Jobs paying $68 per hour offer wages that can enable financial flexibility for many. But what does an income of $68/hour equate to over the course of a year? In this article, we’ll break down the annual, monthly, biweekly, and weekly salary projections for positions paying $68/hour. We’ll evaluate whether $68/hour is considered a good wage, which occupations commonly pay this rate, and what comfortable lifestyle may be possible. We’ll also look at how taxes, overtime opportunities, and unpaid time impact the actual take-home earnings per year. With savvy financial moves, $68/hour provides potential for meeting savings goals and major purchases. We’ll explore sample budgets to showcase realistic spending at this income tier. While individual situations vary, understanding earnings projections from a $68 hourly wage can empower informed career and money decisions.
Table of Contents
Convert $68 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.
$68 an Hour is How Much a Year?
If you make $68 an hour, your yearly salary would be $141,440. 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($68) x Weeks worked per year(52) = $141,440
$68 an Hour is How Much a Month?
If you make $68 an hour, your monthly salary would be $11,786.67. We calculated this number by dividing your annual income by 12 months.
Hours worked per week (40) x Hourly wage($68) x Weeks worked per year(52) / Months per Year(12) = $11,786.67
$68 an Hour is How Much Biweekly?
If you make $68 an hour, your biweekly salary would be $5,440.
Hours worked per week (40) x Hourly wage($68) x 2 = $5,440
$68 an Hour is How Much a Week?
If you make $68 an hour, your weekly salary would be $2,720. Calculating based on 5 days per week and 8 hours each day.
Hours worked per week (40) x Hourly wage($68) = $2,720
$68 an Hour is How Much a Day?
If you make $68 an hour, your daily salary would be $544. We calculated your daily income based on 8 hours per day.
Hours worked per day (8) x Hourly wage($68) = $544
$68 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:
$68 per hour x 40 hours per week x 52 weeks per year = $141,440
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 $141,440 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 $141,440 .
Part time $68 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 20 hours per week instead of 40. Here’s how you calculate your new yearly total:
$68 per hour x 20 hours per week x 52 weeks per year = $70,720
By working 20 fewer hours per week (20 instead of 40), your annual earnings at $68 an hour drop from $141,440 to $70,720.
That’s a $70,720 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 $68 an hour:
| Hours Per Week | Earnings Per Week | Annual Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | $2,720 | $141,440 |
| 35 | $2,380 | $123,760 |
| 30 | $2,040 | $106,080 |
| 25 | $1,700 | $88,400 |
| 20 | $1,360 | $70,720 |
| 15 | $1,020 | $53,040 |
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.
$68 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 $68 per hour normally, you would make $102 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 $68 per hour = $2,720
- 5 overtime hours paid at $102 per hour = $510
- Your total one Week earnings =$2,720 + $510 = $3,230
If you worked 45 hours each week for 52 weeks, here’s how your annual earnings increase thanks to overtime pay:
$3,230 per week x 52 weeks per year = $167,960
That’s $26,520 more than you’d earn working just 40 hours per week at $68 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 $68 an hour:
| Overtime hours per work day | Hours Per Week | Earnings Per Week | Annual Earnings |
| 0 | 40 | $2,720 | $141,440 |
| 1 | 45 | $3,230 | $167,960 |
| 2 | 50 | $3,740 | $194,480 |
| 3 | 55 | $4,250 | $221,000 |
| 4 | 60 | $4,760 | $247,520 |
| 5 | 65 | $5,270 | $274,040 |
| 6 | 70 | $5,780 | $300,560 |
| 7 | 75 | $6,290 | $327,080 |
How Unpaid Time Off Impacts $68/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($68) x Weeks worked per year(50) = $136,000 annual salary
With 2 weeks unpaid time off, your annual earnings at $68/hour would drop by $5,440.
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 | $2,720 | $141,440 |
| 1 | 51 | $2,720 | $138,720 |
| 2 | 50 | $2,720 | $136,000 |
| 3 | 49 | $2,720 | $133,280 |
| 4 | 48 | $2,720 | $130,560 |
| 5 | 47 | $2,720 | $127,840 |
| 6 | 46 | $2,720 | $125,120 |
| 7 | 45 | $2,720 | $122,400 |
Key Takeaways for $68 Hourly Wage
In summary, here are some key points on annual earnings when making $68 per hour:
- At 40 hours per week, you’ll earn $141,440 per year.
- Part-time of 30 hours/week results in $106,080 annual salary.
- Overtime pay can boost yearly earnings, e.g. $26,520 extra at 45 hours/week.
- Unpaid time off reduces your total income, around $5,440 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.
