Not like most jobs, which pay by the hour, annual salaries are reported as a lump sum, making it tough to calculate how a lot you make per hour. Nevertheless, by doing slightly math, you may simply decide your hourly wage out of your annual wage.
On this put up, I’ll cowl every part you’ll want to learn about a $55000 annual earnings, together with hourly pay and a pattern funds that can assist you determine methods to funds your wage.

$55K a 12 months Is How A lot an Hour?
Listed here are the steps you’ll want to take to find out how a lot you make per hour on a wage of $55,000 per yr (primarily based on a full-time, 40-hour work week).
1. Calculate the variety of hours you’re employed in a yr:
40 Hours per week X 52 weeks = 2080 Hours per yr
2. Divide $55,000 by 2080 hours = $26.44 per hour.
As you may see, primarily based on a $55,000 wage, your hourly price will probably be $26.44. That’s nicely above the federal minimal wage. After all, your hourly price will probably be decrease in case you work greater than 40 hours per week and better in case you work much less.
Additionally, keep in mind that $26.34 represents your gross hourly price earlier than taxes or different deductions. You’ll have to subtract these out of your gross hourly price to get your internet hourly wage.
How Does 55K a 12 months Examine?
A $55,000 wage is barely greater than the nationwide common earnings of $48,672 however lower than the median family earnings of $68,703.
Whereas a $55,000 wage won’t appear spectacular initially, you might suppose otherwise if you evaluate it to different jobs paying across the identical quantity. Keep in mind that by advancing in your organization and taking over added duty, you should have a chance to earn more cash.
The query you may wish to ask is whether or not 55,000 {dollars} a yr will probably be sufficient to assist your required way of life.
Is $26.44 a Good Hourly Price?
This can be a troublesome query as a result of it relies on many elements, comparable to the price of dwelling in your space and your expertise degree. Nevertheless, usually, $26.44 is a habitable hourly price that may assist a modest household and oneself. For 2020, the federal poverty degree for a single particular person with out dependents is $12,760.
If your loved ones has dependents, the poverty degree will increase. For instance, for a household of 4 in 2020, the poverty degree is $26,200. Subsequently, if you’re making $26.44 per hour, you’re above the poverty degree and might assist your self and your loved ones.
After all, $26.44 just isn’t a excessive hourly price, so you will have to funds rigorously to make ends meet. Nevertheless, it’s doable to reside on this wage if you’re cautious along with your cash.
Is $55k a 12 months Price Your Time?
Whereas $55,000 won’t sound like quite a bit, it’s vital to know the worth of your time. In different phrases, how a lot is your time price to you?
As I defined earlier, in case you make $55,000 per yr by working 40 hours per week, it provides as much as 2080 hours per yr.
Now, let’s say you could possibly make the identical $55,000 per yr however solely needed to work 20 hours per week. In different phrases, you’d solely must work 1,040 hours. Your hourly price would then be $52.68.
On this instance, you’d be making the identical wage however working half as many hours. This may offer you extra free time to do belongings you take pleasure in outdoors of labor.
Understanding the worth of your time is vital as a result of it will probably make it easier to make higher selections about the way you wish to earn cash.
After all, there are different elements to contemplate, comparable to the kind of work you’re doing and your high quality of life. However, usually, doing so can assist you perceive the true worth of your time and earn higher cash than your present placement.
The right way to Make Extra Whereas Working Much less
Listed here are some tips about methods to make $55,000 per yr working fewer than 40 hours per week.
- Get a better-paying job: If you wish to earn more money, it’s easy – get a better-paying job. There are a number of methods to do that, comparable to altering careers, asking for a elevate, or negotiating the next wage when beginning a brand new job.
- Get expertise in a high-paying business: One other approach to earn more money is to get expertise in a high-paying business. For instance, in case you’re presently working within the retail business, you could possibly search for jobs within the banking or know-how industries.
- Be Skillful: Talent is all the time in demand, and corporations are prepared to pay a premium. When you have a ability that’s in excessive demand, you should use it to barter the next wage or hourly price.
