,277 | 21.0% |
| Kentucky | $62,400 | $12,593 | $49,807 | 20.2% |
| Louisiana | $62,400 | $12,294 | $50,106 | 19.7% |
| Maine | $62,400 | $13,202 | $49,198 | 21.2% |
| Maryland | $62,400 | $13,013 | $49,387 | 20.9% |
| Massachusetts | $62,400 | $13,123 | $49,277 | 21.0% |
| Michigan | $62,400 | $12,637 | $49,763 | 20.3% |
| Minnesota | $62,400 | $13,016 | $49,384 | 20.9% |
| Mississippi | $62,400 | $12,578 | $49,822 | 20.2% |
| Missouri | $62,400 | $12,347 | $50,053 | 19.8% |
| Montana | $62,400 | $12,797 | $49,603 | 20.5% |
| Nebraska | $62,400 | $12,347 | $50,053 | 19.8% |
| Nevada | $62,400 | $10,223 | $52,177 | 16.4% |
| New Hampshire | $62,400 | $10,223 | $52,177 | 16.4% |
| New Jersey | $62,400 | $12,178 | $50,222 | 19.5% |
| New Mexico | $62,400 | $12,286 | $50,114 | 19.7% |
| New York | $62,400 | $13,192 | $49,208 | 21.1% |
| North Carolina | $62,400 | $12,457 | $49,943 | 20.0% |
| North Dakota | $62,400 | $11,155 | $51,245 | 17.9% |
| Ohio | $62,400 | $11,221 | $51,179 | 18.0% |
| Oklahoma | $62,400 | $12,697 | $49,703 | 20.3% |
| Oregon | $62,400 | $15,158 | $47,242 | 24.3% |
| Pennsylvania | $62,400 | $12,139 | $50,261 | 19.5% |
| Rhode Island | $62,400 | $12,167 | $50,233 | 19.5% |
| South Carolina | $62,400 | $12,589 | $49,811 | 20.2% |
| South Dakota | $62,400 | $10,223 | $52,177 | 16.4% |
| Tennessee | $62,400 | $10,223 | $52,177 | 16.4% |
| Texas | $62,400 | $10,223 | $52,177 | 16.4% |
| Utah | $62,400 | $13,125 | $49,275 | 21.0% |
| Vermont | $62,400 | $12,401 | $49,999 | 19.9% |
| Virginia | $62,400 | $13,295 | $49,105 | 21.3% |
| Washington | $62,400 | $10,223 | $52,177 | 16.4% |
| West Virginia | $62,400 | $12,529 | $49,871 | 20.1% |
| Wisconsin | $62,400 | $12,442 | $49,958 | 19.9% |
| Wyoming | $62,400 | $10,223 | $52,177 | 16.4% |
Part-Time and Overtime at $30/Hour
At $30/hour, your overtime rate (1.5x) would be $45.00/hour. Working 10 hours of overtime per week would add approximately $23,400 to your annual gross income before taxes.
Is $30 an Hour Good?
$30 per hour is a very strong wage, translating to $62,400 annually. You are earning more than approximately two-thirds of American hourly workers. This rate allows for comfortable living in nearly all US markets, meaningful retirement savings, and a lifestyle that most would consider upper-middle class.Jobs That Pay $30/Hour
Common positions with an hourly rate near $30.
Tips to Make the Most of $30/Hour
To move beyond $30 an hour, position yourself for senior and specialized roles. Registered nurses pursuing BSN completion and specialty certifications earn $35-50+/hour. Journeyman electricians who become master electricians or electrical contractors can earn $40-65/hour. Database administrators who learn cloud platforms and big data tools advance to $45-70/hour.$30/Hour FAQ
$30 an hour equals $62,400 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, $30/hour typically results in about $44,928-$49,920 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.
Yes, $30/hour provides a comfortable living in the vast majority of US markets. You can afford quality housing, regular savings, and a solid middle-to-upper-middle-class lifestyle. Even in expensive coastal cities, this wage provides a reasonable standard of living.
Jobs paying around $30/hour include registered nurses, HVAC technicians, police officers, database administrators, and financial analysts. These roles typically require significant education, certification, or years of professional experience.
$30/hour ($62,400/year) places you in the upper-middle class by most definitions. You are earning well above the national median and your income exceeds the traditional middle-class range in many lower cost-of-living areas.