Web22yr old making $17/hr. I am trying to increase my yearly earnings. I'm a 22m and currently earn $34k/year before taxes. After taxes and a 6% contribution to my roth 401k, my. Webjust 13% of workers in the u. s. Are now earning less than $15 an hour; Two years ago, that number was 31. 9%, per new data from oxfam.