- Begin your individual enterprise: In the event you’re entrepreneurial, you could possibly begin your individual enterprise. It gives you the potential to earn far more cash than you’d work for another person.
- Create digital belongings: This passive earnings technique means that you can earn cash whilst you sleep. By creating merchandise you may promote on-line, comparable to e-books, programs, or software program, you may earn a residual earnings that may give you a snug dwelling.
- Outsource your work: When you have expertise that others want, you could possibly begin a enterprise the place you outsource your providers. This might embody issues like internet design, copywriting, or advertising and marketing.
All the above are completely viable choices for making more cash. It’s vital to notice that none of them are assured to work.
It’s additionally price noting that, whereas it’s doable to earn more money by working fewer hours, it’s not all the time doable to take action.
As a result of not everybody has the identical expertise, expertise, or {qualifications}, some folks will inevitably earn more money than others.
What Is Your Paycheck if You Make $55,000 a 12 months?
Right here’s what a median particular person incomes $55,000 per yr can anticipate from their paycheque.
Biweekly Pay
In the event you make $55,000 per 12 months, you’ll obtain $2,115.38 each two weeks, earlier than taxes and different deductions like medical health insurance premiums, FICA, or insurance coverage.
Month-to-month Pay
In case you are paid month-to-month relatively than biweekly, the checks could be much less frequent however bigger every time. On this case, you’d obtain $4,583.33 monthly.
That is additionally primarily based on a 52-week yr with out contemplating any deductions.
Relying on what number of are distributed every 12 months, you might be compensated for the day off and federal holidays. If that’s the case, your month-to-month wage will probably rise primarily based on an hourly foundation.
How Does Trip Influence My Annual Wage?
In the event you obtain a paid trip as a part of your employment contract, your wage received’t be impacted by any trip days you are taking inside your annual entitlement.
In the event you’re not paid for any trip you are taking, your wage could also be decreased. For instance, in case you earn $55,000 per yr and take two weeks of unpaid trip, your annual earnings could be decreased by $2,115.38, the quantity of 1 bi-weekly pay cycle.
It’s vital to keep in mind that these are simply examples, and your precise wage will rely upon a number of elements, together with your expertise, expertise, {qualifications}, and the variety of hours you’re employed.
How A lot Is $55000 a 12 months After Taxes?
As I discussed, your take-home pay will probably be lower than your gross earnings due to taxes. The quantity of taxes you pay will rely upon a number of elements, together with your submitting standing, job standing, the state you reside in, retirement contributions, and your earnings.
Think about the state of Florida, the place there isn’t a state earnings tax.
In the event you’re single and haven’t any dependents, the tax breakdown in your $55,000 earnings will look one thing like this:
- Federal Revenue Tax: $5,162
- FICA taxes: $4,208
Therefore, your yearly take-home pay could be $45,631.
In the event you reside in a state with earnings taxes, your taxes will probably be greater.
- Bi-weekly earnings after tax: Your biweekly earnings could be $1,755.04, with all else being equal.
- Month-to-month after-tax earnings: Your month-to-month earnings could be $3,802.58.
Right here’s a state-by-state checklist of after-tax salaries in 2022, primarily based on a gross quantity of $55,000.
State By State $55,000 a 12 months Wage After Taxes in 2022
As you may see, your take-home pay will differ relying on the state you reside in. The next checklist reveals how a lot cash you’ll take dwelling every 12 months after taxes in 2022.
