21 an Hour as an Annual Salary
Let’s say you’re making 21 dollars an hour; what can we know about you yearly salary? Not much! We need to take into account how much time you spend working every year, and multiply this number by your hourly pay. Here’s the salary calculator formula:
Annual Income = Hourly Wage * Number of Hours Worked per Year
Let’s use this formula to calculate some example answers to your question:
- 40 hour workweek, 50 weeks a year, and make 21 USD / hour:
Annual Income = 21 USD / hour * (40 hours per week * 50 weeks)
= 21 USD / hour * 2000 hours
= 42,000 USD
- If you work 30 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, and make 21 USD / hour:
Annual Income = 21 USD / hour * (30 hours per week * 52 weeks)
= 21 USD / hour * 1560 hours
= 32,760 USD
As you can can see, we arrive at different answers depending on how much work we work every week, and how many weeks a year we designate to vacations.
Is 21 Dollars an Hour the Minimum Wage?
The answer to this question is: it depends on where you live in the US! The minimum wage varies from state to state. According to the US Department of Labor, as of 2022, some example state minimum wages are:
- 15.20 USD / hour in District of Colombia
- 15 USD / hour in California
- 14.25 USD / hour in Massachusetts
- 11.50 USD / hour in Mississippi
- 7.25 USD / hour in Texas
So as you can see, 21 USD / hour is actually above minimum rate in every state in the USA, because District of Colombia has the highest minimum wage.
Is 21 an Hour a Lot of Money?
This is a difficult question to answer, because it depends on your perspective. If you are used to making minimum rate, then 21 USD / hour may seem like a lot of money. On the other hand, if you are used to making a six-figure salary, then 21 USD / hour may not seem like very much money at all. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide whether or not you think 21 USD / hour is a lot of money, it depends on your expectations.
Is it More than what Other Americans are Making?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2022 the median hourly wage for Americans is 22.80 USD / hour. This means that 21 USD / hour is actually less than the median wage in America. However, this does not mean that 21 USD / hour is a bad salary, it just means that half of all workers in America make more money per hour than you do, and half of all workers make less money per hour. This means that 21 an hour is a mid-ranged hourly rate, which means you can live pretty much as well as most Americans as long as you pick the right place to live.
Where Can You Afford to Live?
As we discussed earlier, how much spending money you have each year depends on how many hours you work every week and how many weeks you take off for vacation. However, it also depends on where you choose to live. The cost of living varies greatly from place to place in America. For example, the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in San Francisco is 3300 USD / month, but in Omaha, Nebraska the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment is only 850 USD / month. This means that if you want to live in San Francisco on a 21 USD / hour salary, you would need to work approximately 160 hours per week (3300/21), whereas if you wanted to live in Omaha on the same salary, you would only need to work 39 hours per week (850/21).
So, 21 an Hour is How Much a Year? Is That a Lot?
21 USD / hour is a mid-ranged hourly wage in America. Your yearly salary depends on how many hours you work every week and how many weeks you take off for vacation. Most people earning 21 per hour can expect to have an annual income of about 42,000 a year, as 40 hours a week of work is quite common. The cost of living varies greatly from place to place, so where you choose to live will affect how much spending money you have each year. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide whether or not 21 USD / hour is a lot of money. Thanks for reading!