$68 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 $68 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 $68 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 $141,440 gross annual pay, your federal tax bracket is 24%.
Your estimated federal tax would be:
$16,290 + ($141,440 – $95,376) x 24% = $27,345.36
So at $68/hour with $141,440 gross pay, you would owe about $27,345.36 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:
$141,440 gross pay x 3.07% PA tax rate = $4,342.21 estimated state income tax
So with $141,440 gross annual income, you would owe around in $4,342.21 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:
$141,440 gross pay x 2.5% local tax rate = $3,536 estimated local tax
So with $141,440 in gross earnings, you may owe around $3,536 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:
$141,440 x 6.2% + $141,440 x 1.45% = $10,820.16
So you can expect to pay about $10,820.16 in Social Security and Medicare taxes out of your gross $141,440 in earnings.
Total Estimated Tax Payments
Based on the examples above, your total estimated tax payments would be:
Federal tax: $27,345.36
State tax: $4,342.21
Local tax: $3,536
FICA tax: $10,820.16
Total Estimated Tax: $46,043.73
Calculating Your Take Home Pay
To calculate your annual take home pay at $68 /hour:
1. Take your gross pay
2. Subtract your estimated total tax payments
$141,440 gross pay – $46,043.73 Total Estimated Tax = $95,396.27 Your Take Home Pay
n summary, if you make $68 per hour and work full-time, you would take home around $95,396.27 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 $68 Per Hour to Yearly, Monthly, Biweekly, and Weekly Salary After Taxes
If you make $68 an hour and work full-time (40 hours per week), your estimated yearly salary would be $141,440 .
The $141,440 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 $68 An Hour Is How Much A Year After Taxes, we assumed the following conditions:
- You are single with $141,440 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 $46,043.73 , Your Take Home Pay is $95,396.27 , Total tax rate is 32.55%.
So next we’ll use 32.55% as the estimated tax rate to calculate your weekly, biweekly, and monthly after-tax income.
$68 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 | $141,440 | 32.55% | $46,043.73 | $95,396.27 |
| Monthly Salary | $11,786.67 | 32.55% | $3,836.98 | $7,949.69 |
| BiWeekly Salary | $5,440 | 32.55% | $1,770.91 | $3,669.09 |
| Weekly Salary | $2,720 | 32.55% | $885.46 | $1,834.54 |
$68 an hour is how much a year after taxes
Here is the adjusted yearly salary after a 32.55% tax reduction:
-
- Yearly salary before taxes: $141,440
- Estimated tax rate: 32.55%
- Taxes owed (32.55% * $141,440 )= $46,043.73
- Yearly salary after taxes: $95,396.27
| Hourly Wage | Hours Worked Per Week | Weeks Worked Per Year | Total Yearly Salary | Estimated Tax Rate | Taxes Owed | After-Tax Yearly Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $68 | 40 | 52 | $141,440 | 32.55% | $46,043.73 | $95,396.27 |
$68 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 $68 per hour: $141,440
- Divided by 12 months per year: $141,440 / 12 = $11,786.67 per month
-
The monthly salary based on a 40 hour work week at $68 per hour is $11,786.67 before taxes.
After applying the estimated 32.55% tax rate, the monthly after-tax salary would be:
-
- Monthly before-tax salary: $11,786.67
- Estimated tax rate: 32.55%
- Taxes owed (32.55% * $11,786.67 )= $3,836.98
- Monthly after-tax salary: $7,949.69
Monthly Salary Based on $68 Per Hour
| Hourly Wage | Yearly Salary | Months Per Year | Before-Tax Monthly Salary | Estimated Tax Rate | Taxes Owed | After-Tax Monthly Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $68 | $141,440 | 12 | $11,786.67 | 32.55% | $3,836.98 | $7,949.69 |
$68 an hour is how much biweekly after taxes
Many people are paid biweekly, meaning every other week. To calculate the biweekly pay at $68 per hour:
- Hourly wage: $68
- Hours worked per week: 40
- Weeks per biweekly pay period: 2
- $68 * 40 hours * 2 weeks = $5,440 biweekly
Applying the 32.55%estimated tax rate:
- Biweekly before-tax salary: $5,440
- Estimated tax rate: 32.55%
- Taxes owed (32.55% * $5,440 )= $1,770.91
- Biweekly after-tax salary: $3,669.09
Biweekly Salary at $68 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $68 | 40 | 2 | $5,440 | 32.55% | $1,770.91 | $3,669.09 |
$68 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: $68
- Hours worked per week: 40
- $68 * 40 hours = $2,720 per week
Accounting for the estimated 32.55% tax rate:
- Weekly before-tax salary: $2,720
- Estimated tax rate: 32.55%
- Taxes owed (32.55% * $2,720 )= $885.46
- Weekly after-tax salary: $1,834.54
Weekly Salary at $68 Per Hour
| Hourly Wage | Hours Worked Per Week | Before-Tax Weekly Salary | Estimated Tax Rate | Taxes Owed | After-Tax Weekly Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $68 | 40 | $2,720 | 32.55% | $885.46 | $1,834.54 |
Key Takeaways
- An hourly wage of $68 per hour equals a yearly salary of $141,440 before taxes, assuming a 40 hour work week.
