For both employees and employers, converting an hourly wage to its equivalent annual salary is useful for budgeting and financial planning. In this article, we will calculate the yearly earnings for a $64 per hour wage, including estimates for part-time schedules and overtime pay. We’ll also look at how taxes impact take-home pay, and what kind of lifestyle and major purchases are affordable at this high income level. While $64 an hour provides upper-middle class earnings beyond national averages, taxes and inflation do reduce its real value over time. Understanding the annual, monthly, weekly, and biweekly pay at $64/hour gives helpful perspective on both pre-tax and post-tax buying power.
Table of Contents
Convert $64 Per Hour to Weekly, Monthly, and Yearly Salary
Input your wage and hours per week to see how much you’ll make monthly, yearly and more.
$64 an Hour is How Much a Year?
If you make $64 an hour, your yearly salary would be $133,120. We calculate your annual income based on 8 hours per day, 5 days per week and 52 weeks in the year.
Hours worked per week (40) x Hourly wage($64) x Weeks worked per year(52) = $133,120
$64 an Hour is How Much a Month?
If you make $64 an hour, your monthly salary would be $11,093.33. We calculated this number by dividing your annual income by 12 months.
Hours worked per week (40) x Hourly wage($64) x Weeks worked per year(52) / Months per Year(12) = $11,093.33
$64 an Hour is How Much Biweekly?
If you make $64 an hour, your biweekly salary would be $5,120.
Hours worked per week (40) x Hourly wage($64) x 2 = $5,120
$64 an Hour is How Much a Week?
If you make $64 an hour, your weekly salary would be $2,560. Calculating based on 5 days per week and 8 hours each day.
Hours worked per week (40) x Hourly wage($64) = $2,560
$64 an Hour is How Much a Day?
If you make $64 an hour, your daily salary would be $512. We calculated your daily income based on 8 hours per day.
Hours worked per day (8) x Hourly wage($64) = $512
$64 an Hour is How Much a Year?
The basic formula to calculate your annual salary from an hourly wage is:
Hourly Rate x Hours Worked per Week x Number of Weeks Worked per Year = Annual Salary
So for a $20 per hour job:
$64 per hour x 40 hours per week x 52 weeks per year = $133,120
However, this simple calculation makes some assumptions:
- You will work 40 hours every week of the year
- You will not get any paid time off
Therefore, it represents your earnings if you worked every week of the year, without any vacation, holidays, or sick days.
Accounting for Paid Time Off
The $133,120 base salary does not yet factor in paid time off (PTO). Let’s assume the job provides:
- 2 weeks (10 days) paid vacation
- 6 paid holidays
- 3 paid sick days
This totals 19 paid days off, or nearly 4 weeks of PTO.
Importantly, this paid time off should not be deducted from the annual salary, since you still get paid for those days.
So with 4 weeks PTO, the annual salary would remain $133,120 .
Part time $64 an hour is How Much a Year?
Your annual income changes significantly if you work part-time and not full-time.
For example, let’s say you work 30 hours per week instead of 40. Here’s how you calculate your new yearly total:
$64 per hour x 30 hours per week x 52 weeks per year = $99,840
By working 10 fewer hours per week (30 instead of 40), your annual earnings at $64 an hour drop from $133,120 to $99,840.
That’s a $33,280 per year difference just by working part-time!
Here’s a table summarizing how your annual earnings change depending on how many hours you work per week at $64 an hour:
| Hours Per Week | Earnings Per Week | Annual Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | $2,560 | $133,120 |
| 35 | $2,240 | $116,480 |
| 30 | $1,920 | $99,840 |
| 25 | $1,600 | $83,200 |
| 20 | $1,280 | $66,560 |
| 15 | $960 | $49,920 |
The more hours per week, the higher your total yearly earnings. But part-time work allows for more life balance if you don’t need the full salary.
$64 an Hour With Overtime is How Much a Year?
Now let’s look at how overtime can increase your annual earnings.
Overtime kicks in once you work more than 40 hours in a week. Typically, you earn 1.5x your regular hourly wage for overtime hours.
So if you make $64 per hour normally, you would make $96 per hour for any hours over 40 in a week.
