As someone who has been in your shoes, I understand the excitement and anticipation that comes along with a new job opportunity — especially when that offer comes with an hourly rate like $38 an hour!
But even though this rate is very competitive — especially against national average and median hourly rates in the USA — you might find yourself asking if $38 an hour is a livable wage and if it is actually enough to live on. If you are, you aren't the only one.
To help you make sense of it, we've broken down the equivalent yearly, daily, weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly earnings of $38 an hour. This way, you can see how it fits your situation and make a decision that suits your needs best.
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$38 an hour is how much in a year?
Knowing how your hourly wage translates to an annual salary will help you understand how much it really is. Let's explore both how your annual salary would be through part-time and full-time scenarios.
Keep in mind that these calculations show your income before taxes and deductions, so the actual take-home pay may differ due to various factors.
- Part-time work. Let's assume you work 20 hours a week as a part-time worker. To calculate your annual income, we'll multiply your hourly wage ($38) by the number of hours worked per week (20 hours), then multiply the result by the number of weeks per year (52 weeks). The calculation would look like this: $38 x 20 hours x 52 weeks = $39,520. At $38 an hour, working part-time for 20 hours a week, you would earn an annual salary of $39,520.
- Full-time work. For full-time work, we'll assume you work 40 hours a week. The calculation for annual pay would be as follows: $38 x 40 hours x 52 weeks = $79,040. In a full-time position at $38 an hour, your annual salary would be $79,040.
Here's a crucial point to consider: asking for a raise from $37 to $38 or even up to $39 an hour can have a significant impact on your take-home pay. Don't hesitate to have that conversation, even if it feels a bit awkward! It's worth it in the long run.
How much is $38 an hour per day?
Ready to do more calculations? Next up, how much $38 per hour is a day. Just remember, your daily earnings depend on the hours you put in.
- Part-time work. If you work part-time with varying daily hours, your daily earnings will depend on the number of hours worked. For instance, if you work approximately 4 hours per day at a rate of $38 an hour, your daily income would amount to approximately $190. Similarly, working 6 hours a day at the same rate would yield around $228 per day before taxes.
- Full-time work. Assuming a full-time schedule of 8 hours per day, working at $38 an hour would result in a daily income of $304
How much is $38 an hour per week?
You know what else is valuable? Comparing your weekly earnings from part-time and full-time work. It can give you some great insights into your potential income situation. Here's how your weekly income would look in part-time and full-time settings.
- Part-time work. Using the previous assumption of 20 hours a week, the calculation would be: $38 an hour x 20 hours = $760 per week. Making $38 an hour part-time, you would earn $760 a week.
- Full-time work. For full-time work at 40 hours a week, the calculation is as follows: $38 an hour x 40 hours = $1,520 per week A full-time job at $38 an hour would pay you $1,520 per week.
How much is $38 an hour bi-weekly?
Now, let's break it down with a bi-weekly pay cycle when working either 20 or 40 hours per week.
- Part-time work. If you work a total of 40 hours in a bi-weekly pay period at $38 per hour, your earnings would amount to approximately $1,520 over the course of two weeks.
- Full-time work. If you work a total of 80 hours in a bi-weekly pay period at $38 per hour, your earnings would total around $3,040 bi-weekly.
How much is $38 an hour per month?
Most people's bills operate on a monthly cycle, so how much $38 an hour is per month is probably going to be more important than any of the other calculations here.
- Part-time work. If you work approximately 20 hours in at a rate of $38 per hour for 52 weeks, your total monthly income would amount to approximately $3,293.33 (calculated as $760 x 52 weeks = $39,520 ÷ 12 months = $3,293.33 per month).
- Full-time work. Assuming you work 40 hours in a week at the same hourly rate for 52 weeks, your total monthly income would be approximately $6,586.67 (calculated as $1,520 x 52 weeks = $79,040 ÷ 12 months = $6,586.67 per month).
How much is $38 an hour quarterly?
To calculate your quarterly earnings at $38 an hour, just multiply your monthly earnings by three. It's as simple as that!
- Part-time work. Using the part-time annual salary calculation from earlier ($39,520), this is how you can calculate your quarterly income for $38 an hour: $39,520 ÷ 4 (quarters) = $9,880. At $38 an hour, part-time work would pay you $9,880 per quarter.
- Full-time work. For full-time work, using the annual salary calculation of ($79,040), this is how you can compute your quarterly earnings: $79,040 ÷ 4 (quarters) = $19,760. A full-time job at $38 an hour would pay you $19,760 per quarter.
Is $38 an hour enough to live on?
Whether or not you can live on $38 per hour really depends on your living expenses. Location, the lifestyle you're accustomed to, repayments, savings goals, and more all come into play. Here are various scenarios to understand how personal circumstances impact the sustainability of earning $38 an hour.
Young college graduate
A young college graduate with no dependents is likely to be quite happy with earning $38 an hour. With little to no debt, and a willingness to live with roommates or in a less expensive area, this income can provide a comfortable lifestyle while saving for future expenses. However, a graduate living alone in a downtown condo with a huge loan repayment might find it hard to make ends meet.
Middle-aged person changing career
For a middle-aged person changing careers, $38 an hour may be more challenging considering if they have children, a mortgage, or other financial obligations, this wage might not be sufficient. Lifestyle adjustments, such as downsizing or finding ways to reduce expenses, can make it work.
Someone living in a rural area
In a rural area with a lower cost of living, $38 an hour can offer a comfortable lifestyle. With housing, transportation, and other living costs typically being lower, this income is likely to be more than enough to meet needs and save for the future, especially if you don't have to support raising kids.
Remote worker
A remote worker has the flexibility to live almost anywhere, so they can exploit the delta between salary and cost of living in a country like Mexico or Thailand. For someone able to work remotely from a cheap location, $38 an hour will provide a very comfortable standard of living.
Single parent
As a single parent, living off $38 an hour depends on factors such as number of children, childcare costs, and other expenses. It might be enough to provide for the family, but finding ways to reduce expenses and manage money wisely will be essential.
$38 an hour vs the national average
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national average wage in the USA is $33 an hour. This means that an individual earning $38 an hour is already above the national average. While this is an encouraging comparison, the specific purchasing power and financial comfort this wage provides will vary depending on individual circumstances, location, and lifestyle choices.
$38 an hour vs the national median
The national median hourly pay in the USA is $22.26, which is significantly lower than the $38 an hour we are discussing. Being above the national median suggests that, for many individuals, this wage has the potential to provide a comfortable lifestyle with careful money management and decision-making.
Who is $38 an hour a good salary for?
$38 an hour can be great for some and not enough for others. It really comes down to individual circumstances and financial goals.
$38 an hour is a good salary for:
- Young professionals with few financial obligations
- Remote workers with location flexibility
- Individuals living in rural or low-cost urban areas
$38 an hour is less than an ideal salary for:
- Single parent with multiple dependents
- Individuals living in high-cost-of-living areas with expensive housing and other expenses
