Paycheck Calculator
Estimate your US take-home pay after federal, state, Social Security, and Medicare taxes. Factors in 401(k) and pre-tax deductions.
401(k), HSA, health insurance premiums
Flat-rate estimate; enter 0 for no-tax states
Annual tax breakdown
How to use this calculator
Enter your annual gross salary (before any deductions), pick your filing status and pay frequency, and add up any pre-tax deductions — 401(k) contributions, HSA, health insurance premiums. Enter your state tax rate. The calculator returns your per-paycheck take-home, annual take-home, and a full breakdown of where the taxes go.
What's in "take-home"
Take-home pay is what actually hits your bank account after: federal income tax, Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45% + 0.9% above $200k), state income tax, and any pre-tax benefit deductions. Post-tax deductions (Roth 401k, disability insurance, garnishments) further reduce net; this calculator covers pre-tax only.
US federal tax brackets at a glance (2026, single)
The US uses marginal brackets — not your whole income at your top rate, just the portion in each bracket. Single filer (2026 estimated): 10% up to $11,925 → 12% to $48,475 → 22% to $103,350 → 24% to $197,300 → 32% to $250,525 → 35% to $626,350 → 37% above. The standard deduction ($15,750 single, $31,500 MFJ) reduces the income that faces these brackets.
FICA taxes
Social Security: 6.2% of wages up to the cap ($176,100 in 2026). High earners stop paying SS after that threshold — which is why late-year paychecks sometimes look bigger. Medicare: 1.45% on all wages, plus an additional 0.9% on wages over $200,000 (single). Your employer matches your SS and Medicare contributions, but you don't see that on your paystub.
Using this to plan
The most valuable pattern: estimate take-home, then set your budget from that number — not from gross. Too many people budget on gross, then feel broke when reality delivers less. Also useful for comparing job offers in different states (CA vs TX take-home on $150k differ by roughly $10k/year).
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is this paycheck calculator?▾
It uses 2026 US federal tax brackets and standard deductions, FICA rates (Social Security 6.2% up to $176,100, Medicare 1.45% + 0.9% above $200k), and a flat state tax rate. Real paychecks can vary by ±5% due to state-specific brackets, local taxes, and employer-specific pre-tax benefits. For exact numbers, use your employer's tax estimator or a pay stub.
What counts as pre-tax deductions?▾
401(k) and 403(b) contributions, HSA contributions, health/dental/vision insurance premiums, FSA contributions, and some transportation benefits. These reduce your federal taxable income. Roth 401(k) is NOT pre-tax — those contributions are included in your taxable income.
Why is my take-home so much less than my salary?▾
Most middle-class US earners keep 65-80% of gross. Breakdown on $85k single: ~$9-13k federal, ~$5.3k Social Security, ~$1.2k Medicare, ~$2-5k state = $18-25k in taxes before any benefit deductions. Pre-tax benefits (401k, health premiums) reduce taxable income but still reduce take-home.
How does state tax work in this calculator?▾
We use a flat rate for simplicity. In reality, most states have bracketed systems. No-tax states (enter 0): AK, FL, NV, SD, TN, TX, WA, WY, NH (dividends only). High-tax states: CA, NY, NJ, HI, MN typically hit 6-10% for middle incomes. Look up your state's effective rate for precision.
What about bonuses and stock?▾
Bonuses are taxed at your marginal rate plus a federal 22% supplemental withholding (or 37% above $1M). RSUs are treated as ordinary income at vest. This calculator covers base salary only. For bonuses and equity, add them to your gross annual and rerun for an approximate effective rate.
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