Here’s an example:
- You work 45 hours in a Week
- 40 regular hours paid at $64 per hour = $2,560
- 5 overtime hours paid at $96 per hour = $480
- Your total one Week earnings =$2,560 + $480 = $3,040
If you worked 45 hours each week for 52 weeks, here’s how your annual earnings increase thanks to overtime pay:
$3,040 per week x 52 weeks per year = $158,080
That’s $24,960 more than you’d earn working just 40 hours per week at $64 an hour.
Overtime can add up! But also consider taxes and work-life balance when deciding on extra hours.
Here’s a table summarizing how your annual earnings change depending on how many hours you work per week at $64 an hour:
| Overtime hours per work day | Hours Per Week | Earnings Per Week | Annual Earnings |
| 0 | 40 | $2,560 | $133,120 |
| 1 | 45 | $3,040 | $158,080 |
| 2 | 50 | $3,520 | $183,040 |
| 3 | 55 | $4,000 | $208,000 |
| 4 | 60 | $4,480 | $232,960 |
| 5 | 65 | $4,960 | $257,920 |
| 6 | 70 | $5,440 | $282,880 |
| 7 | 75 | $5,920 | $307,840 |
How Unpaid Time Off Impacts $64/Hour Yearly Earnings
So far we’ve assumed you work 52 paid weeks per year. Any unpaid time off will reduce your total income.
For example, let’s say you take 2 weeks of unpaid leave. That brings your paid weeks down to 50:
Hours worked per week (40) x Hourly wage($64) x Weeks worked per year(50) = $128,000 annual salary
With 2 weeks unpaid time off, your annual earnings at $64/hour would drop by $5,120.
The table below summarizes how your annual income changes depending on the number of weeks of unpaid leave.
| Weeks of unpaid leave | Paid weeks per year | Earnings Per Week | Annual Earnings |
| 0 | 52 | $2,560 | $133,120 |
| 1 | 51 | $2,560 | $130,560 |
| 2 | 50 | $2,560 | $128,000 |
| 3 | 49 | $2,560 | $125,440 |
| 4 | 48 | $2,560 | $122,880 |
| 5 | 47 | $2,560 | $120,320 |
| 6 | 46 | $2,560 | $117,760 |
| 7 | 45 | $2,560 | $115,200 |
Key Takeaways for $64 Hourly Wage
In summary, here are some key points on annual earnings when making $64 per hour:
- At 40 hours per week, you’ll earn $133,120 per year.
- Part-time of 30 hours/week results in $99,840 annual salary.
- Overtime pay can boost yearly earnings, e.g. $24,960 extra at 45 hours/week.
- Unpaid time off reduces your total income, around $5,120 less per 2 weeks off.
- Your specific situation and location impacts taxes and PTO.
Knowing your approximate annual salary and factors impacting it makes it easier to budget and plan your finances. The next step is calculating take-home pay after deductions like taxes.
$64 An Hour Is How Much A Year After Taxes
Figuring out your actual annual earnings based on an hourly wage can be complicated once taxes are taken into account. In addition to federal, state, and local income taxes, 7.65% of your gross pay also goes to Social Security and Medicare through FICA payroll taxes. So how much does $64 an hour equal per year after FICA and income taxes are deducted from your gross pay?
Below we’ll walk through the steps to calculate your annual net take home pay if you make $64 per hour. This will factor in estimated federal, FICA, state, and local taxes so you know exactly what to expect.
Factoring in Federal Income Tax
Your federal income tax will be a big chunk out of your gross pay. Federal tax rates range from 10% to 37%, depending on your tax bracket.
To estimate your federal income tax rate and liability:
Look up your federal income tax bracket based on your gross pay.
2023 tax brackets: single filers
| Tax rate | Taxable income bracket | Tax owed |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 to $11,000. | 10% of taxable income. |
| 12% | $11,001 to $44,725. | $1,100 plus 12% of the amount over $11,000. |
| 22% | $44,726 to $95,375. | $5,147 plus 22% of the amount over $44,725. |
| 24% | $95,376 to $182,100. | $16,290 plus 24% of the amount over $95,375. |
| 32% | $182,101 to $231,250. | $37,104 plus 32% of the amount over $182,100. |
| 35% | $231,251 to $578,125. | $52,832 plus 35% of the amount over $231,250. |
| 37% | $578,126 or more. | $174,238.25 plus 37% of the amount over $578,125. |
For example, if you are single with $133,120 gross annual pay, your federal tax bracket is 24%.
