$28 an Hour is How Much a Year?
$28/hour × 2,080 hours = $58,240/year before taxes. After federal income tax and FICA, a single filer in a no-tax state takes home approximately $48,834/year ($4,070/month). This guide breaks down every pay period, how this compares to the national median wage, and a realistic monthly budget.
$28 an Hour is How Much a Year?
Working full-time at $28/hour means $58,240 per year before taxes. Here is the full pay period breakdown:
| Hourly | $28 |
| Daily (8 hours) | $224.00 |
| Weekly (40 hours) | $1,120.00 |
| Bi-weekly (80 hours) | $2,240.00 |
| Semi-monthly (twice/month) | $2,426.67 |
| Monthly | $4,853.33 |
| Annual | $58,240 |
$28 an Hour After Taxes
Your actual take-home pay depends on your filing status, state, and deductions. For a single filer with no pre-tax deductions, here is what you keep after federal income tax and FICA:
| Gross annual income | $58,240 |
| Federal income tax (est.) | -$4,950 |
| FICA (Social Security + Medicare) | -$4,455 |
| State income tax (varies) | -$0 to -$5,824 |
| Annual take-home (no state tax) | $48,834 |
| Monthly take-home | $4,070 |
| Bi-weekly take-home | $1,878 |
| Effective federal + FICA rate | 16.1% |
After-Tax Pay by State
State income taxes vary significantly. Here is estimated annual take-home at $28/hr across key states (single filer, standard deduction):
| No state income tax (TX, FL, WA, NV…) | $48,834 |
| Pennsylvania (3.07%) | $47,046 |
| Illinois (4.95%) | $45,951 |
| Georgia (5.49%) | $45,637 |
| New York (est. 5.5%) | $45,631 |
| Virginia (5.75%) | $45,485 |
| California (est. 6.5%) | $45,048 |
Is $28 an Hour a Good Wage?
At $28/hr, a single adult can live comfortably in most US cities and begin building savings and retirement contributions.
For context, the federal minimum wage is $7.25/hour ($58,240 annualized vs. $15,080 for minimum wage). The US median individual wage is approximately $28/hour ($59,000/year) as of 2026. At $28/hr, you are at the national median.
$28/Hour Is Almost Exactly the US Median Wage
$28/hr ($59,000/year) is one of the most-cited "median individual wage" figures for full-time US workers. If you're earning this rate, the relevant question isn't "am I doing okay" (you're at the midpoint) — it's whether your cost of living matches the national average the median wage assumes. Workers at $28/hr in median-cost metros are typically able to save 10-15% of income; in expensive coastal cities, that savings rate often drops to 0-5% without a roommate or partner's income.
Sample Monthly Budget at $28/Hour
Here is a realistic monthly budget for a single adult earning $28/hr (taking home ~$4,070/month, no state tax):
| Monthly take-home | $4,070 |
| Rent (aim for 30% of gross) | $1,456 |
| Groceries + dining | $488 |
| Transportation | $407 |
| Utilities + phone + internet | $285 |
| Health + insurance | $244 |
| Savings + retirement (target 15%) | $610 |
| Remaining (discretionary) | $580 |
Is $28/Hour Enough to Live On?
At $28/hour, your monthly take-home is approximately $4,069 (no state tax). This is livable in virtually all US markets for a single adult. Comfortable in most cities, still requires budgeting in very high-cost metros.
Using the standard 30% housing rule, you can afford rent of up to $1,200/month. Here is how $28/hr compares to key benchmarks:
| Federal minimum wage | $7.25/hour · $3.9× minimum wage |
| US national living wage (single adult) | ~$21.18/hour · You earn more |
| US median individual wage | ~$28/hour · at US median the median |
| MIT Living Wage (avg US city, single adult) | ~$44,000/year · Your income is above this threshold |
Jobs That Pay Around $28/Hour
To contextualize what $28/hr represents in the job market, here are common occupations with median pay near this rate:
| Registered nurse (entry) | ~$29/hour · ~$60,320/year |
| Police officer | ~$28/hour · ~$58,240/year |
| Electrician (journeyman) | ~$30/hour · ~$62,400/year |
| Accountant (entry) | ~$27/hour · ~$56,160/year |
| UX designer (junior) | ~$28/hour · ~$58,240/year |
What $28/Hour Looks Like Over a Career
Assuming 3% annual raises and consistent full-time work:
| Today ($28/hr) | $58,240/year |
| After 3 years (~$30.52/hr) | $63,482/year |
| After 5 years (~$32.48/hr) | $67,558/year |
| After 10 years (~$37.52/hr) | $78,042/year |
At $28/hr you've reached the national median. The next tier ($35–$45/hr) typically requires specialization, management responsibility, or advanced credentials.
Where Does $28/Hour Go Furthest?
The same $28/hr wage delivers dramatically different living standards depending on where you live. The key metric: how many months of rent does your annual net pay cover?
Best Cities for $28/Hour
| Kansas City, MO | $46,800 net · $1000/mo rent · 46.8 months rent covered · MO 4.95% rate, but Kansas City rent is well below national average |
| Charlotte, NC | $46,400 net · $1200/mo rent · 38.7 months rent covered · NC 4.75% flat rate, strong job market, growing city |
| Raleigh, NC | $46,400 net · $1300/mo rent · 35.7 months rent covered · tech sector growth, lower rent than coastal tech hubs, moderate tax |
Toughest Cities at $28/Hour
| San Jose, CA | $40,000 net · $2800/mo rent · 14.3 months rent covered · CA state tax plus Silicon Valley rents consume most of $28/hr |
| Honolulu, HI | $39,000 net · $2500/mo rent · 15.6 months rent covered · HI top rate 8.25% plus the highest cost of living in the 50 states |
| New York City, NY | $40,200 net · $2800/mo rent · 14.4 months rent covered · city + state tax and high rent leave little room on $28/hr |
At $28/hr (the national median), you're in good shape in most Midwest and Southeast cities, but underwater in major coastal metros where the median home price exceeds $700,000.