- After accounting for an estimated 32.55% tax rate, the yearly after-tax salary is approximately $95,396.27 .
- On a monthly basis before taxes, $68 per hour equals $11,786.67 per month. After estimated taxes, the monthly take-home pay is about $7,949.69 .
- The before-tax weekly salary at $68 per hour is $2,720 . After taxes, the weekly take-home pay is approximately $1,834.54 .
- For biweekly pay, the pre-tax salary at $68 per hour is $5,440 . After estimated taxes, the biweekly take-home pay is around $3,669.09 .
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 $68 an Hour a Good Salary?
Whether $68 per hour is considered a good wage depends heavily on where you live and your household size and expenses. In moderate cost-of-living areas, $68/hour provides a comfortable middle-class lifestyle for many families. But in high cost cities, it may only be average.
To put $68/hour in context, it translates to an annual salary of around $141,440 if you worked full-time year-round (40 hours per week). That places you in the top 20-25% of all personal incomes nationwide.
However, after federal and state taxes, your annual take-home pay could be around $105,000 or less. And without employer benefits, you’d have to pay for your own healthcare, insurance, retirement and other costs.
So while on the higher end of middle-class earnings, $68/hour does not make you “rich” by any means. You should be able to afford a comfortable lifestyle in most areas, but not necessarily luxury. Your location, budgeting and family size significantly impact how far $68/hour goes.
Jobs that pay $68 an hour
Here are some of the most common professions paying around $68 per hour:
- Registered nurses – Experienced RNs can earn $65-75 per hour in many specialties.
- Electrical engineers – Engineers with 5-10 years experience make $65-85 per hour.
- Software developers – Senior devs at tech firms earn $60-80 per hour in salary/benefits.
- Mechanical engineers – Engineers in technical industries average around $60-75 per hour once established.
- Technical writers – Experienced writers in technology and science earn $60-80 per hour.
- Tax accountants – CPAs and Enrolled Agents with 5+ years experience bill $60-100 per hour.
- Data scientists – Experienced data science professionals can make $65-85 per hour.
- Project managers – IT and engineering project managers earn $65-85 per hour once fully trained.
- Management consultants – Seasoned consultants bill clients $70-150+ per hour typically.
Reaching an $68 per hour income often requires high-demand skills, specialized experience and education. Few entry-level roles exceed $25-$35 per hour even in professional fields.
Can You Live Off $68 An Hour?
Can the typical household live comfortably on $68 per hour? Here is an overview of common monthly expenses:
- Housing – Rent or mortgage for a modest 2-3 bedroom home, $1,500-$2,500 depending on location.
- Transportation – Car payments plus gas, insurance and repairs: $500-$1,000.
- Food – Groceries, dining out for a family: $800-$1,200.
- Utilities – Electricity, natural gas, water, trash: $300-$500.
- Phone/internet – Cell phone plans, cable/internet $200-$400.
- Insurance – Health, dental, vision, life, disability: $500-$1,000
- Entertainment – Activities, streaming services, other subscriptions $200-$500.
- Clothing – New clothes, dry cleaning $100-$250.
- Travel – Occasional vacations, trips $200-$500.
- Miscellaneous – Everything else including pets, hobbies, etc. $300-$500.
- Debt payments – Student loans, credit cards, personal loans $500-$1,500.
- Savings & Investments – Ideally 15-25% of take-home income $1,500-$2,500.
- Taxes – Federal and state taxes eat up 25% or more of gross income.
Total: Around $6,000-$12,000 per month to live securely but not lavishly in many areas, depending on family size and expenses.
This rough budget shows that $68 per hour provides a middle-class to upper-middle-class lifestyle for households able to budget wisely and keep debt low. However, it’s hardly “rich” by today’s standards, especially in high cost-of-living areas.
The impact of inflation on the value of $68 an hour
While $68 an hour provides a solid income today, inflation will steadily erode its purchasing power over time. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food, housing, transportation, medical care and other common expenses have risen over 3% per year on average during the past 20 years.
Assuming 3.5% annual inflation, $68 per hour today will only have the buying power of around $61 per hour in five years and $54 per hour in 10 years. Your expenses claim more of your budget over time.