Your estimated federal tax would be:
$16,290 + ($133,120 – $95,376) x 24% = $25,348.56
So at $64/hour with $133,120 gross pay, you would owe about $25,348.56 in federal income taxes.
Considering State Income Tax
In addition to federal tax, most states also charge a state income tax. State income tax rates range from about 1% to 13%, with most falling between 4% and 6%.
Key Takeaways
-
- California, Hawaii, New York, New Jersey, and Oregon have some of the highest state income tax rates.
- Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming don’t impose an income tax at all.
- Another 10 U.S states have a flat tax rate—everyone pays the same percentage regardless of how much they earn.
A State-by-State Comparison of Income Tax Rates
| STATE | TAX RATES | LOWEST AND HIGHEST INCOME BRACKETS |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 0% | None |
| Florida | 0% | None |
| Nevada | 0% | None |
| South Dakota | 0% | None |
| Tennessee | 0% | None |
| Texas | 0% | None |
| Washington | 0% | None |
| Wyoming | 0% | None |
| Colorado | 4.55% | Flat rate applies to all incomes |
| Illinois | 4.95% | Flat rate applies to all incomes |
| Indiana | 3.23% | Flat rate applies to all incomes |
| Kentucky | 5% | Flat rate applies to all incomes |
| Massachusetts | 5% | Flat rate applies to all incomes |
| New Hampshire | 5% | Flat rate on interest and dividend income only |
| North Carolina | 4.99% | Flat rate applies to all incomes |
| Pennsylvania | 3.07% | Flat rate applies to all incomes |
| Utah | 4.95% | Flat rate applies to all incomes |
| Michigan | 4.25% | Flat rate applies to all incomes |
| Arizona | 2.59% to 4.5% | $27,806 and $166,843 |
| Arkansas | 2% to 5.5% | $4,300 and $8,501 |
| California | 1% to 13.3% | $9,325 and $1 million |
| Connecticut | 3% to 6.99% | $10,000 and $500,000 |
| Delaware | 0% to 6.6% | $2,000 and $60,001 |
| Alabama | 2% to 5% | $500 and $3,001 |
| Georgia | 1% to 5.75% | $750 and $7,001 |
| Hawaii | 1.4% to 11% | $2,400 and $200,000 |
| Idaho | 1.125% to 6.5% | $1,568 and $7,939 |
| Iowa | 0.33% to 8.53% | $1,743 and $78,435 |
| Kansas | 3.1% to 5.7% | $15,000 and $30,000 |
| Louisiana | 1.85% to 4.25% | $12,500 and $50,001 |
| Maine | 5.8% to 7.15% | $23,000 and $54,450 |
| Maryland | 2% to 5.75% | $1,000 and $250,000 |
| Minnesota | 5.35% to 9.85% | $28,080 and $171,221 |
| Mississippi | 0% to 5% | $5,000 and $10,001 |
| Missouri | 1.5% to 5.3% | $1,121 and $8,968 |
| Montana | 1% to 6.75% | $2,900and $17,400 |
| Nebraska | 2.46% to 6.84% | $3,340 and $32,210 |
| New Jersey | 1.4% to 10.75% | $20,000 and $1 million |
| New Mexico | 1.7% to 5.9% | $5,500 and $210,000 |
| New York | 4% to 10.9% | $8,500 and $25 million |
| North Dakota | 1.1% to 2.9% | $41,775 and $458,350 |
| Ohio | 0% to 3.99% | $25,000 and $110,650 |
| Oklahoma | 0.25% to 4.75% | $1,000 and $7,200 |
| Oregon | 4.75% to 9.9% | $3,750 and $125,000 |
| Rhode Island | 3.75% to 5.99% | $68,200 and $155,050 |
| South Carolina | 0% to 7% | $3,110 and $15,560 |
| Vermont | 3.35% to 8.75% | $42,150 and $213,150 |
| Virginia | 2% to 5.75% | $3,000 and $17,001 |
| Washington, D.C. | 4% to 9.75% | $10,000 and $1 million |
| West Virginia | 3% to 6.5% | $10,000 and $60,000 |
| Wisconsin | 3.54% to 7.65% | $12,760 and $280,950 |
To estimate your state income tax:
Look up your state income tax rate based on your gross pay and filing status.
