$42,000 a year is how much an hour?
A salary of $42,000 works out to $20.19 an hour for 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year — $3,500 a month before taxes.
$42,000 a year by pay period
| Pay period | Gross pay | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $20.19 | — |
| Daily | $161.54 | 8 hours |
| Weekly | $807.69 | 40 hours |
| Biweekly | $1,615.38 | 80 hours |
| Semi-monthly | $1,750 | 24 paychecks a year |
| Monthly | $3,500 | 173.33 hours |
| Yearly | $42,000 | 2,080 hours (40 × 52) |
All figures are gross pay, before federal, state and payroll taxes. Salaried jobs often expect more than 40 hours a week; at 45 hours, $42,000 is $17.95 an hour, and at 50 hours it is $16.15.
Jobs with a median salary near $42,000
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $42,360 | $20.36 |
| Food Batchmaker | $42,290 | $20.33 |
| Print Binding and Finishing Workers | $42,290 | $20.33 |
| Nursing Assistant | $42,260 | $20.32 |
| Residential Advisor | $42,240 | $20.31 |
| Taxi Driver | $42,100 | $20.24 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $41,800 | $20.10 |
| Telephone Operator | $41,740 | $20.07 |
| Agricultural Equipment Operator | $41,730 | $20.06 |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $41,670 | $20.03 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $41,640 | $20.02 |
| Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers | $41,600 | $20.00 |
Other salaries
Frequently asked questions
How much is $42,000 a year per hour?
$42,000 a year is $20.19 an hour, based on 2,080 working hours (40 hours × 52 weeks).
How much is $42,000 a year per month?
$3,500 a month before taxes, or $1,615.38 per biweekly paycheck.
Is $42,000 a good salary?
The U.S. median salary for all workers is $50,980 (BLS, May 2025 estimates). $42,000 is 18% lower than the median.