$42,000 a Year Is How Much an Hour?
A $42,000 yearly salary works out to $20.19 per hour — assuming the standard 40-hour week and 52 working weeks a year (2,080 hours).
$42,000 a year, broken down
| Pay period | Gross amount |
|---|---|
| Hourly | $20.19 |
| Daily (8 hours) | $161.54 |
| Weekly (40 hours) | $808 |
| Biweekly | $1,615 |
| Monthly | $3,500 |
| Annually | $42,000 |
What if you work more (or fewer) hours?
The $20.19 figure assumes exactly 40 hours a week. Real schedules differ, and your true hourly rate moves with them:
| Actual schedule | Real hourly rate |
|---|---|
| 35 hours/week | $23.08 |
| 40 hours/week (standard) | $20.19 |
| 45 hours/week | $17.95 |
| 50 hours/week | $16.15 |
With paid vacation, your rate per worked hour rises: at $42,000 with 2 weeks off it's $21.00/hr, and with 4 weeks off it's $21.88/hr.
After taxes
These are gross (pre-tax) figures. In the US, take-home pay on a $42,000 salary typically lands between $28,560 and $33,600 a year depending on your state, filing status, and pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions — roughly $13.73–$16.15 per hour in your pocket.
Try your exact numbers
Different hours, vacation weeks, or an hourly-to-salary conversion? Use the full salary to hourly calculator.