- Alabama ( $43,423 )
- Alaska ( $45,705 )
- Arizona ( $44,492 )
- Arkansas ( $43,544 )
- California ( $43,891 )
- Colorado ( $43,774 )
- Connecticut ( $43,131 )
- Delaware ( $43,219 )
- Florida ( $45,705 )
- Georgia ( $43,135 )
- Hawaii ( $42,190 )
- Idaho ( $43,192 )
- Illinois ( $43,100 )
- Indiana ( $43,961 )
- Iowa ( $43,577 )
- Kansas ( $43,327 )
- Kentucky ( $43,090 )
- Louisiana ( $44,176 )
- Maine ( $43,346 )
- Maryland ( $43,544 )
- Massachusetts ( $43,175 )
- Michigan ( $43,576 )
- Minnesota ( $43,224 )
- Mississippi ( $43,610 )
- Missouri ( $43,874 )
- Montana ( $43,313 )
- Nebraska ( $43,354 )
- Nevada ( $45,705 )
- New Hampshire ( $45,705 )
- New Jersey ( $44,214 )
- New Mexico ( $43,904 )
- New York ( $43,169 )
- North Carolina ( $43,382 )
- North Dakota ( $45,220 )
- Ohio ( $44,886 )
- Oklahoma ( $43,511 )
- Oregon ( $41,421 )
- Pennsylvania ( $44,017 )
- Rhode Island ( $44,149 )
- South Carolina ( $43,278 )
- South Dakota ( $45,705 )
- Tennessee ( $45,705 )
- Texas ( $45,705 )
- Utah ( $42,983 )
- Vermont ( $44,105 )
- Virginia ( $43,112 )
- Washington ( $45,705 )
- West Virginia ( $43,350 )
- Wisconsin ( $43,417 )
- Wyoming ( $45,705 )
What Forms of Jobs Pay $55,000 Per 12 months?
There are a number of jobs that pay $55,000 per 12 months. Listed here are some examples:
- Accountant
- Auditor
- Funds Analyst
- Industrial Banker
- Laptop Techniques Analyst
- Database Administrator
- Economist
- Monetary Analyst
- Human Sources Supervisor
- Funding Banker
- Market Analysis Analyst
- Operations Analysis Analyst
- Private Monetary Advisor
- Product Supervisor
- Gross sales Supervisor
- Software program Developer
- Statistician
- Stockbroker
- Actuary
- Monetary Examiner
- Mortgage Officer
- Buying Supervisor
- City Planner
As you may see, there are various various kinds of jobs that pay $55,000 per 12 months. In case you are searching for a job that pays this wage, there are various choices to select from.
Some in-demand tech levels might result in a good greater wage.
How To Funds $55,000 a 12 months?
In the event you make $55,000 a yr, you may reside a snug life in case you funds rigorously. Listed here are some tips about methods to funds your cash:
- Make a funds: Step one to budgeting your cash is to create a funds. Determine how a lot cash you’ll want to spend on necessities like housing, meals, transportation, and healthcare. Then, you may determine how a lot cash you may have left over for different bills.
- Monitor your spending: It’s important to maintain observe of your spending to remain on funds. There are lots of methods to do that, together with utilizing a budgeting app or monitoring your spending manually.
- Lower pointless bills: As soon as you realize the place your cash goes, you can begin to chop pointless bills. For instance, you might be able to lower your expenses by consuming out much less or chopping again in your cable invoice.
- Lower your expenses: Additionally it is vital to save cash so you may have a cushion in an emergency. It’s best to attempt to save at the least 10% of your earnings every 12 months. In the event you want slightly inspiration, listed here are 85 money-saving concepts you may attempt.
- Make investments cash: One other great way to make use of your more money is to make investments it. This can assist you develop your wealth over time and attain your monetary targets.
Pattern Funds For These Incomes $55,000 a 12 months
It’s simpler to ascertain dwelling on a $55,000 wage in case you can align it to your month-to-month bills. To assist, right here’s a pattern funds for a person or household dwelling on $55k.
Class | Funds Quantity | Proportion |
Housing | $951.92 | 30% |
Meals | $317.31 | 10% |
Insurance coverage | $475.96 | 15% |
Leisure and Recreation | $317.31 | 10% |
Saving and Investing | $475.96 | 15% |
Utilities | $158.65 | 5% |
Transportation | $317.31 | 10% |
Private Bills | $158.65 | 5% |
Complete | $3,173.08 | 100% |
Remaining Ideas on a 55k a 12 months Wage
Irrespective of how a lot cash you make, it’s vital to not let your annual wage outline who you’re as an individual. You possibly can nonetheless reside a snug life even in case you don’t make a lot cash. The bottom line is to funds rigorously and make sensible monetary selections.
Whereas there are some exceptions, if you’re cautious along with your cash, you may reside a snug life at $55,000 a yr in most areas of the nation.