💰 Paycheck Calculator

Estimate your after-tax take-home pay from salary or hourly wage

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Calculate Take-Home Pay from Annual Salary

$
$
$
Estimated Bi-Weekly Take-Home
$0
Gross Annual Salary$0
Federal Income Tax$0
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)$0
State Income Tax$0
Pre-Tax Deductions$0
Annual Take-Home Pay$0
Effective Tax Rate0%
Monthly Take-Home$0

Calculate Take-Home Pay from Hourly Wage

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Enter 0 if your state has no income tax
Estimated Weekly Take-Home
$0
Gross Annual Income$0
Federal Income Tax (est.)$0
FICA (SS + Medicare)$0
State Tax (est.)$0
Annual Take-Home$0
Hourly Take-Home$0
Monthly Take-Home$0

How Much of Your Paycheck Do You Actually Keep?

The average U.S. worker takes home about 70–75% of their gross pay, depending on their income level, state of residence, and benefit elections. Our paycheck calculator breaks down exactly where each dollar goes — federal tax, Social Security, Medicare, state tax, and pre-tax benefits.

What's Deducted from Your Paycheck?

Deduction2026 RateApplies To
Federal Income Tax10%–37% (progressive)Taxable income after adjustments
Social Security (OASDI)6.2%Wages up to $176,100 (2025 cap, inflation-adjusted)
Medicare1.45% + 0.9% (high earners)All wages (0.9% surtax above $200k/$250k)
State Income Tax0%–13.3%Varies by state; 9 states have 0%
Pre-Tax BenefitsVaries401(k), health insurance, HSA (reduces taxable income)

2026 Federal Tax Brackets (Estimated)

RateSingleMarried Filing Jointly
10%$0 – $11,925$0 – $23,850
12%$11,926 – $48,475$23,851 – $96,950
22%$48,476 – $103,350$96,951 – $206,700
24%$103,351 – $197,300$206,701 – $394,600
32%$197,301 – $253,414$394,601 – $501,600
35%$253,415 – $609,350$501,601 – $751,600
37%$609,351+$751,601+

*Brackets are inflation-adjusted estimates for 2026 tax year. Consult a tax professional for precise figures.

States with No Income Tax (2026)

These 9 states do not levy a state income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire (dividend/interest only), South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Note that some of these states may have higher sales or property taxes to compensate.

How to Increase Your Take-Home Pay

  1. Maximize pre-tax retirement contributions: 401(k) contributions reduce your taxable income. The 2026 limit is expected to be $23,500 (under 50).
  2. Use an HSA: Health Savings Account contributions are triple-tax-advantaged — deductible going in, grow tax-free, and can be used tax-free for medical expenses.
  3. Check your W-4: Too little withholding means a surprise tax bill; too much means an interest-free loan to the government. Use our calculator to find the right balance.
  4. Consider relocating: If you live in a high-tax state (CA, NY, NJ, MA), moving to a no-income-tax state can save $5,000–$15,000+ annually for high earners.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this paycheck calculator accurate?
This calculator provides a close estimate based on 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions. It does not account for all tax situations (e.g., multiple jobs, itemized deductions, tax credits). For precise figures, consult a tax professional or use the official IRS withholding estimator.
Why is my take-home pay less than expected?
Common reasons include: under-withholding (leading to mid-year corrections), forgotten garnishments, benefit premium changes, or reaching the Social Security wage cap mid-year (causing a paycheck bump in the last months).
What's the difference between gross and net pay?
Gross pay is your total earnings before any deductions. Net pay (take-home pay) is what actually hits your bank account after taxes and benefits are subtracted. The difference can be 20–35% for a typical worker.
How do pre-tax deductions affect my paycheck?
Pre-tax deductions (401k, health insurance, HSA, FSA) reduce your taxable income, which means less federal and state income tax. However, Social Security and Medicare taxes still apply to your full gross pay (with some exceptions for certain benefits).