Working full time at $21 an hour ($43,680 a year) in Texas, a single filer takes home about $37,277 a year, $3,106 a month or $17.92 an hour, after federal tax, FICA and no Texas income tax on wages.
#8 of 51for take-home at this pay
Where the money goes
Breakdown
| Yearly | Monthly | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $43,680 | $3,640 |
| Federal income tax | $3,062 | $255 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $2,708 | $226 |
| Medicare | $633 | $53 |
| Texas income tax | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home | $37,277 | $3,106 |
| Federal marginal rate | 12% | |
| Texas marginal rate | 0.00% |
Same pay in other states
Highest take-home at this pay: Alaska. Middle: Idaho. Lowest: Oregon.
Your tax bracket at this pay
Your federal taxable income is about $27,580 (after the $16,100 standard deduction), which puts the top slice of your pay in the 12% bracket ($12,400 to $50,400). You have about $22,820 of room before the next dollar is taxed at 22%. Only that top slice is taxed at 12%: your average federal rate is 7.0%, and all taxes together (federal, FICA) take 14.7% of gross pay. A $1,000 raise would add about $804 to your take-home.
| Federal bracket | Your income in it | Tax |
|---|---|---|
| 10% on $0–$12,400 | $12,400 | $1,240 |
| 12% on $12,400–$50,400 | $15,180 | $1,822 |
| Rate | Federal | Combined with state and FICA |
|---|---|---|
| Marginal (next dollar) | 12% | 19.7% |
| Effective (average) | 7.0% | 14.7% |
Compared with the Texas median
$43,680 is 56% of the Texas median household income of $78,476 (Census ACS 2020–2024 median; households can have more than one earner, so a single salary is not directly comparable).
Affordability snapshot
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Rent budget (30% of gross) | $1,092/mo |
| Home price at 30% of gross (10% down) | $141,000 |
| Texas median home value | $283,800 (Census 2020–2024) |
Rule of thumb only: housing at 30% of gross monthly pay. Home price assumes a 30-year fixed at the Freddie Mac average of 7.40% (week of 2026-10-15), 10% down, the Texas median effective property tax rate and about 0.35% a year for insurance. Lenders also weigh debts, credit and PMI.
401(k) and HSA effect
| Contribution | Saved | Take-home cut | Tax saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6% to a 401(k) ($2,621/yr) | $2,621 | $2,306 | $315 |
| Max HSA, self-only ($4,400, via payroll) | $4,400 | $3,535 | $865 |
Pre-tax 401(k) deferrals cut federal income tax but not Social Security or Medicare; payroll HSA contributions also skip FICA. 2026 limits: 401(k) $24,500 (under 50), HSA $4,400 self-only (IRS).
What applies at this income
- You are under the 2026 Roth IRA income limit for single filers ($153,000 of modified AGI), so you can contribute the full amount.
- Maxing out a 401(k) ($24,500) would take more than half your gross pay at this level, so most people here contribute a percentage instead.
- Texas doesn't tax wages, so each raise is taxed only by the IRS and FICA.
Texas jobs that typically pay about $43,680
$43,680 is above the median pay of 40 of the 100 common occupations we track in Texas (BLS OEWS, May 2025). These have a Texas median between $42,640 and $44,720:
| Occupation | Texas median | vs this pay |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $42,910 | −$770 |
| School Bus Drivers | $44,490 | +$810 |
Where $43,680 lands inside other Texas jobs
For 5 of these occupations, $43,680 is what experienced or top earners make (75th–90th percentile); for 5, it is entry-level pay (10th–25th percentile).
| Occupation | Percentile | Texas pay at that percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant Cooks | 90th | $42,810 |
| Nursing Assistants | 75th | $43,070 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 10th | $43,320 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | 10th | $43,360 |
| Human Resources Specialists | 10th | $43,410 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | 90th | $43,430 |
| Security Guards | 75th | $43,630 |
| Hand Packers and Packagers | 90th | $44,220 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | 25th | $44,340 |
| Carpenters | 25th | $44,690 |
Previous and next pay level
Related
- $19 an hour in Texas$2,828/mo
- $20 an hour in Texas$2,967/mo
- $22 an hour in Texas$3,246/mo
- $23 an hour in Texas$3,385/mo
- Texas income tax brackets2026
- Minimum wage in Texas2026
- Texas property taxby county
Single filer, W-2 wages only; 2026 IRS brackets and $16,100 standard deduction, FICA (Social Security to $184,500, Medicare +0.9% over $200,000) and state rules per the Tax Foundation (Jan 1, 2026). Local taxes and payroll deductions are excluded. Sources: IRS, SSA, Tax Foundation. Not tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $21 an hour after taxes in Texas?
Working full time at $21 an hour ($43,680 a year) in Texas, a single filer takes home about $37,277 a year, $3,106 a month or $17.92 an hour, after federal tax, FICA and no Texas income tax on wages.
How much is $21 an hour per month after taxes in Texas?
About $3,106 a month, or $1,434 per biweekly paycheck.
How much state tax do I pay on $21 an hour in Texas?
None. Texas doesn't tax wages.