How this paycheck calculator works
This calculator turns your gross pay into an estimate of what actually lands in your bank account. Enter an annual salary, or an hourly rate with your weekly hours (hourly pay is annualized as rate × hours × 52 weeks). It then subtracts your pre-tax deductions, federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and an optional state tax, and divides the result by the number of paychecks you get each year: 52 weekly, 26 biweekly, 24 semimonthly or 12 monthly.
Pre-tax deductions
A traditional 401(k) contribution, entered as a percentage of pay, lowers the wages subject to federal income tax, but it does not lower Social Security or Medicare wages. "Other pre-tax deductions" is meant for items such as health, dental or vision premiums and HSA or FSA contributions taken through a cafeteria plan. Those usually reduce both income-tax and payroll-tax wages, so the calculator treats them that way. Enter that amount per paycheck. For 2026 the IRS limit on employee 401(k) deferrals is $24,500, plus catch-up contributions if you are 50 or older (IRS Notice 2025-67).
Federal income tax for 2026
The calculator subtracts the 2026 standard deduction from your income-tax wages: $16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married couples filing jointly and $24,150 for heads of household. It then applies the progressive 2026 brackets of 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% and 37%. For single filers the 10% rate covers taxable income up to $12,400, 12% up to $50,400, 22% up to $105,700, 24% up to $201,775, 32% up to $256,225, 35% up to $640,600, and 37% applies above that. The joint brackets end at $24,800, $100,800, $211,400, $403,550, $512,450 and $768,700. The head of household brackets end at $17,700, $67,450, $105,700, $201,750, $256,200 and $640,600. These figures come from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 (section 4.01 tax rate tables and section 4.14 standard deduction). Only the dollars inside each bracket are taxed at that bracket's rate, so your effective rate is always lower than your marginal rate.
Social Security and Medicare (FICA)
Social Security tax is 6.2% of wages up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500, as published in the Social Security Administration's 2026 fact sheet. Medicare tax is 1.45% of all wages, with no cap. An Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9% applies to wages above $200,000 for single and head of household filers and above $250,000 for joint filers. Employers start withholding the extra 0.9% once your wages pass $200,000, whatever your filing status.
State income tax
State rules vary widely. Some states have no wage income tax, some charge a flat rate and others use brackets. To keep things simple you can enter one flat percentage, which is applied to your wages after the pre-tax deductions. If your state uses brackets, enter your approximate effective rate. Local or city income taxes are not included.
Why your real paycheck may differ
This is an estimate, not a pay stub. It figures the full-year tax and spreads it evenly across your paychecks. Your employer withholds using your Form W-4 and IRS Publication 15-T, so the answers above don't include dependents, tax credits, other income, itemized deductions, a second job or a spouse's wages. Social Security also stops partway through the year for high earners rather than being spread evenly. For exact withholding, use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator or ask a tax professional.
This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only and is not tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
How is take-home pay calculated?
Take-home pay is gross pay minus pre-tax deductions (such as 401(k) and health premiums), federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and any state or local income tax, divided by your number of paychecks per year.
What is the 2026 standard deduction?
Per IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32, the 2026 standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married couples filing jointly and $24,150 for heads of household.
What is the Social Security wage base for 2026?
Social Security tax of 6.2% applies to wages up to $184,500 in 2026. Medicare tax of 1.45% has no wage cap.
Does a 401(k) contribution lower my taxes?
A traditional pre-tax 401(k) contribution lowers your federal income-tax wages (and usually state wages), but Social Security and Medicare are still charged on that money. Roth 401(k) contributions do not lower current taxes.
Why is my actual paycheck different from this estimate?
Employers withhold based on your W-4, which can include dependents, extra withholding and other adjustments. This calculator spreads an annual estimate evenly and does not include credits, local taxes or benefits deductions you have not entered.