$42 an Hour Is How Much a Year?
$42 an hour is $87,360 a year full-time, about $5,857 a month after federal taxes.
Updated October 2026
Formula: $42 × 40 hours × 52 weeks = $87,360. Shortcut: double the hourly rate and read it in thousands ($42 × 2 ≈ $84k).
Adjust hours, weeks, and time off →$42 an hour by pay period (full-time)
| Pay period | Gross pay |
|---|---|
| Daily (8 hours) | $336.00 |
| Weekly (40 hours) | $1,680.00 |
| Biweekly (80 hours) | $3,360.00 |
| Monthly (173.3 hours avg.) | $7,280.00 |
| Annual (2,080 hours) | $87,360 |
$42 an hour part-time
Hourly workers rarely get exactly 40 hours. Here’s what $42 an hour earns at common schedules:
| Hours/week | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $420.00 | $1,820 | $21,840 |
| 15 | $630.00 | $2,730 | $32,760 |
| 20 | $840.00 | $3,640 | $43,680 |
| 25 | $1,050.00 | $4,550 | $54,600 |
| 30 | $1,260.00 | $5,460 | $65,520 |
| 35 | $1,470.00 | $6,370 | $76,440 |
| 40 | $1,680.00 | $7,280 | $87,360 |
Overtime at $42 an hour
Under federal law, non-exempt employees earn 1.5× their rate for hours over 40 in a week: $63.00 per overtime hour. Overtime adds up quickly:
| Schedule | Weekly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 40 hours, no overtime | $1,680.00 | $87,360 |
| 40 hours + 5 overtime | $1,995.00 | $103,740 |
| 40 hours + 10 overtime | $2,310.00 | $120,120 |
$42 an hour after taxes (2026)
For a single filer working full-time with no pre-tax deductions, using 2026 federal brackets and the standard deduction:
| Item | Annual | Monthly | Per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $87,360 | $7,280 | $42.00 |
| Federal income tax | −$10,389 | −$866 | −$4.99 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$6,683 | −$557 | −$3.21 |
| Take-home (no state tax) | $70,288 | $5,857 | $33.79 |
| Take-home in California | $66,136 | $5,511 | $31.80 |
Effective federal tax rate: about 19.5%. Get your exact number, including your state and 401(k), in the take-home pay calculator.
Is $42 an hour good pay?
Full-time, $42 an hour is $87,360 a year, 40% above the median full-time US worker (about $62,200) and 5.8× the federal minimum wage. That's a solid wage in most of the country and a tight one in the priciest cities. Using the 30% rule on take-home pay, rent should stay under about $1,757/month.
Nearby hourly rates
| Hourly | Annual | Monthly | Take-home (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $37 an hour | $76,960 | $6,413 | $62,971 |
| $38 an hour | $79,040 | $6,587 | $64,435 |
| $39 an hour | $81,120 | $6,760 | $65,898 |
| $40 an hour | $83,200 | $6,933 | $67,361 |
| $41 an hour | $85,280 | $7,107 | $68,824 |
| $43 an hour | $89,440 | $7,453 | $71,751 |
| $44 an hour | $91,520 | $7,627 | $73,214 |
| $45 an hour | $93,600 | $7,800 | $74,678 |
| $46 an hour | $95,680 | $7,973 | $76,141 |
| $47 an hour | $97,760 | $8,147 | $77,604 |
Going the other direction: $87,000 a year is how much an hour?
Frequently asked questions
How much is $42 an hour annually?
$42 an hour is $87,360 a year at 40 hours a week for 52 weeks. If you take two unpaid weeks off, it's $84,000.
How much is $42 an hour per month?
About $7,280 a month before taxes ($42 × 2,080 hours ÷ 12). After federal tax and FICA a single filer keeps roughly $5,857 in a state with no income tax.
What is $42 an hour after taxes?
Roughly $33.79 per hour, or $70,288 a year, for a single filer using 2026 federal brackets with no state tax. In California it's closer to $66,136 a year.
Is $42 an hour good pay?
$42 an hour ($87,360/yr) is 40% above the median full-time US worker and 5.8× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. It goes further in low-cost states than in coastal cities.
Estimates use 2026 federal tax brackets, the standard deduction, and no credits or pre-tax deductions. Educational only, not tax advice.