$9 an Hour: What It Means
Making $9 an hour means you earn $18,720 annually before taxes. While this rate exceeds the federal minimum, it remains below the living wage in most metropolitan areas. Workers at this level often juggle multiple priorities, and even small raises or additional hours can make a meaningful difference in financial security.Quick math: $9/hour × 40 hours/week × 52 weeks = $18,720 gross annual income before taxes.
$9/Hour Earnings Breakdown
Full-time earnings at $9 per hour across every pay frequency.
| Period | Gross | Tax | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual | $18,720 | $1,964 | $16,756 |
| Monthly | $1,560 | $164 | $1,396 |
| Bi-Weekly | $720 | $76 | $644 |
| Weekly | $360 | $38 | $322 |
| Daily | $72 | $8 | $64 |
| Hourly | $9 | $1 | $8 |
$9/Hour After Tax by State
Estimated annual take-home pay at $9/hour for every US state, based on single filing status.
| State | Gross Annual | Total Tax | Take-Home | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $18,720 | $2,575 | $16,145 | 13.8% |
| Alaska | $18,720 | $1,804 | $16,916 | 9.6% |
| Arizona | $18,720 | $1,907 | $16,813 | 10.2% |
| Arkansas | $18,720 | $2,402 | $16,318 | 12.8% |
| California | $18,720 | $1,964 | $16,756 | 10.5% |
| Colorado | $18,720 | $1,968 | $16,752 | 10.5% |
| Connecticut | $18,720 | $2,396 | $16,324 | 12.8% |
| Delaware | $18,720 | $2,328 | $16,392 | 12.4% |
| District of Columbia | $18,720 | $1,969 | $16,751 | 10.5% |
| Florida | $18,720 | $1,804 | $16,916 | 9.6% |
| Georgia | $18,720 | $2,173 | $16,547 | 11.6% |
| Hawaii | $18,720 | $2,630 | $16,090 | 14.0% |
| Idaho | $18,720 | $2,043 | $16,677 | 10.9% |
| Illinois | $18,720 | $2,593 | $16,127 | 13.9% |
| Indiana | $18,720 | $2,375 | $16,345 | 12.7% |
| Iowa | $18,720 | $2,515 | $16,205 | 13.4% |
| Kansas | $18,720 | $2,281 | $16,439 | 12.2% |
| Kentucky | $18,720 | $2,426 | $16,294 | 13.0% |
| Louisiana | $18,720 | $2,253 | $16,467 | 12.0% |
| Maine | $18,720 | $2,043 | $16,677 | 10.9% |
| Maryland | $18,720 | $2,520 | $16,200 | 13.5% |
| Massachusetts | $18,720 | $2,520 | $16,200 | 13.5% |
| Michigan | $18,720 | $2,362 | $16,358 | 12.6% |
| Minnesota | $18,720 | $2,026 | $16,694 | 10.8% |
| Mississippi | $18,720 | $2,106 | $16,614 | 11.2% |
| Missouri | $18,720 | $1,873 | $16,847 | 10.0% |
| Montana | $18,720 | $1,998 | $16,722 | 10.7% |
| Nebraska | $18,720 | $1,910 | $16,810 | 10.2% |
| Nevada | $18,720 | $1,804 | $16,916 | 9.6% |
| New Hampshire | $18,720 | $1,804 | $16,916 | 9.6% |
| New Jersey | $18,720 | $2,066 | $16,654 | 11.0% |
| New Mexico | $18,720 | $1,874 | $16,846 | 10.0% |
| New York | $18,720 | $2,244 | $16,476 | 12.0% |
| North Carolina | $18,720 | $2,073 | $16,647 | 11.1% |
| North Dakota | $18,720 | $1,884 | $16,836 | 10.1% |
| Ohio | $18,720 | $1,804 | $16,916 | 9.6% |
| Oklahoma | $18,720 | $2,203 | $16,517 | 11.8% |
| Oregon | $18,720 | $2,917 | $15,803 | 15.6% |
| Pennsylvania | $18,720 | $2,379 | $16,341 | 12.7% |
| Rhode Island | $18,720 | $2,110 | $16,610 | 11.3% |
| South Carolina | $18,720 | $1,824 | $16,896 | 9.7% |
| South Dakota | $18,720 | $1,804 | $16,916 | 9.6% |
| Tennessee | $18,720 | $1,804 | $16,916 | 9.6% |
| Texas | $18,720 | $1,804 | $16,916 | 9.6% |
| Utah | $18,720 | $2,675 | $16,045 | 14.3% |
| Vermont | $18,720 | $2,195 | $16,525 | 11.7% |
| Virginia | $18,720 | $2,385 | $16,335 | 12.7% |
| Washington | $18,720 | $1,804 | $16,916 | 9.6% |
| West Virginia | $18,720 | $2,315 | $16,405 | 12.4% |
| Wisconsin | $18,720 | $1,996 | $16,724 | 10.7% |
| Wyoming | $18,720 | $1,804 | $16,916 | 9.6% |
Part-Time and Overtime at $9/Hour
At $9/hour, your overtime rate (1.5x) would be $13.50/hour. Working 10 hours of overtime per week would add approximately $7,020 to your annual gross income before taxes.
Is $9 an Hour Good?
While $9 per hour is above the federal minimum, it remains below the living wage in most American cities. This rate can work in very low cost-of-living areas if you budget carefully, but in most places you will need to find ways to increase your income to cover essential expenses comfortably.Jobs That Pay $9/Hour
Common positions with an hourly rate near $9.
Tips to Make the Most of $9/Hour
To earn more than $9 an hour, consider targeted training programs that take 3-6 months. Becoming a certified nursing assistant, pharmacy technician, or licensed security officer can boost your rate to $12-16/hour. Many large employers like Amazon, UPS, and Costco offer starting wages of $15+ and promote from within.$9/Hour FAQ
$9 an hour equals $18,720 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, $9/hour typically results in about $15,350-$16,474 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 $9/hour is difficult in most areas. You may need to share housing, limit discretionary spending, and look into government assistance programs. It is possible in the lowest cost-of-living areas with very careful budgeting, but most workers at this rate work toward earning more over time.
Common jobs paying around $9/hour include entry-level retail, food service, and service industry positions. Examples include cashiers, food prep workers, stockers, and cleaning staff. With additional training, you can move into higher-paying roles.
At $9/hour ($18,720/year), your income falls below the middle-class threshold, which is generally defined as roughly $30,000-$90,000 for a single earner depending on location. Building toward middle-class income is achievable through skill development and career advancement.