$22 an Hour is How Much a Year?

Earning an hourly wage makes it hard to budget unless you annualize it or at least look at it on a monthly basis. Knowing how much you bring in each month is important; otherwise, how do you set up a budget? You need to know how much you can commit to expenses like housing, utilities, insurance, food, and savings.

22 dollars an hour is how much a year? If you make $22 an hour, check out our guide to make the most of it. Continue reading to also see the equivalent annual salary based on how many hours you work.

$22 an Hour Is How Much a Year?

You may find yourself asking how much is $22 an hour annually? If you work 52 weeks per year (or get two weeks of paid vacation), you will make around $45,760 assuming you work 40-hour weeks with no overtime pay.

If you don’t get paid time off and you take it, you’ll work around 2,000 hours per year, bringing your salary down to $44,000 even. Let’s convert your hours worked to salary-based measurements:

Check out our free Hourly to Salary Calculator to further dive into your hourly pay.

For both salaried and hourly employees, the fair labor standards act, and the department of labor standards provides you with a level of protection. Federal minimum wage (minimum rate of pay for a given nonexempt job role) and for overtime hours on time-spent if an employee meets compensatory requirements are just two examples of how labor laws help you.

How Much is $22 an Hour per Month?

It helps to know how much $22 an hour earns you per month. You’ll have a better idea of your monthly budget and what you can spend. The average hourly wage earner works 175 hours per month.

At $22 an hour, you’d make $3,850 per month, assuming you work all the weekdays in the month. If you take time off unpaid, the amount drops.

How Much is $22 an Hour per Week?

Do you prefer to budget weekly? Many people do; it’s easier to break it down than look at a month at a time and get overwhelmed.

$22 an hour per week means $22 an hour for 40 hours or $880. If you work overtime or take time off, it will increase or decrease your weekly income accordingly.

How Much is $22 an Hour per Day?

Want to look at it from a daily standpoint? Maybe you want to give yourself a little incentive to keep going – and what works better than cold hard cash, right?

If you work full-time, that’s 8 hours a day on average. At $22 an hour, you’d gain $176 a day.

$22 An Hour Breakdown (Comparison Table)

Here’s a quick breakdown of what $22 an hour looks like for the average person.

Tools You Need to Live on $22 an Hour

Empower

Knowing your net worth is half the battle, and Empower helps you understand yours. Track your assets and liabilities – see where you stand (and where you should make changes). It doesn’t cost anything unless you sign up for their Robo-advisor services, which we think is a great way to start investing, especially for beginners.

CIT Bank

Don’t waste your time (and moolah) in your local, brick-and-mortar banks. The interest is next to nothing – you’ll get the same result keeping things under your mattress. Instead, make it work for you at CIT Bank, where you make 11x the national average interest rates in their money market account.

FlexJobs

Looking for a part-time gig to pick some additional work-hours up? Regardless of whether you want to extend your workweek into the weekends or extend past your normal eight hours per day – FlexJobs offers the best remote work and flexible positions available.

Tiller

Do you love spreadsheets, but don’t have the time for manual data entry? Who does, right? Tiller automatically imports your transactions, working with over 20,000 banks. They even categorize for you (don’t worry you can customize) and send daily emails showing your balance and activities.

Survey Junkie

Received gift cards or PayPal money just for providing your opinions and input on today’s products and services with Survey Junkie. Complete these in your free time and take home a little side money. Seriously, while you’re watching TV, waiting for the doctor, or while cooking dinner, answer a series of questions or two and acquire points for free prizes.

7 Jobs That Earn $22 an Hour

1. Bus Driver

Bus drivers are an important part of the school system; they are responsible for the safe transportation of students to and from school.

Because of the vital role they play, bus drivers earn a decent living. You can make $22+ an hour in most areas.

2. Occupational Therapy Assistant

An occupational therapy assistant is an integral part of the medical system. Occupational therapists help people return to their everyday lives after a major illness or injury. Knowing that you helped people get back to socializing, taking care of themselves, and enjoying life again can be rewarding enough, but the salary of at least $22 an hour helps too.

3. Wind Turbine Technician

Wind turbine technicians are specialists in the renewable energy sector. As more communities become environmentally friendly, the need for wind turbine technicians will increase. Most technicians start at around $22 an hour and work their way up to $37+ an hour with experience.

4. Welder

Welders are another job in the trades that pay well. This engineer-based position requires math skills and physical ability, but the starting pay as an apprentice is around $15 an hour. Most welder training programs are shorter than most; before you know it, you’ll be making $22+ an hour welding.

5. Auto Mechanic

Auto mechanics will always have a job because we will always have cars. Auto mechanics can start small and work at oil change shops. They can also go to a trade school and become a full-fledged mechanic or specialize in luxury cars to make more money. New mechanics start at $16 – $17 an hour but can quickly work up to $22 an hour or more.

6. Lock Smith

Locksmiths are an essential part of society and will always have a job. If you work for an established company, you’ll likely make $22 an hour with a couple of years of experience. You can also start your own business and make even more. All you need to get started is a vocational certificate and, in some states, pass an exam.

7. Paramedic

There isn’t a much more thrilling and rewarding job than a paramedic. Of course, you don’t have to go through as much schooling as a doctor. But paramedics make a median wage of $22 an hour, and even more with years of experience. 

$22 an Hour After Taxes

Taxes are a big part of your income whether you like it or not. So knowing how much you make after taxes is important.

We know that $22 an hour before taxes is $45,760 per year without overtime, but that’s not your net income or your take-home pay.

While everyone has a different tax rate, let’s assume a 24% tax bracket. This means you’d make $34,777.60 per year or $16.72 an hour, assuming 40 hours worked a week.

Of course, this is a simplified example. To determine how much you bring home per hour, determine your tax bracket to calculate your take-home pay.

