Virginia · 2026 take-home pay

$12 an hour after taxes in Virginia

At $12 an hour in Virginia you keep about $10.35 of every hour — $414 a week, $1,794 a month or $21,531 a year full time — after 2026 federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Virginia income tax. Virginia has a graduated income tax, and its minimum wage is $12.77 an hour.

By Work & Money Editorial Team · Last reviewed October 14, 2026

Where $12 an hour goes

$12 an hour full time in Virginia, single filer, 2026
A yearA weekAn hour
Gross pay$24,960$480$12.00
Federal income tax−$886−$17−$0.43
Social Security (6.2%)−$1,548−$30−$0.74
Medicare (1.45%+)−$362−$7−$0.17
Virginia income tax−$634−$12−$0.30
Take-home pay$21,531$414$10.35

Effective tax rate 13.7% · federal bracket 10% · Virginia bracket 5%.

Take-home per paycheck

40 hours a week, different pay schedules
PaidGrossTake-home
Weekly (52 paychecks)$480.00$414.05
Every two weeks (26)$960.00$828.10
Twice a month (24)$1,040.00$897.11
Monthly (12)$2,080.00$1,794.21

Change hours, overtime and deductions

$12 an hour at different hours

Take-home in Virginia for part-time, full-time and overtime weeks. Overtime is paid at 1.5 times $12 an hour for hours over 40, as federal law requires for most hourly workers.

$12 an hour in Virginia: weekly hours and take-home, 2026
ScheduleGross a weekTake-home a weekTake-home a year
20 hours a week*$240$221$11,469
30 hours a week$360$321$16,704
40 hours a week$480$414$21,531
40 hours + 5 overtime$570$483$25,106
40 hours + 10 overtime$660$550$28,597

*If this is your only job. With a second job, withholding on each is likely too low unless you adjust your W-4.

Is $12 an hour good pay in Virginia?

  • Minimum wage: $12 an hour is below Virginia's minimum wage of $12.77 an hour, so most employers there can't pay it.
  • Among Virginia workers: It's below the 10th percentile of hourly pay in Virginia (BLS, May 2025) — fewer than about 1 in 10 workers earn less. The median is $26.78 an hour.
  • Local prices: Virginia's price level is 101.1% of the U.S. average (BEA Regional Price Parities), so $21,531 a year buys about what $21,295 would at national-average prices.
  • Rent: the 30% rule points to about $624 a month. Check it with your debts.
  • A 50/30/20 budget: about $897 a month for needs, $538 for wants and $359 for savings. Plan it in the budget calculator.

How Virginia compares on $12 an hour

Virginia ranks 39th of 51 for take-home pay on $12 an hour (1st = keeps the most). Here it is next to its neighbors.

Take-home on $12 an hour, 40 hours a week, single filer, 2026
StateAfter tax, per hourA yearMinimum wagevs Virginia
Virginia$10.35$21,531$12.77—
Washington, D.C.$10.49$21,810$18.40+$279 a year
Kentucky$10.29$21,409$7.25−$122 a year
Maryland$10.26$21,345$15.00−$186 a year
North Carolina$10.42$21,677$7.25+$146 a year
Tennessee$10.66$22,165$7.25+$634 a year
West Virginia$10.38$21,589$8.75+$58 a year

How the federal tax on $24,960 ($12 an hour) is worked out

Taxable income is $24,960 minus the 2026 standard deduction ($16,100) = $8,860. Each slice is taxed at its own rate:

2026 federal income tax by bracket, single filer
RateIncome in this bracketTax
10%$8,860$886
Total$8,860$886

How the Virginia income tax on $24,960 ($12 an hour) is worked out

Taxable income is $24,960 of Virginia wages minus $8,750 standard deduction minus $930 in exemptions = $15,280.

Virginia income tax by bracket, single filer, 2026 rules
RateIncome in this bracketTax
2%$3,000$60
3%$2,000$60
5%$10,280$514
Total$15,280$634

Common questions

How much is $12 an hour after taxes in Virginia?

About $10.35 for every hour you work, or $21,531 a year at 40 hours a week ($24,960 gross). Taxes take about 13.7% of your pay, for a single filer in 2026 with no pre-tax deductions.

How much is $12 an hour a week after taxes in Virginia?

About $414 a week at 40 hours, from $480 gross. Paid every two weeks, each paycheck is about $828.

How much is $12 an hour a month after taxes in Virginia?

About $1,794 a month at 40 hours a week, from $2,080 gross.

Is $12 an hour good pay in Virginia?

$12 an hour is below Virginia's minimum wage of $12.77 an hour, so most employers there can't pay it. It's below the 10th percentile of hourly pay in Virginia (BLS, May 2025) — fewer than about 1 in 10 workers earn less. The median hourly wage for all jobs in Virginia is $26.78. After taxes and local prices, $21,531 a year buys about what $21,295 would at national-average prices.

Is Virginia a high-tax state for $12 an hour?

It ranks 39th of 51 among the 50 states and D.C. for take-home on $12 an hour. The most you'd keep is $22,165 a year, in 9 places including Florida, North Dakota, New Hampshire; the least, $20,720 in Oregon.

Sources and method

Our 2026 engine applies IRS Publication 15-T withholding, Social Security and Medicare, Virginia's income tax rules (methodology). Local income taxes are not included. Minimum wages: U.S. Department of Labor. Wage distribution and jobs: BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities.

  1. Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods — Internal Revenue Service. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  2. State Minimum Wage Laws — U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  3. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  4. Regional Price Parities by State — U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Accessed October 14, 2026.