Multiply your gross annual pay by the state tax rate.
For example, if you live in Pennsylvania which has a flat 3.07% tax rate, your estimated state tax would be:
$133,120 gross pay x 3.07% PA tax rate = $4,086.78 estimated state income tax
So with $133,120 gross annual income, you would owe around in $4,086.78 Pennsylvania state income tax. Verify your specific state’s income tax rates.
Factoring in Local Taxes
Some cities and counties levy local income taxes ranging from 1-3% of taxable income.
To estimate potential local taxes you may owe:
- Check if your city or county charges a local income tax.
- If yes, look up the local income tax rate.
- Multiply your gross annual pay by the local tax rate.
For example, say you live in Columbus, OH which has a 2.5% local income tax. Your estimated local tax would be:
$133,120 gross pay x 2.5% local tax rate = $3,328 estimated local tax
So with $133,120 in gross earnings, you may owe around $3,328 in Columbus local income taxes. Verify rates for your own city/county.
Accounting for FICA Taxes (Social Security & Medicare)
FICA taxes are a combination of Social Security and Medicare taxes that equal 15.3% of your earnings. You are responsible for half of the total bill (7.65%), which includes a 6.2% Social Security tax and 1.45% Medicare tax on your earnings.
In 2023, only the first $160,200 of your earnings are subject to the Social Security tax
There is an additional 0.9% surtax on top of the standard 1.45% Medicare tax for those who earn over $200,000 (single filers) or $250,000 (joint filers).
To estimate your FICA tax payment:
$133,120 x 6.2% + $133,120 x 1.45% = $10,183.68
So you can expect to pay about $10,183.68 in Social Security and Medicare taxes out of your gross $133,120 in earnings.
Total Estimated Tax Payments
Based on the examples above, your total estimated tax payments would be:
Federal tax: $25,348.56
State tax: $4,086.78
Local tax: $3,328
FICA tax: $10,183.68
Total Estimated Tax: $42,947.02
Calculating Your Take Home Pay
To calculate your annual take home pay at $64 /hour:
1. Take your gross pay
2. Subtract your estimated total tax payments
$133,120 gross pay – $42,947.02 Total Estimated Tax = $90,172.98 Your Take Home Pay
n summary, if you make $64 per hour and work full-time, you would take home around $90,172.98 per year after federal, state, local , FICA taxes.
Your actual net income may vary depending on your specific tax situation. But this gives you a general idea of what to expect.
Convert $64 Per Hour to Yearly, Monthly, Biweekly, and Weekly Salary After Taxes
If you make $64 an hour and work full-time (40 hours per week), your estimated yearly salary would be $133,120 .
The $133,120 per year salary does not account for taxes. Federal, state, and local taxes will reduce your take-home pay. The amount withheld depends on your location, filing status, dependents, and other factors.
Just now during our calculation of $64 An Hour Is How Much A Year After Taxes, we assumed the following conditions:
- You are single with $133,120 gross annual pay, your federal tax bracket is 24 %.
- You live in Pennsylvania which has a flat 3.07% tax rate
- You live in Columbus, OH which has a 2.5% local income tax.
In the end, we calculated your Total Estimated Tax is $42,947.02 , Your Take Home Pay is $90,172.98 , Total tax rate is 32.26%.
So next we’ll use 32.26% as the estimated tax rate to calculate your weekly, biweekly, and monthly after-tax income.
