Virginia · 2026 take-home pay

$18 an hour after taxes in Virginia

At $18 an hour in Virginia you keep about $14.87 of every hour — $595 a week, $2,577 a month or $30,924 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 $18 an hour goes

$18 an hour full time in Virginia, single filer, 2026
A yearA weekAn hour
Gross pay$37,440$720$18.00
Federal income tax−$2,313−$44−$1.11
Social Security (6.2%)−$2,321−$45−$1.12
Medicare (1.45%+)−$543−$10−$0.26
Virginia income tax−$1,339−$26−$0.64
Take-home pay$30,924$595$14.87

Effective tax rate 17.4% · federal bracket 12% · Virginia bracket 5.75%.

Take-home per paycheck

40 hours a week, different pay schedules
PaidGrossTake-home
Weekly (52 paychecks)$720.00$594.70
Every two weeks (26)$1,440.00$1,189.40
Twice a month (24)$1,560.00$1,288.51
Monthly (12)$3,120.00$2,577.03

Change hours, overtime and deductions

$18 an hour at different hours

Take-home in Virginia for part-time, full-time and overtime weeks. Overtime is paid at 1.5 times $18 an hour for hours over 40, as federal law requires for most hourly workers.

$18 an hour in Virginia: weekly hours and take-home, 2026
ScheduleGross a weekTake-home a weekTake-home a year
20 hours a week*$360$321$16,704
30 hours a week$540$460$23,933
40 hours a week$720$595$30,924
40 hours + 5 overtime$855$695$36,161
40 hours + 10 overtime$990$796$41,398

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

Is $18 an hour good pay in Virginia?

  • Minimum wage: $18 an hour is 1.4 times Virginia's minimum wage of $12.77 an hour.
  • Among Virginia workers: It's about the 24th percentile of hourly pay in Virginia (BLS, May 2025) — roughly 24 in 100 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 $30,924 a year buys about what $30,587 would at national-average prices.
  • Rent: the 30% rule points to about $936 a month. Check it with your debts.
  • A 50/30/20 budget: about $1,289 a month for needs, $773 for wants and $515 for savings. Plan it in the budget calculator.

Jobs in Virginia that pay about $18 an hour

Occupations whose median wage in Virginia is within 4% of $18 an hour, most common first. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.

How Virginia compares on $18 an hour

Virginia ranks 42nd of 51 for take-home pay on $18 an hour (1st = keeps the most). Here it is next to its neighbors.

Take-home on $18 an hour, 40 hours a week, single filer, 2026
StateAfter tax, per hourA yearMinimum wagevs Virginia
Virginia$14.87$30,924$12.77—
Washington, D.C.$14.99$31,183$18.40+$259 a year
Kentucky$14.94$31,070$7.25+$146 a year
Maryland$14.83$30,851$15.00−$73 a year
North Carolina$15.04$31,278$7.25+$354 a year
Tennessee$15.51$32,263$7.25+$1,339 a year
West Virginia$15.05$31,301$8.75+$377 a year

How the federal tax on $37,440 ($18 an hour) is worked out

Taxable income is $37,440 minus the 2026 standard deduction ($16,100) = $21,340. 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%$8,940$1,073
Total$21,340$2,313

How the Virginia income tax on $37,440 ($18 an hour) is worked out

Taxable income is $37,440 of Virginia wages minus $8,750 standard deduction minus $930 in exemptions = $27,760.

Virginia income tax by bracket, single filer, 2026 rules
RateIncome in this bracketTax
2%$3,000$60
3%$2,000$60
5%$12,000$600
5.75%$10,760$619
Total$27,760$1,339

Common questions

How much is $18 an hour after taxes in Virginia?

About $14.87 for every hour you work, or $30,924 a year at 40 hours a week ($37,440 gross). Taxes take about 17.4% of your pay, for a single filer in 2026 with no pre-tax deductions.

How much is $18 an hour a week after taxes in Virginia?

About $595 a week at 40 hours, from $720 gross. Paid every two weeks, each paycheck is about $1,189.

How much is $18 an hour a month after taxes in Virginia?

About $2,577 a month at 40 hours a week, from $3,120 gross.

Is $18 an hour good pay in Virginia?

$18 an hour is 1.4 times Virginia's minimum wage of $12.77 an hour. It's about the 24th percentile of hourly pay in Virginia (BLS, May 2025) — roughly 24 in 100 workers earn less. The median hourly wage for all jobs in Virginia is $26.78. After taxes and local prices, $30,924 a year buys about what $30,587 would at national-average prices.

Is Virginia a high-tax state for $18 an hour?

It ranks 42nd of 51 among the 50 states and D.C. for take-home on $18 an hour. The most you'd keep is $32,263 a year, in 8 places including Florida, North Dakota, New Hampshire; the least, $29,764 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.