Virginia · 2026 take-home pay

$20 an hour after taxes in Virginia

At $20 an hour in Virginia you keep about $16.36 of every hour — $654 a week, $2,836 a month or $34,028 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 $20 an hour goes

$20 an hour full time in Virginia, 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
Virginia income tax−$1,578−$30−$0.76
Take-home pay$34,028$654$16.36

Effective tax rate 18.2% · federal bracket 12% · Virginia bracket 5.75%.

Take-home per paycheck

40 hours a week, different pay schedules
PaidGrossTake-home
Weekly (52 paychecks)$800.00$654.38
Every two weeks (26)$1,600.00$1,308.76
Twice a month (24)$1,733.33$1,417.82
Monthly (12)$3,466.67$2,835.64

Change hours, overtime and deductions

$20 an hour at different hours

Take-home in Virginia 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 Virginia: weekly hours and take-home, 2026
ScheduleGross a weekTake-home a weekTake-home a year
20 hours a week*$400$352$18,313
30 hours a week$600$505$26,269
40 hours a week$800$654$34,028
40 hours + 5 overtime$950$766$39,847
40 hours + 10 overtime$1,100$878$45,665

*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 Virginia?

  • Minimum wage: $20 an hour is 1.6 times Virginia's minimum wage of $12.77 an hour.
  • Among Virginia workers: It's about the 30th percentile of hourly pay in Virginia (BLS, May 2025) — roughly 30 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 $34,028 a year buys about what $33,656 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 $1,418 a month for needs, $851 for wants and $567 for savings. Plan it in the budget calculator.

Jobs in Virginia that pay about $20 an hour

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

Tutors

Median $19.59 an hour in Virginia · 4,090 jobs

How Virginia compares on $20 an hour

Virginia ranks 42nd of 51 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 Virginia
Virginia$16.36$34,028$12.77—
Washington, D.C.$16.48$34,276$18.40+$248 a year
Kentucky$16.47$34,267$7.25+$239 a year
Maryland$16.34$33,996$15.00−$32 a year
North Carolina$16.56$34,454$7.25+$426 a year
Tennessee$17.12$35,606$7.25+$1,578 a year
West Virginia$16.59$34,512$8.75+$484 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

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

Taxable income is $41,600 of Virginia wages minus $8,750 standard deduction minus $930 in exemptions = $31,920.

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%$14,920$858
Total$31,920$1,578

Common questions

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

About $16.36 for every hour you work, or $34,028 a year at 40 hours a week ($41,600 gross). Taxes take about 18.2% 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 Virginia?

About $654 a week at 40 hours, from $800 gross. Paid every two weeks, each paycheck is about $1,309.

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

About $2,836 a month at 40 hours a week, from $3,467 gross.

Is $20 an hour good pay in Virginia?

$20 an hour is 1.6 times Virginia's minimum wage of $12.77 an hour. It's about the 30th percentile of hourly pay in Virginia (BLS, May 2025) — roughly 30 in 100 workers earn less. The median hourly wage for all jobs in Virginia is $26.78. After taxes and local prices, $34,028 a year buys about what $33,656 would at national-average prices.

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

It ranks 42nd of 51 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 Florida, North Dakota, New Hampshire; the least, $32,757 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.