Paid Time Off Vs. No Paid Time Off

Each employer treats hourly employees differently, even if it’s your full-time job. Some, especially those in managerial positions, get paid time off. This means you usually take two weeks off and get paid for it.

If you don’t get paid time off, you may still be eligible to take time off but won’t get paid for it. While we’d all love to assume we’d work 52 weeks a year, we are all human and need time off for physical and mental health.

Getting Paid Time Off

If you are lucky enough to get paid time off, you’ll make the same wage per year, $45,760, but you only work 50 weeks instead of 52 weeks.

You’ll make $22 an hour before taxes and enjoy a couple of weeks off work without worrying about your finances.

Not Getting Paid Time Off

If you aren’t eligible for paid time off, you should plan for a lower income at your full-time job. As we said, everyone needs a little time off, and sometimes it is an emergency. Budgeting for a lower amount of income is the best way to prepare. For example, if you work 52 weeks, you have extra money and can put it toward your financial goals. If not, though, you’ve prepared yourself.

If you were to take the two weeks off without pay, you’d make $44,000 per year or work 2,000 hours a year rather than 2,080 hours.

Additional Ways to Boost Your Hourly Wage

If $22 an hour isn’t enough for you, there are some ways to boost your hourly wage. Some require more work, and others require a few changes.

Negotiate a Raise

The easiest way to boost your hourly wage is to ask for a raise. But, before you do this, prepare what you’ll say to your employer.

Consider the reasons you deserve the raise and make a list. Include ways you’ve helped the company’s bottom line, helped co-workers, or exceeded your position. Show your employer why you are a good employee and why they should want to retain you by giving you a raise.

Ask your boss when a good time is to talk to them about the raise. Don’t spring the question on them unexpectedly. Instead, give your boss a head’s up that you want to discuss an important matter and set an appointment so you can have a private meeting and receive your boss’s full attention.

New Job

If your stab at getting a raise is unsuccessful, consider looking for a new job. Do your research and see the going rate for the job you do.

If other companies pay more, apply for a new job at another company. If you get an offer, you can either accept it or give your boss one more chance to meet the pay so you can stay at your current job.

Remember, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, so look at the big picture before making a move.

New Career

If you discover your current job doesn’t pay much more than $22 an hour after doing some research, consider a new career.

This might take a little work, though, especially if you want to make more than $22 an hour. For example, you might have to return to school or get certified for a new position. So do your research to determine what’s required of you to succeed in a new career to boost your hourly wage.

Side Hustles

If you love your job but need to increase your net income, consider starting a side hustle. There are many opportunities to make money in addition to your regular job.

If you want something already set up and ready, consider downloading the Uber, DoorDash, or Instacart app. You can drive people, restaurant food, or groceries and make money on your time. With these apps, you set your schedule and earn a flat fee plus 100% of customer tips.

Start a freelance gig online or in person if you prefer to do something yourself. A few fun ideas include:

• Pet sitting or walking
• Mowing lawns or shoveling snow
• Babysitting
• Setting up websites
• Writing website or blog content
• Creating logos, business cards, flyers, or websites

Passive Income

No matter what you decide to boost your hourly pay, everyone should consider ways to make passive income. 

The most common way to make passive income is to invest. Of course, there’s no guarantee you’ll make money with every investment, but risk usually brings reward. You can invest in less risky investments like ETFs or bonds or take a chance and diversify your portfolio with investments in different stocks.

Other ways to earn passive income that require some work upfront include:

• Write and sell an eBook
• Create an online course
• Set up a membership-based Facebook group 
• Sell digital photos

Example Budget for $22 per Hour Pay

Everyone’s budget will look a little different, but making $22 an hour requires some creativity when you figure you bring home$16 – $17 an hour. 

Ideally, you should create a budget like this:

• 50% covers your basic and necessary expenses, such as housing, utilities, transportation, food, and basic clothing
• 20% covers saving and/or debt payoff
• 20% covers miscellaneous or ‘fun’ spending
• 10% covers charitable giving

FAQs

Can I Live Off $22 Per Hour?

Living off $22 an hour is possible, but you’ll need to be creative. Bringing home around $2,600 a month doesn’t leave much room for necessary bills plus fun spending. The key is to keep yourself out of debt, minimize your living expenses, and be frugal when spending money on entertainment and unnecessary things. 

If that seems too frugal, consider supplementing your income with a side gig or passive income to have more wiggle room.

Can You Make $22 per Hour Without a Degree?

It’s possible to make $22 an hour without a degree. However, you’ll likely need to attend a trade school or some other type of training. On the other hand, jobs like locksmith, mechanic, and bus driver don’t require a degree but certain licenses or training to be eligible.

What’s the Total Number of Working Days in 2023?

There are 260 working days in 2023, assuming you work five days a week.

How Do You Calculate Hourly Rate From Annual Salary? 

If you’re paid a salary, you may want to know how much you make per hour you give your employer. Fortunately, it’s simple.

Take your annual salary and divide it by 52 weeks. Next, divide that number by 40 hours, and you’ll have your hourly wage. You can also try an annual salary calculator to calculate your hourly wage.

What Is the Median Hourly Wage?

The median hourly wage in the United States is just under $20 an hour. This means 50% of states have a median hourly wage below $20 an hour and 50% have a median hourly wage above $50 an hour.

Is $22 an Hour Good Pay?

You can make $22 an hour work if you’re responsible with your finances.  If you accumulate a lot of debt, even $22 an hour may not be enough to cover your expenses.  Make sure you create a budget and stay intentional with your spending and saving.  If you work hard to reach your goals, you’ll achieve financial freedom in no time!

Financial independence has more to do with how you manage your money than how much money you make.  Check out our Manage Money category for effective strategies to manage your money!