Paycheck Calculator
Estimate take-home pay per paycheck with 2026 federal brackets, Social Security, Medicare, 401(k), HSA and benefit deductions, plus a flat state and local tax rate.
The interactive tool loads here when JavaScript runs.
About this toolWhat is the Paycheck Calculator?
The Paycheck Calculator turns a gross salary, hourly rate or per-paycheck amount into the money that actually lands in your bank account. It applies the 2026 federal income tax brackets and standard deduction for your filing status, Social Security and Medicare (FICA), and the deductions that come out before and after tax: traditional and Roth 401(k), HSA contributions, pre-tax health premiums and anything else your employer takes.
Results show per paycheck and per year for weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, monthly or annual pay, with a line-by-line breakdown, the federal tax in each bracket, your marginal and effective rates, and a "How this was calculated" panel that shows every step. State and local income tax are entered as a flat percentage, because state rules differ too much to fold into one form; you choose the rate that matches your state.
Everything runs in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere, and the Share link stores the inputs in the URL so you can reopen or send the same estimate.
- 2026 federal brackets and standard deductions for all four filing statuses
- Social Security wage base, Medicare and the 0.9% additional Medicare tax
- Traditional and Roth 401(k) with the 2026 limit and age-based catch-up
- HSA and Section 125 deductions that also lower FICA
- Child tax credit, other-dependent credit and the 65+ deductions
- Per-paycheck and annual breakdown, bracket table, copy and share link
- Runs entirely in your browser
How to use the Paycheck Calculator
- Choose how you want to enter pay: an annual salary, the gross amount on each paycheck, or an hourly rate with hours per week.
- Pick your pay frequency (weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, monthly or annually), your filing status and your age at the end of 2026. Married couples filing jointly can tick "Spouse is 65 or older".
- Enter deductions: traditional and Roth 401(k) as a percentage of pay, and HSA, pre-tax benefits and after-tax deductions as dollars per paycheck.
- Type your state and local income tax rates as flat percentages (use 0 for a state without a wage income tax), then the number of children under 17 and other dependents. Add itemized deductions only if they exceed the standard deduction.
- Read take-home pay per paycheck and per year, the breakdown table and the federal bracket table, then copy the result or share the link.
Worked examples
$75,000 salary, single, paid bi-weekly
Input
$75,000 a year, bi-weekly, single, age 35, 5% traditional 401(k), 4% state tax
Output
Take-home $2,146.83 per paycheck ($55,817.50 a year); federal tax $6,845, Social Security $4,650, Medicare $1,087.50, state $2,850, 401(k) $3,750
The $3,750 401(k) deferral cuts federal wages to $71,250; minus the $16,100 standard deduction leaves $55,150 of taxable income, which is $5,800 on the first $50,400 plus 22% of the rest. FICA is still charged on the full $75,000.
Married couple with two children
Input
$120,000, semi-monthly, married filing jointly, 6% 401(k), $200 pre-tax health premium per paycheck, 4.5% state, 2 children
Output
Take-home $3,755.30 per paycheck; federal tax $4,200 after a $4,400 child tax credit
Taxable income is $120,000 - $7,200 - $4,800 - $32,200 = $75,800, so the bracket tax is $8,600 before the two $2,200 credits. The health premium also lowers Social Security and Medicare because it runs through a Section 125 plan.
$25 an hour, weekly pay, no state income tax
Input
$25/hour x 40 hours, weekly, single, age 28, 0% state
Output
Gross $1,000 a week; take-home $845.42 a week ($43,962 a year)
$52,000 a year minus the $16,100 standard deduction is $35,900 taxable, giving $4,060 of federal tax. FICA takes 7.65%, or $76.50 a week.
High earner hitting the limits
Input
$250,000, bi-weekly, single, 10% traditional 401(k)
Output
401(k) capped at $24,500; Social Security $11,439 (maximum); additional Medicare $450; take-home about $6,404.69 per paycheck on average
10% of pay would be $25,000, above the 2026 deferral limit for someone under 50. Social Security stops at the $184,500 wage base, and the 0.9% surtax applies to the $50,000 above $200,000.
Background and insight
Take-home pay is gross pay minus four kinds of deduction. Pre-tax deductions come first: a traditional 401(k) deferral lowers the wages subject to federal income tax, while Section 125 cafeteria-plan items (health, dental and vision premiums, health FSA) and HSA contributions made through payroll lower both income-tax wages and the wages subject to Social Security and Medicare. That difference matters: 401(k) money still pays FICA, which is why box 1 and box 3 of a W-2 often show different numbers.
Federal income tax for 2026 uses the figures in IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32, which reflects the changes made by Public Law 119-21 (the 2025 budget law often called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act). The standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers and married people filing separately, $24,150 for heads of household and $32,200 for married couples filing jointly. The seven rates run from 10% to 37%; for a single filer the 22% bracket covers taxable income from $50,400 to $105,700. Filers aged 65 or older add $2,050 (unmarried) or $1,650 (married, per person) to the standard deduction, and for 2025 to 2028 they can also take the new $6,000 senior deduction, reduced by 6% of income above $75,000 ($150,000 joint).
