Why doesn't this match my pay stub exactly?

Pre-tax deductions (401k, health insurance, HSA), post-tax deductions (Roth 401k, garnishments), and local/city taxes aren't modeled. The output is a ballpark before those are applied.

Is this accurate for 2026?

Federal brackets and FICA rates are reviewed annually. If you're filing for a tax year with different brackets, treat the numbers as approximate.

What's the FICA tax rate?

Total FICA: 7.65% of gross wages — 6.2% Social Security (on first $168,600 of wages in 2024, $176,100 in 2025) and 1.45% Medicare (no cap). Self-employed individuals pay both halves: 15.3% total. High earners ($200K+ single filer) pay an additional 0.9% Medicare surcharge on wages above the threshold. FICA is non-negotiable for W-2 income; only pre-tax retirement contributions (traditional 401(k), HSA via cafeteria plan) reduce wages subject to Medicare. Social Security wages are NOT reduced by 401(k) contributions.

How do federal income tax brackets work?

Brackets are marginal — only the income within each bracket is taxed at that rate. 2024 brackets (single filer): 10% up to $11,600, 12% to $47,150, 22% to $100,525, 24% to $191,950, 32% to $243,725, 35% to $609,350, 37% above. So someone earning $80,000 doesn't pay 22% on all of it — they pay 10% on first $11,600, 12% on next $35,550, 22% on remaining $32,850. Effective tax rate (total federal tax / gross income) is typically 70-85% of marginal rate. The standard deduction ($14,600 single, $29,200 married 2024) reduces taxable income before brackets apply.

Which states have no income tax?

Nine states: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire (interest/dividends only), South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming. Those states usually compensate with higher sales tax (TX, WA, FL) or property tax (TX, NH). Highest income tax states: California (top rate 13.3%), Hawaii (11%), New York (10.9% NYC has additional city tax), New Jersey (10.75%), Oregon (9.9%). Same federal taxes everywhere; state tax can swing take-home by 5-13% depending on state. Moving for tax reasons (CA → TX, NY → FL) is a real strategy for high earners.

How much should I withhold for taxes?

Goal: zero refund and zero owed at filing. Refunds = giving the government an interest-free loan. Owing = potential underpayment penalty. Use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator (irs.gov) annually, especially after life changes (marriage, baby, second job, big raise). Common adjustments: more allowances if you bought a home (mortgage interest deduction), fewer allowances if you have second income or capital gains. W-4 form (single page, fill out once with new employer or to update) is the mechanism. Self-employed: pay quarterly estimated taxes Apr 15 / Jun 15 / Sep 15 / Jan 15.

Money & Finance · Free tool

Paycheck Calculator

Estimate your take-home pay after federal tax, state tax, and common deductions. Fast, free, updated for 2026.

Updated June 2026

Annual salary ($)Pre-tax deductions ($/yr)Federal tax rate (%)State tax rate (%)Pay frequency

Per-paycheck take-home

$1,933

26 paychecks/yr · Annual take-home: $50,263

Federal

$10,500

State

$3,500

FICA

$5,738

Estimate only. Withholding depends on W-4 elections, credits, and local taxes.

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What it does

A free paycheck calculator that estimates your take-home pay after federal tax, state tax, Social Security, and Medicare. Enter gross salary and pay frequency; get the breakdown in seconds. All math runs in your browser.

The numbers are estimates — actual paychecks depend on local tax, pre-tax deductions (401k, health insurance), and state-specific rules. Use this as a starting point, then compare against your real pay stub. Pair with our budgeting guide.

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Example input & output

Input

Gross salary: $85,000
Frequency: biweekly
State tax: 5%

Output

Per paycheck: ≈$2,380
Annual net: ≈$61,900
Total deductions: ≈$23,100

Real take-home will be lower once 401k, health insurance, and HSA contributions come out.

