The answer
Pay by period at $18 an hour (40 hours a week)
| Period | Gross pay |
|---|---|
| Hourly | $18.00 |
| Daily (8 hours) | $144.00 |
| Weekly | $720.00 |
| Bi-weekly (26 checks) | $1,440.00 |
| Semi-monthly (24 checks) | $1,560.00 |
| Monthly | $3,120.00 |
| Annual | $37,440 |
Worked example: what a real schedule pays
$18 an hour at 25 hours a week
25 hours × $18 = $450.00 a week. Over 52 weeks that is $23,400, or $1,950.00 a month on average. With two unpaid weeks off, it falls to $22,500.
Part-time and full-time at $18
| Hours a week | Annual | Monthly | Bi-weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 hours | $18,720 | $1,560 | $720 |
| 30 hours | $28,080 | $2,340 | $1,080 |
| 32 hours | $29,952 | $2,496 | $1,152 |
| 35 hours | $32,760 | $2,730 | $1,260 |
| 40 hours | $37,440 | $3,120 | $1,440 |
Overtime at $18 an hour
For a non-exempt employee under the federal weekly rule, hours over 40 are paid at 1.5 times the rate, or $27.00 an hour. A 45-hour week pays $855.00 (40 × $18 + 5 × $27.00), which is $45.00 more than straight time. A 50-hour week pays $990.00. Annualised over 52 weeks, a regular 45-hour week at $18 an hour is $44,460. State daily-overtime rules can add more; use the overtime calculator.
Estimated take-home pay at $18 an hour
Our paycheck estimator (federal tax only, single filer, no deductions, IRS 2026 Publication 15-T percentage method) estimates a bi-weekly check of about $1,240.89 from $1,440.00 gross: roughly $88.95 federal income tax withholding, $89.28 Social Security and $20.88 Medicare. State and local taxes, a different W-4 and benefit deductions will change the result. This is an estimate, not a payslip.
Putting $18 in context
- $18 is 2.48 times the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour (U.S. Department of Labor). Your state or city minimum may be higher.
- A $1 raise from $18 adds $2,080 a year at full time, a 5.6% increase.
- You earn $0.3 per minute and need about 55.6 hours of work to gross $1,000.