$42 an Hour: What It Means
Making $42 an hour brings your yearly earnings to $87,360. This rate reflects specialized professional expertise and places you in the top quarter of US earners. Speech-language pathologists, nuclear technicians, and mobile app developers commonly earn around this level.Quick math: $42/hour × 40 hours/week × 52 weeks = $87,360 gross annual income before taxes.
$42/Hour Earnings Breakdown
Full-time earnings at $42 per hour across every pay frequency.
| Period | Gross | Tax | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual | $87,360 | $21,778 | $65,582 |
| Monthly | $7,280 | $1,815 | $5,465 |
| Bi-Weekly | $3,360 | $838 | $2,522 |
| Weekly | $1,680 | $419 | $1,261 |
| Daily | $336 | $84 | $252 |
| Hourly | $42 | $10 | $32 |
$42/Hour After Tax by State
Estimated annual take-home pay at $42/hour for every US state, based on single filing status.
| State | Gross Annual | Total Tax | Take-Home | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $87,360 | $21,719 | $65,641 | 24.9% |
| Alaska | $87,360 | $17,516 | $69,844 | 20.1% |
| Arizona | $87,360 | $19,335 | $68,025 | 22.1% |
| Arkansas | $87,360 | $21,134 | $66,226 | 24.2% |
| California | $87,360 | $21,778 | $65,582 | 24.9% |
| Colorado | $87,360 | $20,700 | $66,660 | 23.7% |
| Connecticut | $87,360 | $21,571 | $65,789 | 24.7% |
| Delaware | $87,360 | $22,051 | $65,309 | 25.2% |
| District of Columbia | $87,360 | $22,101 | $65,259 | 25.3% |
| Florida | $87,360 | $17,516 | $69,844 | 20.1% |
| Georgia | $87,360 | $21,654 | $65,706 | 24.8% |
| Hawaii | $87,360 | $23,796 | $63,564 | 27.2% |
| Idaho | $87,360 | $21,736 | $65,624 | 24.9% |
| Illinois | $87,360 | $21,703 | $65,657 | 24.8% |
| Indiana | $87,360 | $20,181 | $67,179 | 23.1% |
| Iowa | $87,360 | $20,836 | $66,524 | 23.9% |
| Kansas | $87,360 | $21,839 | $65,521 | 25.0% |
| Kentucky | $87,360 | $20,884 | $66,476 | 23.9% |
| Louisiana | $87,360 | $20,648 | $66,712 | 23.6% |
| Maine | $87,360 | $22,225 | $65,135 | 25.4% |
| Maryland | $87,360 | $21,492 | $65,868 | 24.6% |
| Massachusetts | $87,360 | $21,664 | $65,696 | 24.8% |
| Michigan | $87,360 | $20,991 | $66,369 | 24.0% |
| Minnesota | $87,360 | $22,006 | $65,354 | 25.2% |
| Mississippi | $87,360 | $21,044 | $66,316 | 24.1% |
| Missouri | $87,360 | $20,839 | $66,521 | 23.9% |
| Montana | $87,360 | $21,563 | $65,797 | 24.7% |
| Nebraska | $87,360 | $21,097 | $66,263 | 24.2% |
| Nevada | $87,360 | $17,516 | $69,844 | 20.1% |
| New Hampshire | $87,360 | $17,516 | $69,844 | 20.1% |
| New Jersey | $87,360 | $20,955 | $66,405 | 24.0% |
| New Mexico | $87,360 | $20,802 | $66,558 | 23.8% |
| New York | $87,360 | $21,945 | $65,415 | 25.1% |
| North Carolina | $87,360 | $20,874 | $66,486 | 23.9% |
| North Dakota | $87,360 | $18,935 | $68,425 | 21.7% |
| Ohio | $87,360 | $19,199 | $68,161 | 22.0% |
| Oklahoma | $87,360 | $21,176 | $66,184 | 24.2% |
| Oregon | $87,360 | $24,635 | $62,725 | 28.2% |
| Pennsylvania | $87,360 | $20,198 | $67,162 | 23.1% |
| Rhode Island | $87,360 | $20,430 | $66,930 | 23.4% |
| South Carolina | $87,360 | $21,480 | $65,880 | 24.6% |
| South Dakota | $87,360 | $17,516 | $69,844 | 20.1% |
| Tennessee | $87,360 | $17,516 | $69,844 | 20.1% |
| Texas | $87,360 | $17,516 | $69,844 | 20.1% |
| Utah | $87,360 | $21,578 | $65,782 | 24.7% |
| Vermont | $87,360 | $21,341 | $66,019 | 24.4% |
| Virginia | $87,360 | $22,023 | $65,337 | 25.2% |
| Washington | $87,360 | $17,516 | $69,844 | 20.1% |
| West Virginia | $87,360 | $21,101 | $66,259 | 24.2% |
| Wisconsin | $87,360 | $21,058 | $66,302 | 24.1% |
| Wyoming | $87,360 | $17,516 | $69,844 | 20.1% |
Part-Time and Overtime at $42/Hour
At $42/hour, your overtime rate (1.5x) would be $63.00/hour. Working 10 hours of overtime per week would add approximately $32,760 to your annual gross income before taxes.
Is $42 an Hour Good?
$42 per hour translates to $87,360 annually, which is a premium professional wage. You are well positioned financially, with the ability to save aggressively, invest substantially, and maintain an excellent quality of life. This rate reflects genuine expertise and specialized skills.Jobs That Pay $42/Hour
Common positions with an hourly rate near $42.
Tips to Make the Most of $42/Hour
To advance beyond $42 an hour, target senior specialist and leadership positions. Speech-language pathologists with dysphagia or AAC specializations earn $50-65/hour. Mobile app developers who lead engineering teams commonly advance to $60-90/hour. Building a reputation as a thought leader in your specialty through publications or conference speaking also drives compensation growth.$42/Hour FAQ
$42 an hour equals $87,360 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, $42/hour typically results in about $62,899-$69,888 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.
Absolutely. $42/hour provides an excellent standard of living virtually anywhere in the country. You can afford premium housing, substantial savings, and a high quality of life. In the most expensive metros, you are still very comfortably situated financially.
Jobs at $42/hour include pharmacists, physical therapists, software developers, specialized nurses, and senior engineers. These roles require advanced education, professional licenses, or extensive specialized experience.
At $42/hour ($87,360/year), you are above the traditional middle-class range by most definitions. Your income places you in the upper tier of earners, well beyond what is typically considered middle class.