Washington, D.C. · 2026 take-home pay

$16 an hour after taxes in Washington, D.C.

At $16 an hour in Washington, D.C. you keep about $13.50 of every hour — $540 a week, $2,341 a month or $28,090 a year full time — after 2026 federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Washington, D.C. income tax. Washington, D.C. has a graduated income tax, and its minimum wage is $18.40 an hour.

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

Where $16 an hour goes

$16 an hour full time in Washington, D.C., single filer, 2026
A yearA weekAn hour
Gross pay$33,280$640$16.00
Federal income tax−$1,814−$35−$0.87
Social Security (6.2%)−$2,063−$40−$0.99
Medicare (1.45%+)−$483−$9−$0.23
Washington, D.C. income tax−$831−$16−$0.40
Take-home pay$28,090$540$13.50

Effective tax rate 15.6% · federal bracket 12% · Washington, D.C. bracket 6%.

Take-home per paycheck

40 hours a week, different pay schedules
PaidGrossTake-home
Weekly (52 paychecks)$640.00$540.19
Every two weeks (26)$1,280.00$1,080.37
Twice a month (24)$1,386.67$1,170.40
Monthly (12)$2,773.33$2,340.81

Change hours, overtime and deductions

$16 an hour at different hours

Take-home in Washington, D.C. for part-time, full-time and overtime weeks. Overtime is paid at 1.5 times $16 an hour for hours over 40, as federal law requires for most hourly workers.

$16 an hour in Washington, D.C.: weekly hours and take-home, 2026
ScheduleGross a weekTake-home a weekTake-home a year
20 hours a week*$320$294$15,291
30 hours a week$480$419$21,810
40 hours a week$640$540$28,090
40 hours + 5 overtime$760$629$32,729
40 hours + 10 overtime$880$719$37,369

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

Is $16 an hour good pay in Washington, D.C.?

  • Minimum wage: $16 an hour is below Washington, D.C.'s minimum wage of $18.40 an hour, so most employers there can't pay it. From July 1, 2026.
  • Among Washington, D.C. workers: It's below the 10th percentile of hourly pay in Washington, D.C. (BLS, May 2025) — fewer than about 1 in 10 workers earn less. The median is $44.01 an hour.
  • Local prices: Washington, D.C.'s price level is 109.9% of the U.S. average (BEA Regional Price Parities), so $28,090 a year buys about what $25,559 would at national-average prices.
  • Rent: the 30% rule points to about $832 a month. Check it with your debts.
  • A 50/30/20 budget: about $1,170 a month for needs, $702 for wants and $468 for savings. Plan it in the budget calculator.

How Washington, D.C. compares on $16 an hour

Washington, D.C. ranks 29th of 51 for take-home pay on $16 an hour (1st = keeps the most). Here it is next to its neighbors.

Take-home on $16 an hour, 40 hours a week, single filer, 2026
StateAfter tax, per hourA yearMinimum wagevs Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.$13.50$28,090$18.40—
Maryland$13.32$27,706$15.00−$384 a year
Virginia$13.38$27,821$12.77−$269 a year

How the federal tax on $33,280 ($16 an hour) is worked out

Taxable income is $33,280 minus the 2026 standard deduction ($16,100) = $17,180. Each slice is taxed at its own rate:

2026 federal income tax by bracket, single filer
RateIncome in this bracketTax
10%$12,400$1,240
12%$4,780$574
Total$17,180$1,814

How the Washington, D.C. income tax on $33,280 ($16 an hour) is worked out

Taxable income is $33,280 of D.C. wages minus $16,100 standard deduction = $17,180.

Washington, D.C. income tax by bracket, single filer, 2026 rules
RateIncome in this bracketTax
4%$10,000$400
6%$7,180$431
Total$17,180$831

Common questions

How much is $16 an hour after taxes in Washington, D.C.?

About $13.50 for every hour you work, or $28,090 a year at 40 hours a week ($33,280 gross). Taxes take about 15.6% of your pay, for a single filer in 2026 with no pre-tax deductions.

How much is $16 an hour a week after taxes in Washington, D.C.?

About $540 a week at 40 hours, from $640 gross. Paid every two weeks, each paycheck is about $1,080.

How much is $16 an hour a month after taxes in Washington, D.C.?

About $2,341 a month at 40 hours a week, from $2,773 gross.

Is $16 an hour good pay in Washington, D.C.?

$16 an hour is below Washington, D.C.'s minimum wage of $18.40 an hour, so most employers there can't pay it. It's below the 10th percentile of hourly pay in Washington, D.C. (BLS, May 2025) — fewer than about 1 in 10 workers earn less. The median hourly wage for all jobs in Washington, D.C. is $44.01. After taxes and local prices, $28,090 a year buys about what $25,559 would at national-average prices.

Is Washington, D.C. a high-tax place for $16 an hour?

It ranks 29th of 51 among the 50 states and D.C. for take-home on $16 an hour. The most you'd keep is $28,920 a year, in 8 places including Florida, North Dakota, New Hampshire; the least, $26,771 in Oregon.

Sources and method

Our 2026 engine applies IRS Publication 15-T withholding, Social Security and Medicare, Washington, D.C.'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.