Work-Study Earnings Calculator: Pay, Hours per Week and When You Hit Your Award
Estimate federal work-study earnings from your hourly wage and weekly hours, the hours per week that use your full award, how many weeks until you reach the cap, your paycheck and what is left of the award.
How it works
Weekly earnings = wage × hours · Uncapped potential = weekly × weeks · Total earnings = min(potential, award − already earned) · Hours the award covers = award ÷ wage · Hours per week to use it all = award ÷ wage ÷ weeks
Federal work-study (FWS) pays you an hourly wage for time actually worked in a part-time job, and your school must pay at least the federal minimum wage ($7.25 an hour) or a higher state minimum. Your total pay under the program is limited to the work-study award on your aid offer: once you have earned that amount, you cannot keep earning work-study pay that award year. So the binding limit is whichever comes first, the hours on your schedule or the award. The calculator does both directions that school work-study calculators offer. Forward, it multiplies wage × hours × weeks and caps the result at the award. Backward, it divides the award by your wage to get the total hours the award covers, and by the number of weeks to get the hours per week that use it exactly. Under More options you can subtract what you have already earned this year, pick your pay schedule to see a typical paycheck, and enter an income-tax withholding rate for take-home pay. Work-study is paid to you as a paycheck, not credited to tuition, unless you ask your school to apply it to your bill.
Worked example
At $15 an hour for 12 hours a week you earn $15 × 12 = $180 a week. Over 30 weeks that is $5,400 of potential, but the $3,000 award caps your total earnings at $3,000, and you reach it in week 17 ($3,000 ÷ $180 = 16.67 weeks). The award covers $3,000 ÷ $15 = 200 hours, so to spread it over all 30 weeks you would work 200 ÷ 30 = 6.67 hours a week ($100 a week). Paid every two weeks, each gross paycheck is $360.
Sources: eCFR — 34 CFR 675.24, FWS wages (hourly pay, at least the FLSA minimum wage) · U.S. Department of Labor — Federal minimum wage ($7.25 since July 24, 2009) · IRS — Student exception to FICA tax · Grand Valley State University — Federal Work-Study calculator · Delta College — Work-study award conversion (worked example) · North Seattle College — Work-study hours (worked example and hour limits)
Frequently asked questions
How many hours a week can I work on work-study?
Divide your award by your hourly wage to get the total hours the award covers, then divide by the weeks left. A $3,000 award at $10.33 an hour covers 290.42 hours, or 17.08 hours a week over a 17-week semester. Your school may also set a weekly maximum, often around 19–20 hours while classes are in session.
Can I earn more than my work-study award?
Not under work-study. Once you earn the awarded amount, your work-study eligibility for the year is used up. Some students then move to a regular (non-work-study) campus job to keep earning, or ask the aid office whether the award can be increased.
What is the minimum wage for work-study?
Federal rules require at least the federal minimum wage, $7.25 an hour, and many states and schools pay more. Pay must be hourly for hours actually worked for undergraduates; graduate students may be paid a salary.
Does work-study money go straight to tuition?
Usually no. Unlike grants, work-study is paid to you as a regular paycheck for hours worked, so you can use it for books, transport or living costs. Some schools let you direct it to your bill.
Are work-study wages taxed?
Work-study pay is subject to federal and state income tax, though many students earn too little to owe much. Students working for their own college while enrolled are generally exempt from Social Security and Medicare (FICA) taxes under the IRS student exception.
Does work-study income hurt my financial aid?
Federal work-study earnings are generally excluded from the income used in future aid formulas, so they typically do not reduce next year’s eligibility the way an ordinary job might. Ask your aid office how to report them.
Related calculators
Estimates only. Your school’s financial aid office sets your work-study award, pay rate, schedule and hour limits.