Paycheck Calculator

Convert your salary or hourly wage into take-home pay per paycheck after federal tax estimate, FICA and pre-tax deductions.

Inputs

Pay typeAnnual salary

Pay frequencyFederal tax rateeffective %

State tax rate0 if none

Pre-tax deductionsper paycheck

Results

Take-home / paycheck

$1,913.37

Take-home / year

$49,747.50

Gross / paycheck

$2,884.62

Federal tax

$368.85

State tax

$131.73

FICA (7.65%)

$220.67

Estimate only — not tax advice. Actual withholding depends on your W-4 elections, state and local taxes, and benefits. FICA is 6.2% Social Security (up to the annual wage base) plus 1.45% Medicare. For a detailed federal breakdown, see the 2026 Federal Tax Calculator in the related tools below.

Comprehensive Guide & Formulas

By CalcSuite Editorial TeamUpdated 14 June 20268 min read

Direct Summary / AI Overview

Gross to take-home pay

Key Takeaways & Benchmarks

✓Take-home pay = gross pay − federal tax − state tax − FICA (7.65%) − pre-tax deductions.
✓FICA is 6.2% Social Security (up to the annual wage base) + 1.45% Medicare on all wages.
✓Pre-tax deductions like 401(k) and health premiums lower your taxable income.
✓This is an estimate — actual withholding depends on your W-4, state, and payroll specifics.

What this calculator does

This tool converts your salary or hourly wage into take-home pay per paycheck — after an estimated federal income tax, state tax, FICA payroll tax, and your pre-tax deductions. Use it to budget, compare job offers, or see what a raise is really worth after taxes.

How it works

1
Enter gross pay
Annual salary, or hourly wage plus hours per week.
2
Choose pay frequency
Weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, or monthly.
3
Set tax rates
Your estimated effective federal and state income tax rates.
4
Add pre-tax deductions
401(k), HSA, and health premiums per paycheck.
5
Read take-home pay
Net per paycheck and per year, with each deduction shown.

The formula

Gross per paycheck = annual gross ÷ paychecks per year

Taxable = gross − pre-tax deductions

Take-home = gross − federal tax − state tax − FICA (7.65%) − pre-tax deductions

Where your paycheck goes

▸Federal income tax: progressive brackets from 10% to 37% — your effective rate is always lower than your top bracket.
▸State income tax: 0% to ~13% depending on state; nine states levy no wage income tax at all.
▸FICA: 7.65% total — 6.2% Social Security (up to the annual wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
▸Pre-tax deductions: 401(k), HSA, FSA, and health premiums reduce taxable income before taxes are figured.

Understanding your real tax rate

The most common paycheck surprise is the gap between gross salary and take-home pay. Someone earning $75,000 might expect roughly $6,250/month, then wonder why only ~$4,600 lands in their account. The answer is the stack of deductions above — and the biggest conceptual hurdle is understanding marginal vs. effective tax rates.

The US federal system is progressive: you pay 10% on the first slice of taxable income, 12% on the next slice, 22% on the next, and so on. Your 'tax bracket' is just the rate on your last dollar earned. Your effective rate — total tax divided by total income — is always lower. Someone in the 22% bracket typically has a federal effective rate around 12–15% after the standard deduction.

For this calculator, enter your effective rates, not your bracket. If you don't know them, a reasonable starting point for a single filer earning $50k–$100k is 12–16% federal effective. For a precise bracket-by-bracket figure, run the 2026 Federal Tax Calculator first, then bring the effective rate back here.

Deduction	Typical range	Notes
Federal income tax (effective)	10–20%	Progressive; effective < marginal bracket
State income tax	0–10%	Nine states have none
FICA	7.65%	6.2% SS + 1.45% Medicare
401(k) / HSA / premiums	Varies	Pre-tax; lowers taxable income

Explore the topic cluster

2026 Federal Tax Calculator

Get a detailed federal tax breakdown by bracket for the full picture.

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Frequently asked questions

How is take-home pay calculated?+

Take-home pay = gross pay − federal income tax − state/local income tax − FICA (Social Security + Medicare) − pre-tax deductions like 401(k) and health insurance. This calculator estimates each piece from the rates you enter.

What is FICA tax?+

FICA is the federal payroll tax: 6.2% for Social Security (only on wages up to the annual wage base, $176,100 for 2025) plus 1.45% for Medicare on all wages. Your employer matches it, so the total FICA paid on your labor is 15.3%.

Why is my actual paycheck different from this estimate?+

Real withholding depends on your W-4 elections, pre-tax vs Roth 401(k) choices, state and local taxes, and benefits. This tool uses flat effective rates you provide — it's a planning estimate, not a payroll prediction.

What's the difference between salary and hourly for take-home pay?+

Only how gross pay is computed — salary is fixed annually, hourly is wage × hours × 52. Overtime, bonuses, and commissions are taxed the same way as regular wages (though withholding on bonuses uses a flat 22% federal rate).

Do pre-tax deductions really save money?+

Yes. A $250 pre-tax 401(k) contribution per paycheck lowers your taxable income by $250, saving you roughly $250 × your marginal tax rate. It also lowers the amount subject to federal and state income tax (but not FICA, for 401(k) — it does reduce FICA for HSA and some other deductions).

Which states have no income tax?+

As of recent years: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire (interest/dividends only, being phased out), South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Set the state rate to 0% in the calculator if you live in one.

How can I get a more precise federal tax number?+

Use the 2026 Federal Tax Calculator for a bracket-by-bracket federal breakdown, then plug that effective rate back into this paycheck tool for per-paycheck figures.