$64 Per Hour to Yearly, Monthly, Biweekly, Weekly,and Week Salary After Taxes Table
| Income before taxes | Estimated Tax Rate | Income Taxes | After Tax Income | |
| Yearly Salary | $133,120 | 32.26% | $42,947.02 | $90,172.98 |
| Monthly Salary | $11,093.33 | 32.26% | $3,578.92 | $7,514.41 |
| BiWeekly Salary | $5,120 | 32.26% | $1,651.81 | $3,468.19 |
| Weekly Salary | $2,560 | 32.26% | $825.90 | $1,734.10 |
$64 an hour is how much a year after taxes
Here is the adjusted yearly salary after a 32.26% tax reduction:
-
- Yearly salary before taxes: $133,120
- Estimated tax rate: 32.26%
- Taxes owed (32.26% * $133,120 )= $42,947.02
- Yearly salary after taxes: $90,172.98
| Hourly Wage | Hours Worked Per Week | Weeks Worked Per Year | Total Yearly Salary | Estimated Tax Rate | Taxes Owed | After-Tax Yearly Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $64 | 40 | 52 | $133,120 | 32.26% | $42,947.02 | $90,172.98 |
$64 an hour is how much a month after taxes
To calculate the monthly salary based on an hourly wage, you first need the yearly salary amount. Then divide by 12 months.
-
-
- Yearly salary before taxes at $64 per hour: $133,120
- Divided by 12 months per year: $133,120 / 12 = $11,093.33 per month
-
The monthly salary based on a 40 hour work week at $64 per hour is $11,093.33 before taxes.
After applying the estimated 32.26% tax rate, the monthly after-tax salary would be:
-
- Monthly before-tax salary: $11,093.33
- Estimated tax rate: 32.26%
- Taxes owed (32.26% * $11,093.33 )= $3,578.92
- Monthly after-tax salary: $7,514.41
Monthly Salary Based on $64 Per Hour
| Hourly Wage | Yearly Salary | Months Per Year | Before-Tax Monthly Salary | Estimated Tax Rate | Taxes Owed | After-Tax Monthly Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $64 | $133,120 | 12 | $11,093.33 | 32.26% | $3,578.92 | $7,514.41 |
$64 an hour is how much biweekly after taxes
Many people are paid biweekly, meaning every other week. To calculate the biweekly pay at $64 per hour:
- Hourly wage: $64
- Hours worked per week: 40
- Weeks per biweekly pay period: 2
- $64 * 40 hours * 2 weeks = $5,120 biweekly
Applying the 32.26%estimated tax rate:
- Biweekly before-tax salary: $5,120
- Estimated tax rate: 32.26%
- Taxes owed (32.26% * $5,120 )= $1,651.81
- Biweekly after-tax salary: $3,468.19
Biweekly Salary at $64 Per Hour
| Hourly Wage | Hours Worked Per Week | Weeks Per Pay Period | Before-Tax Biweekly Salary | Estimated Tax Rate | Taxes Owed | After-Tax Biweekly Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $64 | 40 | 2 | $5,120 | 32.26% | $1,651.81 | $3,468.19 |
$64 an hour is how much weekly after taxes
To find the weekly salary based on an hourly wage, you need to know the number of hours worked per week. At 40 hours per week, the calculation is:
- Hourly wage: $64
- Hours worked per week: 40
- $64 * 40 hours = $2,560 per week
Accounting for the estimated 32.26% tax rate:
- Weekly before-tax salary: $2,560
- Estimated tax rate: 32.26%
- Taxes owed (32.26% * $2,560 )= $825.90
- Weekly after-tax salary: $1,734.10
Weekly Salary at $64 Per Hour
| Hourly Wage | Hours Worked Per Week | Before-Tax Weekly Salary | Estimated Tax Rate | Taxes Owed | After-Tax Weekly Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $64 | 40 | $2,560 | 32.26% | $825.90 | $1,734.10 |
Key Takeaways
- An hourly wage of $64 per hour equals a yearly salary of $133,120 before taxes, assuming a 40 hour work week.
- After accounting for an estimated 32.26% tax rate, the yearly after-tax salary is approximately $90,172.98 .
- On a monthly basis before taxes, $64 per hour equals $11,093.33 per month. After estimated taxes, the monthly take-home pay is about $7,514.41 .
