PayCalcHub › Blog › $27 an Hour Annual Salary
$27 an Hour is How Much a Year?
$27/hour × 2,080 hours = $56,160/year before taxes. After federal income tax and FICA, a single filer in a no-state-tax state takes home approximately $46,100/year ($3,842/month). This guide covers every pay period, after-tax take-home by state, a realistic monthly budget, and how to move from $27/hr to $35+/hr.
$27 an Hour is How Much a Year?
Gross Pay — $27.00/Hour (Full-Time, 2,080 Hours/Year)
| Hourly | $27.00 |
| Daily (8 hours) | $216.00 |
| Weekly (40 hours) | $1,080.00 |
| Bi-weekly (80 hours) | $2,160.00 |
| Semi-monthly | $2,340.00 |
| Monthly | $4,680.00 |
| Annual | $56,160.00 |
$27 an Hour After Taxes (2026)
After-Tax Take-Home — $27/Hour, Single Filer (2026)
| Gross annual income | $56,160 |
| Federal income tax (est.) | -$4,755 |
| FICA (Social Security + Medicare) | -$4,296 |
| State income tax (varies) | -$0 to -$4,900 |
| Annual take-home (no state tax) | $47,109 |
| Monthly take-home | $3,926 |
| Bi-weekly take-home | $1,812 |
| Effective federal + FICA rate | 16.1% |
After-Tax Take-Home by State — $27/Hour, Single Filer (2026)
| No state tax (TX, FL, WA, NV…) | $47,109/year · $3,926/month |
| Pennsylvania (3.07%) | $45,383/year · $3,782/month |
| Illinois (4.95%) | $44,330/year · $3,694/month |
| New York (est. 5.5%) | $44,020/year · $3,668/month |
| California (est. 6.2%) | $43,627/year · $3,636/month |
Get your exact take-home: Use our Salary Calculator — select your state for your precise after-tax figure on $56,160/year.
Is $27 an Hour a Good Wage in 2026?
$27/hr ($56,160/year) is slightly above the US individual median income — comfortable in most mid-size markets, tight in high-cost cities. In practical terms:
- Comfortable: Most Southern and Midwest markets — Memphis, Indianapolis, Oklahoma City, Omaha, El Paso. Independent living with savings is realistic.
- Manageable: Mid-tier metros — Austin, Nashville, Phoenix, Denver. Renting is fine; buying requires planning.
- Tight: High-cost metros — San Francisco, NYC, Seattle, Boston. Requires roommates or long commute for comfortable living.
$27/Hour: Above Median, Below "Comfortable"
At $27/hr, you're earning noticeably above the national median wage — but in high cost-of-living metros (Seattle, Denver, Austin), this rate still doesn't comfortably clear the 30%-of-income rent guideline for a one-bedroom apartment. This is the wage point where geography matters more than the number itself.
Workers at $27/hr in low cost-of-living states (Ohio, Tennessee, Oklahoma) are typically in a strong financial position; the same $27/hr in Seattle or San Francisco often still requires a roommate. Use the city comparison table above before assuming this wage means financial comfort.
Sample Monthly Budget on $27/Hour
Sample Monthly Budget — $27/Hour, Single Adult, No State Tax
| Monthly take-home | $3,926 |
| Rent (30% of gross) | $1,404 |
| Groceries + dining | $450 |
| Transportation | $370 |
| Utilities + phone + internet | $270 |
| Health + insurance | $200 |
| Savings (target 10%) | $393 |
| Remaining (discretionary) | $839 |
Jobs That Pay Around $27/Hour
Common Occupations Paying ~$27/Hour in 2026
| Dental hygienist (entry) | ~$26–$29/hour |
| Medical lab technician | ~$25–$29/hour |
| Paralegal (mid-level) | ~$26–$30/hour |
| Construction supervisor | ~$25–$30/hour |
| Radiologic technologist (entry) | ~$26–$30/hour |
| Insurance adjuster | ~$25–$29/hour |
How to Move from $27 to $35+/Hour
- Targeted certification: Adding a high-value credential in your field typically moves $27/hr workers to $33–$40/hr within 12–18 months. CPhT → PharmD pathway, RN license for medical techs, or PMP for project management roles.
- Employer switch: At $27/hr, switching employers yields 15–20% increases on average. The same role at a hospital system, tech company, or government agency often pays $32–$35/hr.
- Overtime: At $27/hr, your overtime rate is $40.50/hr. Five overtime hours per week adds $10,530/year gross — a 19% income boost without changing jobs.
💡 Tax tip at $56k: At $56,160/year you're in the 22% federal bracket for the top portion of your income. Pre-tax 401(k) contributions save $0.22 per dollar contributed. Contributing $5,000 to a traditional 401(k) saves $1,100 in federal taxes immediately — and if your employer matches, it's the single highest-return financial move available.
Frequently Asked Questions
$27 an hour is how much a year?
$27/hour × 2,080 hours = $56,160/year gross. Working 50 weeks gives $54,000/year. Part-time at 30 hrs/week equals $42,120/year.
What is take-home pay on $27 an hour?
A single filer takes home approximately $47,109/year ($3,926/month) after federal income tax and FICA in a no-state-tax state. In states with income tax, expect $43,500–$47,100/year.
Is $27 an hour good pay in 2026?
$27/hr ($56,160/year) is slightly above the US individual median income. It's comfortable in most mid-size US cities and tight in high-cost metros. It supports independent living with careful budgeting in most markets.
How much is $27 an hour biweekly after taxes?
$27/hour biweekly gross (80 hours) = $2,160. After federal taxes and FICA for a single filer with no state tax, take-home is approximately $1,812 per biweekly paycheck.
How much house can I afford on $27/hour?
At $56,160/year and 2026 mortgage rates (~6.5%), the 28% DTI rule allows roughly $1,311/month in housing costs, supporting a loan of approximately $207,000. With 10% down, that covers a home around $230,000 — achievable in many Midwest and Southern markets.
✎ Editor's Note — June 2026
$27/hr sits right around the US individual median in 2026, which makes it the income point where the "is this enough?" question comes up most often. The honest answer: it depends almost entirely on geography. In Indianapolis, Memphis, or El Paso, $27/hr is a genuinely comfortable income — enough to rent a decent one-bedroom, save $300–$400/month, and build financial stability over time. In Austin or Denver, it's livable but leaves little margin. In coastal cities, it's difficult solo. If you're at $27/hr and feeling financially squeezed in a mid-cost market, the issue may be fixable with a targeted credential or employer switch — the jump to $33–$35/hr is achievable within 12–18 months for most roles at this wage level.