FICA is flat. Employees pay 6.2% Social Security on wages up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500 set by the Social Security Administration, and 1.45% Medicare on all wages. Above $200,000 for single and head-of-household filers ($250,000 joint, $125,000 separate) an additional 0.9% Medicare tax applies under IRC 3101(b)(2). The child tax credit is $2,200 per qualifying child under 17 for 2026, and the credit for other dependents is $500, both phasing out by $50 per $1,000 of income above $200,000 ($400,000 joint).
The calculator estimates your yearly tax liability and spreads it evenly over your paychecks. Employers actually withhold using the percentage-method tables in IRS Publication 15-T and the answers on your Form W-4, so a real stub can differ by a few dollars a paycheck. The difference is settled when you file your return. Social Security also stops for the rest of the year once your wages pass $184,500, so high earners see larger checks late in the year; the per-paycheck figure here is the yearly average.
Common use cases
Checking a new job offer
Turn the salary in an offer letter into the monthly or bi-weekly amount your budget actually runs on.
Choosing a 401(k) percentage
See how much a higher pre-tax contribution really costs per paycheck once the tax saving is counted.
Checking a pay stub
Compare the federal tax, FICA and net pay on your stub with an independent estimate and spot missing or extra deductions.
Planning a move between states
Change only the flat state rate to compare take-home pay in a no-income-tax state against a high-tax one.
Budgeting around benefits enrollment
Add health premiums and HSA contributions as pre-tax deductions and see their net effect before open enrollment closes.
Tips and limitations
- State tax here is one flat rate on wages after pre-tax deductions. Most states use brackets, and a few (Pennsylvania, for example) do not exclude 401(k) deferrals, so use your effective state rate and treat the result as an estimate.
- Nine states do not tax wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. Enter 0 for these.
- Local taxes such as New York City, Philadelphia or Ohio municipal income taxes go in the local field. Some are charged on gross wages, so check the base your city uses.
- State disability or paid-leave payroll taxes (for example California SDI) are not included; add them as an after-tax deduction per paycheck.
- Bonuses are often withheld at a flat 22% federal supplemental rate, so a bonus check looks more heavily taxed than this estimate, even though the final tax is the same.
- The refundable part of the child tax credit (up to $1,700 per child in 2026) comes back when you file, not in your paycheck, so it is not added to take-home pay.
- Tips and overtime deductions introduced for 2025 to 2028 are claimed on the tax return. If you expect them, add the amount to the itemized field only if you itemize, otherwise treat this estimate as slightly high on tax.
Frequently asked questions
How much tax comes out of a paycheck in 2026?
For a single filer earning $75,000 with a 5% 401(k) and a 4% state tax, about 21% of gross goes to tax: $6,845 federal income tax, $5,737.50 Social Security and Medicare and $2,850 state tax a year. The share rises with income because federal income tax is progressive, while FICA stays at 7.65% up to the Social Security wage base.
Does a 401(k) contribution lower Social Security and Medicare tax?
No. Traditional 401(k) deferrals lower federal (and usually state) income tax, but they are still wages for FICA, so Social Security and Medicare are charged on the full amount. HSA contributions through payroll and Section 125 health premiums are different: they are exempt from both.
What is the 2026 standard deduction?
IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 sets it at $16,100 for single filers and married filing separately, $24,150 for heads of household and $32,200 for married filing jointly. People 65 or older add $2,050 if unmarried or $1,650 each if married.
What is the Social Security wage base for 2026?
The Social Security Administration set it at $184,500. Employees pay 6.2% on wages up to that amount, a maximum of $11,439 for the year; wages above it pay only Medicare.
Why does my pay stub show a different federal tax?
Employers withhold using the IRS Publication 15-T tables and your Form W-4, which approximate the annual tax per paycheck. This calculator computes the annual tax itself and divides it evenly, so the two can differ by a few dollars; the gap is settled on your tax return.
How is state income tax handled?
You enter a flat percentage, applied to wages after the 401(k), HSA and pre-tax benefit deductions. The tool does not contain state bracket tables, so for a bracketed state use your effective rate (state tax last year divided by state wages) for the closest answer.
What is the difference between bi-weekly and semi-monthly pay here?
Bi-weekly divides the year into 26 paychecks and semi-monthly into 24. The yearly tax is the same, but each semi-monthly check is larger: on $75,000 the gross is $2,884.62 bi-weekly against $3,125 semi-monthly.
Does the calculator include the senior deduction and the child tax credit?
Yes. If you are 65 or older it adds the extra standard deduction and the $6,000 senior deduction for 2025 to 2028, reduced by 6% of income above $75,000 ($150,000 joint). Children under 17 earn a $2,200 credit each and other dependents $500, limited to your income tax.
Is there an in-depth guide to the Paycheck Calculator?
Yes. “Take-Home Pay in 2026: How a US Paycheck Is Calculated” covers the background, how it works, common pitfalls and worked examples. Read the full guide.
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