- The before-tax weekly salary at $64 per hour is $2,560 . After taxes, the weekly take-home pay is approximately $1,734.10 .
- For biweekly pay, the pre-tax salary at $64 per hour is $5,120 . After estimated taxes, the biweekly take-home pay is around $3,468.19 .
Understanding annual, monthly, weekly, and biweekly salary equivalents based on an hourly wage is useful when budgeting and financial planning. Taxes make a significant difference in take-home pay, so be sure to account for them when making income conversions. Use this guide as a reference when making salary calculations.
What Is the Average Hourly Wage in the US?
Last Updated: Sep 1 2023
US Average Hourly Earnings is at a current level of $33.82, up from 33.74 last month and up from 32.43 one year ago. This is a change of 0.24% from last month and 4.29% from one year ago.
Average Hourly Earnings is the average dollars that a private employee makes per hour in the US. This metric is a part of one of the most important releases every month which includes unemployment numbers as well. This is normally released on the first Friday of every month. This metric is released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
What is the average salary in the U.S.?
Last Updated: July 18, 2023
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics uses median salary data rather than averages to avoid skewed numbers from outlying high and low numbers. Median weekly earnings of the nation's 121.5 million full-time wage and salary workers were $1,100 in the second quarter of 2023, the U.S.
If a person works 52 weeks in the year, then this represents a national annual salary of $57,200.
Is $64 An Hour a Good Salary?
To evaluate if $64 per hour is a good wage, we’ll compare it to national income benchmarks. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly wage across all occupations was $20.17 as of May 2021. This equals an annual salary of approximately $44,225.
With $64 per hour equaling about $133,120 per year, this rate is over 3 times higher than the national median wage. It exceeds the incomes of typical college-educated professionals in fields like accounting, finance, IT, and engineering early in their careers.
There’s no doubt that an income of $64 per hour grants you an upper-middle class lifestyle in most parts of the country. It provides increased flexibility in housing, transportation, leisure, and saving/investing compared to average Americans and elevates your earnings well into the top 25% of all U.S. workers.
Jobs that Pay $64 Per Hour
Given its above-average earnings level, certain professional occupations pay $64 per hour or more on average:
- Accountants – Certified accountants with 8-10 years of experience at a public firm often earn around $64 per hour. CPAs tend to earn higher wages.
- Software Developers – Senior software engineers and developers at technology companies can exceed $64 per hour in total compensation.
- Electrical Engineers – Experienced electrical engineers working at engineering consulting firms or power/utility companies average around $64 per hour.
- Project Managers – Experienced IT or engineering project managers often earn approximately $64 per hour once bonuses are factored in.
- Marketing Managers – Marketing managers and brand managers at major corporations typically earn between $60-$70 per hour across salary, bonus and incentives.
- Mechanical Engineers – Senior mechanical engineers with specialized expertise and professional certifications can earn $65 per hour or more on average.
Reaching an income of $64 per hour often requires becoming highly experienced and specialized in certain technical or business roles. This level of pay typically takes 8-15 years of career advancement.
Can You Live Off $64 An Hour?
A wage of $64 per hour, equaling about $130,000 per year, certainly provides the ability to live very comfortably in most parts of the country. While not at the ultra-high income levels, this salary affords an upper-middle class lifestyle.
Housing costs including mortgages or rents, taxes, and insurance should range between $1,500 – $2,000 per month on this income depending on family size and location. This enables comfortable homes or apartments in most areas.
After maxing out tax-advantaged retirement contributions, you would still have around $5,000 per month remaining for other costs of living and discretionary spending:
- Housing from $1,500 – $2,000 monthly
- Car payments and insurance for two vehicles
- Regular domestic and occasional international travel
- Frequent dining at nice restaurants
- Quick access to high-quality healthcare
- Comfortably saving for kids’ college
- Consistent additions to non-retirement investment accounts
- Ability to support elderly parents if needed
An income of $64 per hour allows for a very nice lifestyle in most regions while still enabling steady wealth building through retirement and non-retirement savings. Geographic differences in costs of living must be accounted for, but this wage affords an upper-middle class standard in areas with below-average costs.