How to use it

Enter your gross salary.
Pick your pay frequency (weekly, biweekly, monthly).
Set an approximate state tax rate (varies by state).
Read your estimated net pay per paycheck and per year.

When to use this tool

Evaluating a salaried W-2 offer.
Ballparking net pay before pre-tax deductions.
Cross-checking payroll math against your first pay stub.

When not to use it

Self-employment or 1099 income (different tax treatment — estimated quarterlies, self-employment tax).
Pre-tax benefits math (401k, HSA, health insurance) that requires plan-specific details.
Non-US payroll — this uses US federal brackets, FICA, and Medicare only.

Common use cases

Estimating take-home pay for a new job offer.
Comparing the net of two offers in different states.
Setting a realistic monthly budget based on actual income.
Understanding how a raise translates to real spendable dollars.

Frequently asked questions

Why doesn't this match my pay stub exactly?: Pre-tax deductions (401k, health insurance, HSA), post-tax deductions (Roth 401k, garnishments), and local/city taxes aren't modeled. The output is a ballpark before those are applied.
Is this accurate for 2026?: Federal brackets and FICA rates are reviewed annually. If you're filing for a tax year with different brackets, treat the numbers as approximate.
What's the FICA tax rate?: Total FICA: 7.65% of gross wages — 6.2% Social Security (on first $168,600 of wages in 2024, $176,100 in 2025) and 1.45% Medicare (no cap). Self-employed individuals pay both halves: 15.3% total. High earners ($200K+ single filer) pay an additional 0.9% Medicare surcharge on wages above the threshold. FICA is non-negotiable for W-2 income; only pre-tax retirement contributions (traditional 401(k), HSA via cafeteria plan) reduce wages subject to Medicare. Social Security wages are NOT reduced by 401(k) contributions.
How do federal income tax brackets work?: Brackets are marginal — only the income within each bracket is taxed at that rate. 2024 brackets (single filer): 10% up to $11,600, 12% to $47,150, 22% to $100,525, 24% to $191,950, 32% to $243,725, 35% to $609,350, 37% above. So someone earning $80,000 doesn't pay 22% on all of it — they pay 10% on first $11,600, 12% on next $35,550, 22% on remaining $32,850. Effective tax rate (total federal tax / gross income) is typically 70-85% of marginal rate. The standard deduction ($14,600 single, $29,200 married 2024) reduces taxable income before brackets apply.
Which states have no income tax?: Nine states: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire (interest/dividends only), South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming. Those states usually compensate with higher sales tax (TX, WA, FL) or property tax (TX, NH). Highest income tax states: California (top rate 13.3%), Hawaii (11%), New York (10.9% NYC has additional city tax), New Jersey (10.75%), Oregon (9.9%). Same federal taxes everywhere; state tax can swing take-home by 5-13% depending on state. Moving for tax reasons (CA → TX, NY → FL) is a real strategy for high earners.
How much should I withhold for taxes?: Goal: zero refund and zero owed at filing. Refunds = giving the government an interest-free loan. Owing = potential underpayment penalty. Use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator (irs.gov) annually, especially after life changes (marriage, baby, second job, big raise). Common adjustments: more allowances if you bought a home (mortgage interest deduction), fewer allowances if you have second income or capital gains. W-4 form (single page, fill out once with new employer or to update) is the mechanism. Self-employed: pay quarterly estimated taxes Apr 15 / Jun 15 / Sep 15 / Jan 15.

Show the math + sources

Formula

Federal income tax withholding via the IRS Percentage Method tables (Pub 15-T). FICA: Social Security 6.2% on first $176,100; Medicare 1.45% on all wages (+0.9% over $200k single / $250k married).

What this assumes

Federal taxes only by default. Assumes a post-2020 W-4 (no withholding allowances). Does not model state/local income tax, pre-tax deductions (401(k), HSA), or supplemental wage rules unless explicitly toggled. 2026 figures.

Sources

Methodology last verified: 2026-04-30Data: Tax year 2026

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