Calculators
Paycheck Calculator
Estimate US take-home pay per paycheck after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state tax and pre-tax retirement contributions.
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- Nothing uploaded
The tool
Enter your numbers below. Results update as you type, and nothing leaves your browser.
Everything you enter stays on your own machine. Nothing is sent to us or to anyone else, which you can confirm in your browser network tab.
What people use it for
- Budgeting from a job offer
- Comparing salaries
- Checking the effect of 401(k) contributions on take-home pay
- Planning a move between states
About this tool
What the Paycheck Calculator does
Take-home pay is gross pay minus pre-tax deductions, federal income tax, FICA (Social Security and Medicare) and state tax. This calculator uses 2026 federal brackets and standard deductions for single and married filers, the Social Security wage base and Medicare rates, and spreads the result across your pay periods.
It also works as a take-home pay calculator or a salary after tax calculator.
Formula
- Federal taxable = salary − pre-tax contributions − standard deduction
- Social Security = 6.2% up to the wage base; Medicare = 1.45% plus 0.9% above the threshold
- Take-home = salary − pre-tax − federal − FICA − state; per paycheck = take-home ÷ pay periods
Worked example
Using the starting values in the calculator above:
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual gross salary | $75,000 |
| Filing status | Single |
| Pay frequency | Every two weeks |
| Pre-tax retirement contribution | 5% |
| State income tax rate | 4% |
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Take-home per paycheck | $2,146.83 |
| Annual take-home | $55,818 |
| Federal income tax | $6,845 |
| Social Security and Medicare | $5,738 |
| State income tax | $2,850 |
| Pre-tax retirement | $3,750 |
| Total tax rate | 20.6% |
How to read the result
Pre-tax 401(k) contributions lower federal and usually state income tax, but not Social Security and Medicare.
Actual withholding depends on your W-4 and may differ from the true annual tax; this estimates the tax itself.
Limits to keep in mind
- Uses the standard deduction and a flat state rate; credits, itemised deductions and local taxes are not included.
Estimates using 2026 US federal figures. Not tax advice; your withholding may differ.
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Questions
Questions about this tool
The things clients actually want to know — costs, timelines, ownership and what happens after launch.
Federal income tax, Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%), state tax where applicable and any pre-tax deductions.
The Federal Insurance Contributions Act taxes: Social Security and Medicare, withheld from wages.
Withholding is based on your W-4 and may include benefits, local taxes or other deductions not modelled here.
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