$70,000 a Year Is How Much an Hour? (2024)

Employers in some states are now required to include compensation on their job posts, but that is before taxes and doesn’t include any benefits. How much will you actually see on your check if you get a job that pays $70,000 per year?

$70,000 a Year Is How Much an Hour?

Earning $70,000 annually equates to an hourly wage of $33.65, assuming a standard 40-hour work week across 52 weeks of the year.

Below is a breakdown of what $70,000 yearly looks like for various pay periods.

Gross Pay

If you’re just looking to compare your current pay to a new potential job, then this is the section for you. The chart below breaks down an annual salary of $70,000 into what your gross pay would be on your check for common pay periods.

After Taxes

Your gross pay may show up on your pay stub, but your net pay is what ends up in your bank account. Net pay is how much you’ll get after taxes, retirement contributions and other deductions are taken out of your pay, and any reimbursem*nts are added in.

The federal income tax for individuals has seven rates, applying to different income brackets. The overall rates range from 10% to 37% in tax year 2023. With a progressive tax code, the amount of taxes you pay depends on the income bracket where your wages fall. When earning $70,000 per year as a single filer, for example, you pay 10% on the first $11,000, 12% on the next $33,725 and 22% on the rest, which is $25,275

Because the U.S. uses marginal rates, figuring out how much is taken out in each check is more complicated than finding your income on the rate chart. Different portions of income are taxed at different rates. The average of these rates is your effective tax rate.

The government also takes out Social Security, Medicare and FICA, which is not included in the above chart. States can also collect income tax. State tax rates vary, but nine states don’t collect any income taxes. These are Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.

Other Factors Affecting Net Pay

Taxes aren’t the only factor to think of when looking at net pay.

Deductions From Pay

Most employers offer health insurance, but the quality and premiums can vary. Some offer FSAs or HSAs, which can reduce the net pay on your check, but save you money overall.

Additions to Pay

Employers can offer retirement matching or tuition reimbursem*nt. These won’t show up in your check, but they will show up on your pay stub. They should still be considered when thinking about pay — if you’ll use them.

Takeaway

Converting $70,000 per year into an hourly gross rate is simple, but converting it to an hourly net rate can get more complicated.

Information is accurate as of Feb. 16, 2023.

The article above was refined via automated technology and then fine-tuned and verified for accuracy by a member of our editorial team.