$55 an Hour: What It Means
At $55 an hour, your annual gross income reaches $114,400. You are earning a premium wage that places you in the top 15-20% of all US earners. Chiropractors, environmental engineers, and staff software engineers are typical roles at this pay level.Quick math: $55/hour × 40 hours/week × 52 weeks = $114,400 gross annual income before taxes.
$55/Hour Earnings Breakdown
Full-time earnings at $55 per hour across every pay frequency.
| Period | Gross | Tax | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual | $114,400 | $32,310 | $82,090 |
| Monthly | $9,533 | $2,693 | $6,841 |
| Bi-Weekly | $4,400 | $1,243 | $3,157 |
| Weekly | $2,200 | $621 | $1,579 |
| Daily | $440 | $124 | $316 |
| Hourly | $55 | $16 | $39 |
$55/Hour After Tax by State
Estimated annual take-home pay at $55/hour for every US state, based on single filing status.
| State | Gross Annual | Total Tax | Take-Home | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $114,400 | $31,089 | $83,311 | 27.2% |
| Alaska | $114,400 | $25,534 | $88,866 | 22.3% |
| Arizona | $114,400 | $28,029 | $86,371 | 24.5% |
| Arkansas | $114,400 | $30,341 | $84,059 | 26.5% |
| California | $114,400 | $32,310 | $82,090 | 28.2% |
| Colorado | $114,400 | $29,907 | $84,493 | 26.1% |
| Connecticut | $114,400 | $31,148 | $83,252 | 27.2% |
| Delaware | $114,400 | $31,853 | $82,547 | 27.8% |
| District of Columbia | $114,400 | $32,417 | $81,983 | 28.3% |
| Florida | $114,400 | $25,534 | $88,866 | 22.3% |
| Georgia | $114,400 | $31,155 | $83,245 | 27.2% |
| Hawaii | $114,400 | $34,044 | $80,356 | 29.8% |
| Idaho | $114,400 | $31,322 | $83,078 | 27.4% |
| Illinois | $114,400 | $31,059 | $83,341 | 27.1% |
| Indiana | $114,400 | $29,023 | $85,377 | 25.4% |
| Iowa | $114,400 | $29,881 | $84,519 | 26.1% |
| Kansas | $114,400 | $31,397 | $83,003 | 27.4% |
| Kentucky | $114,400 | $29,983 | $84,417 | 26.2% |
| Louisiana | $114,400 | $29,814 | $84,586 | 26.1% |
| Maine | $114,400 | $32,175 | $82,225 | 28.1% |
| Maryland | $114,400 | $30,824 | $83,576 | 26.9% |
| Massachusetts | $114,400 | $31,034 | $83,366 | 27.1% |
| Michigan | $114,400 | $30,158 | $84,242 | 26.4% |
| Minnesota | $114,400 | $31,862 | $82,538 | 27.9% |
| Mississippi | $114,400 | $30,332 | $84,068 | 26.5% |
| Missouri | $114,400 | $30,154 | $84,246 | 26.4% |
| Montana | $114,400 | $31,176 | $83,224 | 27.3% |
| Nebraska | $114,400 | $30,694 | $83,706 | 26.8% |
| Nevada | $114,400 | $25,534 | $88,866 | 22.3% |
| New Hampshire | $114,400 | $25,534 | $88,866 | 22.3% |
| New Jersey | $114,400 | $30,695 | $83,705 | 26.8% |
| New Mexico | $114,400 | $30,144 | $84,256 | 26.3% |
| New York | $114,400 | $31,647 | $82,753 | 27.7% |
| North Carolina | $114,400 | $30,108 | $84,292 | 26.3% |
| North Dakota | $114,400 | $27,480 | $86,920 | 24.0% |
| Ohio | $114,400 | $28,068 | $86,332 | 24.5% |
| Oklahoma | $114,400 | $30,477 | $83,923 | 26.6% |
| Oregon | $114,400 | $35,018 | $79,382 | 30.6% |
| Pennsylvania | $114,400 | $29,046 | $85,354 | 25.4% |
| Rhode Island | $114,400 | $29,732 | $84,668 | 26.0% |
| South Carolina | $114,400 | $31,228 | $83,172 | 27.3% |
| South Dakota | $114,400 | $25,534 | $88,866 | 22.3% |
| Tennessee | $114,400 | $25,534 | $88,866 | 22.3% |
| Texas | $114,400 | $25,534 | $88,866 | 22.3% |
| Utah | $114,400 | $30,853 | $83,547 | 27.0% |
| Vermont | $114,400 | $31,143 | $83,257 | 27.2% |
| Virginia | $114,400 | $31,595 | $82,805 | 27.6% |
| Washington | $114,400 | $25,534 | $88,866 | 22.3% |
| West Virginia | $114,400 | $30,502 | $83,898 | 26.7% |
| Wisconsin | $114,400 | $30,509 | $83,891 | 26.7% |
| Wyoming | $114,400 | $25,534 | $88,866 | 22.3% |
Part-Time and Overtime at $55/Hour
At $55/hour, your overtime rate (1.5x) would be $82.50/hour. Working 10 hours of overtime per week would add approximately $42,900 to your annual gross income before taxes.
Is $55 an Hour Good?
At $55 per hour, earning $114,400 annually, you are firmly in the top 15-20% of American earners. This is an exceptional rate that provides a very high standard of living, robust savings potential, and genuine financial security. Your professional skills command a clear premium.Jobs That Pay $55/Hour
Common positions with an hourly rate near $55.
Tips to Make the Most of $55/Hour
To increase from $55 an hour, focus on executive-track positions and practice ownership. Chiropractors who build multi-provider practices can earn $75-120+/hour. Staff software engineers who advance to distinguished engineer or VP roles earn $85-150+/hour. Building a strong professional network and reputation in your specialty is critical for reaching the next compensation tier.$55/Hour FAQ
$55 an hour equals $114,400 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, $55/hour typically results in about $80,080-$89,232 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. $55/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 $55/hour include pharmacists, physical therapists, software developers, specialized nurses, and senior engineers. These roles require advanced education, professional licenses, or extensive specialized experience.
At $55/hour ($114,400/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.