Earning $42 an hour is a significant professional achievement. This wage places you well above the national median and opens the door to a comfortable lifestyle in many parts of the country. Annually, a $42 per hour wage translates to a baseline salary of $87,360 per year before taxes. This level of income is often associated with skilled, in-demand professions that require specialized knowledge and experience.
This guide will break down what this salary truly means, explore the types of careers that offer this level of pay, and detail the key factors that can drive your earnings even higher.
What Kind of Jobs Pay $42 an Hour?
While no single job title is "the $42 an hour job," this wage is a common benchmark for a variety of skilled professional roles across several industries. These positions typically require a blend of formal education, specialized training, and practical experience. An individual earning this wage is often a trusted contributor whose work has a direct impact on their organization's success.
Examples of professions where an average or mid-career wage is around $42 an hour (or an $87,360 annual salary) include:
- Registered Nurse (RN): Providing and coordinating patient care, educating patients and the public about various health conditions. The median hourly pay for RNs was $41.28 in May 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
- Construction Manager: Planning, coordinating, budgeting, and supervising construction projects from start to finish. The BLS reports a median hourly wage of $49.68 for this role, with many mid-career professionals falling into the $42/hour range.
- Web Developer: Designing, creating, and maintaining websites and web applications. According to Salary.com, the median salary for a Web Developer II (an intermediate role) in the U.S. is approximately $85,558, placing it squarely in this pay grade.
- Financial Analyst: Providing guidance to businesses and individuals making investment decisions. They assess the performance of stocks, bonds, and other types of investments. Payscale notes the average salary for a Financial Analyst is around $72,130, but with a few years of experience, earning over $87,000 is common.
- Technical Writer: Preparing instruction manuals, how-to guides, journal articles, and other supporting documents to communicate complex and technical information more easily. The BLS reports a median hourly wage of $40.85 for this profession.
Average $42 hourly to salary Salary
The calculation for converting an hourly wage to an annual salary is based on a standard full-time work schedule.
The formula is: Hourly Wage × Hours Worked Per Week × Weeks Worked Per Year
Assuming a standard 40-hour workweek and 52 weeks in a year (2,080 hours total), the math is:
$42/hour × 40 hours/week × 52 weeks/year = $87,360/year
Here is a simple breakdown of what your gross earnings would look like over different pay periods:
| Pay Period | Gross Income |
| :--- | :--- |
| Annual | $87,360 |
| Monthly | $7,280 |
| Bi-Weekly | $3,360 |
| Weekly | $1,680 |
It's crucial to distinguish between being an hourly employee and a salaried employee. Salaried employees receive a fixed annual sum, regardless of working slightly more or fewer hours in a given week. Hourly employees are paid for every hour worked, which means overtime can significantly increase annual income, but unpaid time off can reduce it. Furthermore, a salary package often includes benefits like health insurance, retirement contributions, and paid time off, which, according to the BLS, can add approximately 30% to an employee's total compensation package.
Key Factors That Influence Salary
While $87,360 is the baseline, your actual earnings can vary significantly. Here are the primary factors that determine your earning potential.
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Level of Education
For many professions in this pay bracket, a bachelor's degree is the standard entry requirement. For example, financial analysts and technical writers typically need a four-year degree. Roles like Registered Nurses require at least an Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), with the BSN often leading to higher pay and more opportunities. Advanced degrees (Master's, PhD) or specialized certifications (e.g., Project Management Professional - PMP, Certified Financial Analyst - CFA) can elevate you into higher-paying, senior-level roles well beyond the $42/hour mark.
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Years of Experience
Experience is one of the most powerful drivers of salary growth. An entry-level web developer might start closer to $30-$35 per hour ($62k-$73k/year). After gaining 3-5 years of experience and demonstrating proficiency, their wage can easily climb to $42/hour. Senior or lead professionals with over a decade of experience in these fields can command wages of $60/hour or more, pushing their annual salaries well over $120,000. Data from Glassdoor consistently shows a strong positive correlation between years in a role and total pay.
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Geographic Location
Where you work matters immensely. A salary of $87,360 provides a very different lifestyle in a major metropolitan hub compared to a smaller rural town. Companies in high cost-of-living (COL) areas like San Francisco, New York City, or Boston must offer higher salaries to attract talent. For instance, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, the annual mean wage for Registered Nurses in the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA metro area is $164,760, while in Joplin, MO, it is $67,610. Your $42/hour wage is competitive in most of the country but might be considered mid-range in the most expensive cities.
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Company Type
The size and type of your employer can influence your paycheck. Large, established tech companies or major financial institutions often have more structured and higher pay scales than startups or non-profit organizations. A web developer at a Fortune 500 company will likely earn more than one with similar experience at a small local business. However, startups might offer equity or stock options as part of their compensation, which can be highly valuable in the long term.
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Area of Specialization
Within any given profession, specialization pays. A generalist RN earns a solid wage, but an RN who specializes in a high-demand area like the operating room, neonatal intensive care (NICU), or oncology can command a higher hourly rate. Similarly, a web developer specializing in high-growth fields like cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), or cloud computing will earn significantly more than a general front-end developer. Identifying and developing a niche skillset is a reliable strategy for increasing your value and your income.
Job Outlook
The long-term career outlook for professions that pay around $42 an hour is generally very positive. The roles mentioned earlier are all projected to grow, ensuring strong job security for skilled individuals.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2022-2032 projections:
- Employment of Registered Nurses is projected to grow 6 percent, which is faster than the average for all occupations.
- Employment of Web Developers is projected to grow 16 percent, much faster than the average.
- Employment of Financial Analysts is projected to grow 8 percent, also faster than the average.
This strong demand means that professionals with these skills will continue to be sought after by employers, which helps sustain and increase wage levels over time.
Conclusion
Earning $42 an hour, or an annual salary of $87,360, is a fantastic financial milestone that reflects skill, dedication, and value in the modern workforce. It provides a solid foundation for financial security and personal growth.
Here are the key takeaways:
- A Strong Income: This wage places you in a competitive position financially in most areas of the United States.
- A Professional Benchmark: It is typically earned by skilled professionals in growing fields like healthcare, technology, and finance.
- Growth is in Your Hands: Your earning potential is not static. You can actively increase your income by pursuing higher education, gaining more experience, specializing in a high-demand niche, and strategically considering your geographic location.
- A Promising Future: The job outlook for roles in this pay range is overwhelmingly positive, promising stability and opportunity for years to come.
Whether you are currently earning $42 an hour or aspire to, understanding the full context of this salary can help you map out your next career move and build a prosperous professional future.