Texas · 2026 take-home pay

$20 an hour after taxes in Texas

At $20 an hour in Texas you keep about $17.12 of every hour — $685 a week, $2,967 a month or $35,606 a year full time — after 2026 federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare. Texas has no income tax on wages, and its minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.

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

Where $20 an hour goes

$20 an hour full time in Texas, single filer, 2026
A yearA weekAn hour
Gross pay$41,600$800$20.00
Federal income tax−$2,812−$54−$1.35
Social Security (6.2%)−$2,579−$50−$1.24
Medicare (1.45%+)−$603−$12−$0.29
Take-home pay$35,606$685$17.12

Effective tax rate 14.4% · federal bracket 12% · no state income tax on wages.

Take-home per paycheck

40 hours a week, different pay schedules
PaidGrossTake-home
Weekly (52 paychecks)$800.00$684.72
Every two weeks (26)$1,600.00$1,369.45
Twice a month (24)$1,733.33$1,483.57
Monthly (12)$3,466.67$2,967.13

Change hours, overtime and deductions

$20 an hour at different hours

Take-home in Texas for part-time, full-time and overtime weeks. Overtime is paid at 1.5 times $20 an hour for hours over 40, as federal law requires for most hourly workers.

$20 an hour in Texas: weekly hours and take-home, 2026
ScheduleGross a weekTake-home a weekTake-home a year
20 hours a week*$400$360$18,739
30 hours a week$600$524$27,249
40 hours a week$800$685$35,606
40 hours + 5 overtime$950$805$41,873
40 hours + 10 overtime$1,100$926$48,140

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

Is $20 an hour good pay in Texas?

  • Minimum wage: $20 an hour is 2.8 times Texas's minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.
  • Among Texas workers: It's about the 37th percentile of hourly pay in Texas (BLS, May 2025) — roughly 37 in 100 workers earn less. The median is $23.38 an hour.
  • Local prices: Texas's price level is 97.1% of the U.S. average (BEA Regional Price Parities), so $35,606 a year buys about what $36,685 would at national-average prices.
  • Rent: the 30% rule points to about $1,040 a month. Check it with your debts.
  • A 50/30/20 budget: about $1,484 a month for needs, $890 for wants and $593 for savings. Plan it in the budget calculator.

Jobs in Texas that pay about $20 an hour

Occupations whose median wage in Texas is within 4% of $20 an hour, most common first. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.

How Texas compares on $20 an hour

Texas ranks tied for 1st of 51 (with 7 others) for take-home pay on $20 an hour (1st = keeps the most). Here it is next to its neighbors.

Take-home on $20 an hour, 40 hours a week, single filer, 2026
StateAfter tax, per hourA yearMinimum wagevs Texas
Texas$17.12$35,606$7.25—
Arkansas$16.61$34,554$11.00−$1,052 a year
Louisiana$16.70$34,744$7.25−$862 a year
New Mexico$16.72$34,784$12.00−$822 a year
Oklahoma$16.48$34,279$7.25−$1,327 a year

How the federal tax on $41,600 ($20 an hour) is worked out

Taxable income is $41,600 minus the 2026 standard deduction ($16,100) = $25,500. 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%$13,100$1,572
Total$25,500$2,812

Common questions

How much is $20 an hour after taxes in Texas?

About $17.12 for every hour you work, or $35,606 a year at 40 hours a week ($41,600 gross). Taxes take about 14.4% of your pay, for a single filer in 2026 with no pre-tax deductions.

How much is $20 an hour a week after taxes in Texas?

About $685 a week at 40 hours, from $800 gross. Paid every two weeks, each paycheck is about $1,369.

How much is $20 an hour a month after taxes in Texas?

About $2,967 a month at 40 hours a week, from $3,467 gross.

Is $20 an hour good pay in Texas?

$20 an hour is 2.8 times Texas's minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. It's about the 37th percentile of hourly pay in Texas (BLS, May 2025) — roughly 37 in 100 workers earn less. The median hourly wage for all jobs in Texas is $23.38. After taxes and local prices, $35,606 a year buys about what $36,685 would at national-average prices.

Is Texas a high-tax state for $20 an hour?

It ranks tied for 1st of 51 (with 7 others) among the 50 states and D.C. for take-home on $20 an hour. The most you'd keep is $35,606 a year, in 8 places including Texas, Florida, North Dakota; the least, $32,757 in Oregon.

Sources and method

Our 2026 engine applies IRS Publication 15-T withholding, Social Security and Medicare (methodology). Texas doesn't tax wages. 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.