The Impact of Inflation on $64 Per Hour
With high inflation exceeding 8%, even wages of $64 per hour feel some pressure. However, the impact is far less than on lower income households.
For example, if inflation averages 8% annually over a five year period, then $64 per hour today would need to rise to around $83 per hour by 2027 just to maintain the same purchasing power and standard of living.
While significant, this inflation impact is relatively moderate at a high wage of $64 per hour. And many professional careers see incomes rising faster than inflation over time. The key is budgeting smartly and focusing on increasing your skills and value.
5 Ways To Increase Your Hourly Wage
For those not yet earning $64 per hour, here are some strategies to improve earnings over time:
- Achieve Promotions – Moving into senior or management roles boosts your income potential substantially.
- Obtain New Certifications – Professional certifications like PMP, CPA, PE boost salary potential.
- Switch Companies – Changing employers strategically every 3-5 years accelerates income growth.
- Develop Specialized Skills – Become an expert in high-demand niche skills to increase value.
- Earn Advanced Degrees – Getting a Master’s degree in fields like engineering, IT, and healthcare leads to higher wages.
Reaching a wage level of $64 per hour usually takes over a decade for most professionals. Strategically enhancing your skills, experience, and network pays major dividends over a career.
Buying a Car on $64 An Hour
With a healthy income of $64 per hour, you can certainly afford nice vehicles while easily meeting budget targets.
As a general rule, limiting your auto costs to 10-15% of gross annual income is prudent. At $133,000 per year, this means keeping car expenses below $13,000-$20,000 annually or $1,100-$1,700 per month.
Here are some examples of cars affordable on $64 per hour:
- Entry-level luxury cars like an Audi A3, BMW 3-Series, or Lexus IS 300 for around $40,000.
- Mid-size SUVs like a Toyota Highlander, Honda Passport, or Ford Explorer for $35,000-$45,000.
- Near-luxury brands like a fully-loaded Toyota Avalon, Nissan Maxima, or Lincoln Corsair for $45,000.
- Sporty coupes like a Ford Mustang GT or Dodge Challenger R/T for $35,000-$45,000.
In summary, a healthy income of $64 per hour gives you the ability to buy nicer new or used cars while staying within reasonable budget percentages.
Can You Buy a House on $64 An Hour?
With an annual salary of around $130,000, buying a mid-range to upper-mid-range home is very realistic on an income of $64 per hour.
As a general rule, total housing costs including mortgage, insurance, and property tax should stay under 28% of gross monthly income. At this salary level, that allows for monthly payments around $3,000 depending on other debts and assets.
Based on average mortgage rates and taxes, you can comfortably afford homes priced between $400,000 to $700,000 in most areas on this income level. This buys nice homes in suburban areas of most regions. Higher-cost metros will be toward the lower end, while lower cost of living areas can be towards $700,000.
You won’t be buying multi-million dollar luxury properties on $64 per hour. However, a spacious single-family home in good areas is an affordable target in your home search. Advance planning and saving for a down payment of 10-20% is advised.
Example Budget at $64 Per Hour
Here is a monthly budget example for a household with $64 per hour income, or $132,000 annually:
- Gross Monthly Income: $11,000
- Federal/State Taxes: $2,500
- Retirement Savings: $1,500
- Mortgage/Insurance: $2,000
- Utilities: $500
- Car Payments: $700
- Gas: $300
- Groceries: $800
- Entertainment: $500
- Other Expenses: $1,000
- Remainder/Savings: $1,200
This leaves $1,200 per month for additional goals like saving for college, life insurance, vacations, or extra investing. Retirement contributions could also be increased once essential costs are covered.
Overall an income of $64 per hour provides substantial lifestyle comfort and flexibility along with solid savings potential. You can enjoy extras while still preparing well for retirement and other financial goals.
In Summary
An income of $64 per hour grants you an upper-middle class lifestyle, placing your earnings well above national averages. You gain more flexibility in housing, transportation, leisure, and saving/investing compared to median incomes. While inflation erodes real wages to some degree, this salary provides comfort along with wealth building potential. Overall $64 per hour allows you to enjoy a rewarding, financially stable life in most regions of the country.
