$38,000 a Year Is How Much an Hour?
$38,000 a year is $18.27 an hour at a standard 40-hour week and 52 paid weeks (2,080 hours a year). That's about $3,166.67 a month, $1,461.54 every two weeks, $730.77 a week or $146.15 per working day — all before tax. After estimated federal income tax (2026, single filer), the take-home works out to roughly $17.13 an hour. Below you'll find the full breakdown for every pay period, what's left after taxes, jobs that typically pay around $38,000, and how it compares with nearby salaries. Adjust the hours in the calculator to match your own schedule — part-time, overtime or a compressed week all change the hourly figure.
$38,000 a year breakdown
How we worked it out
To turn an annual salary into an hourly wage, divide it by the number of paid hours in a year. At 40 hours a week for 52 weeks that's 2,080 hours, so $38,000 ÷ 2,080 = $18.27 per hour. These are gross figures before tax. To estimate take-home pay, see the Income Tax Calculator, or use the full Salary Calculator to change the hours, days and weeks.
$38,000 a year after taxes
On $38,000, estimated federal income tax is about $2,380 for a single filer taking the 2026 standard deduction — an effective rate of 6.3%, with the top dollar taxed in the 12% bracket. That leaves roughly $35,620 in federal take-home pay, about $2,968 a month or $17.13 an hour. Two people earning $38,000 can still take home different amounts: your net drops further after Social Security and Medicare (FICA, about 7.65%), and by another few percent in most states that levy an income tax — while nine states (including Texas and Florida) charge none. Use the Income Tax Calculator to try a different filing status or add pre-tax 401(k) and HSA contributions.
Federal income tax only (2026 brackets, standard deduction). Excludes FICA and state/local tax.
Jobs that pay around $38,000 a year
These occupations have a national median wage closest to $38,000, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS, May 2024). Actual pay varies widely by state, metro area and experience.
| Occupation | Median annual pay | ≈ Hourly (40 hrs/wk) |
|---|---|---|
| Security guards | $37,070 | $17.82 |
| Preschool teachers | $37,130 | $17.85 |
| Receptionists | $37,230 | $17.90 |
| Bank tellers | $37,640 | $18.10 |
| Nursing assistants | $39,610 | $19.04 |
How $38,000 compares to nearby salaries
| Salary | Hourly | Monthly | Federal take-home |
|---|---|---|---|
| $35,000 a year | $16.83 | $2,917 | $32,980 |
| $36,000 a year | $17.31 | $3,000 | $33,860 |
| $40,000 a year | $19.23 | $3,333 | $37,380 |
| $42,000 a year | $20.19 | $3,500 | $39,140 |
| $38,000 a year (this page) | $18.27 | $3,166.67 | $35,620 |
Take-home is federal income tax only (2026, single filer, standard deduction), before FICA and state tax.
Is $38,000 a year a good salary?
Whether $38,000 is a good salary depends on where you live and who it supports, but it's a useful benchmark to compare. $38,000 a year is about 37% below the typical U.S. full-time worker's earnings (around $60,000), and it sits below the U.S. median household income of about $80,000. Day to day, $38,000 works out to roughly $730.77 a week or $146.15 a day before tax. In a lower-cost region it can stretch comfortably for a single person or a couple; in expensive metros like New York or San Francisco, housing will eat a far larger share. Remember these are gross figures — your take-home pay after federal, state and FICA taxes will be lower, so budget from your net pay rather than the headline number.