This means wage earners have to seek regular raises just to maintain their current standard of living. Those on fixed incomes from wages, pensions or retirement savings face the biggest challenge from inflation. Their purchasing power slowly diminishes each year as prices rise faster than income.
Trying to live on a flat $68 per hour wage long-term makes saving, investing and buying big ticket items more difficult over time. To build wealth, you have to look for ways to increase earning potential above inflation.
5 Ways To Increase Your Hourly Wage
Here are some potential strategies for boosting your earnings beyond $68 per hour:
- Ask for a raise and negotiate higher pay at your current job based on your contributions. Come armed with market rate data.
- Pursue promotions or higher titles that come with increased pay and responsibility.
- Gain new skills/certifications to qualify for higher-paying roles in your field.
- Change employers to one that offers better compensation for your experience level.
- Start a side business that allows you to earn supplemental income from a hobby, talent or skill.
- Work overtime when possible, especially at time-and-a-half rates.
- Enroll in higher education like a Master’s degree to access more senior roles.
The right path depends on your career, experience and willingness to learn new skills. But with continued growth and smart moves, surpassing $68 per hour is realistic for many professionals.
Buying a car on $68 an hour
Is buying a car affordable if you earn $68 per hour? Here’s a look:
- The average new car transaction price is around $48,000 today.
- With taxes and fees, a new car may cost $50,000 out the door.
- At a 5% interest rate over 5 years, the monthly payment on a $50k car would be around $980.
- Plus insurance, gas and maintenance of $300-$500 monthly.
- That’s a total of $1,300-$1,500 per month for transportation.
- As a percentage of take-home pay from $68/hour, this is likely affordable for many single-income households.
However, buying new is still a want, not a need. The ideal option is purchasing a reliable used car in the $15,000-$25,000 range and keeping the monthly total under $500, then banking the difference. With reasonable expectations, buying a car on $68 an hour is very feasible for most households.
Can You Buy a House on $68 An Hour?
Next, let’s evaluate whether home ownership is achievable on this income level:
- The current median home list price is around $325,000.
- With a 10% down payment of $32,500, your mortgage principal will be $292,500.
- At a 5% fixed rate over 30 years, the monthly principal and interest is about $1,550.
- On a $68/hour income of $141,440 gross annual pay, that $1,550 P&I is just under 15% of your gross yearly earnings.
- Financial experts recommend total housing costs stay under 28% of gross income.
- 28% of $141,440 is $39,603 annually or $3,300 monthly.
Based on this, a median priced home is likely affordable on a $68 hourly wage for many individuals and families, especially with a solid down payment. However, budgeting diligently for taxes, insurance, maintenance and utilities is advised.
In very high cost areas like San Francisco or New York City where median homes are over $1 million, you’d have to lower expectations substantially. But in most markets, a $68 hourly income can support home ownership, if you live within your means.
Example Budget For $68 Per Hour
Here is a realistic monthly budget for an individual earning $68 per hour or $141,440 annually:
Monthly Net Income:
- Gross income: $141,440
- Taxes and deductions (30%): $42,432
- Take Home Pay: $99,008 annually / $8,251 monthly
Monthly Expenses:
- Rent: $1,500 (1-bedroom apartment)
- Used Car Payment: $250
- Car Insurance: $100
- Gas: $80
- Groceries and Dining Out: $600
- Utilities: $200
- Cable/Internet: $100
- Cell Phone: $100
- Health Insurance: $400
- Entertainment: $200
- Clothing: $150
- Gifts and Miscellaneous: $200
- Retirement Savings: $800
- Emergency Fund Savings: $500
- Total Expenses: $5,180
Remaining Income: $3,071
Based on this budget, an income of $68 per hour allows for decent retirement contributions, solid emergency savings and room for additional discretionary spending or financial goals like travel, hobbies and vacations.
In Summary
- An income of $68 per hour translates to around $141,440 per year assuming full-time employment.
- This provides a comfortable middle-class to upper-middle-class lifestyle in most areas.
- Higher education and in-demand skills can help you reach a $68/hour income level.
- Buying an average-priced new car and home is affordable at this income for many households with prudent budgeting.
- Inflation slowly reduces the purchasing power of a fixed $68 per hour wage over decades.
- Boosting income beyond $68/hour requires negotiating raises, developing new skills and potentially changing jobs.
- With careful financial planning, $68 an hour allows for modest wealth building over time for many professionals.
While not lavish by any means, $68 per hour affords financial stability for households able to budget wisely and keep debt under control. With ongoing career development and prudent money management, this income level can open the door to an upper middle-class lifestyle and financial security over the long-term.
