Paycheck Calculator

Estimate your take-home pay after federal taxes, FICA, state taxes, and deductions

Interactive Tool
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for educational purposes only based on 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions. Actual take-home pay varies based on your specific tax situation, local taxes, and employer withholdings. This is not tax advice. Consult a tax professional for personalized guidance.
💰 Income
?Your base pay rate before taxes or deductions. For salary, enter your total annual compensation.
?Regular hours worked per week (not including overtime). Standard full-time is 40 hours.
?Weeks you work annually. Use 52 for year-round work, or reduce for unpaid time off (e.g., 50 for 2 weeks unpaid vacation).
?Average overtime hours per week beyond your regular hours. These are typically paid at 1.5× your regular rate.
📋 Filing Status ?Your tax filing status affects your standard deduction and tax brackets. Choose the status you'll use when filing your tax return.

🏥 Pre-Tax Deductions (Per Paycheck)

?Your share of health insurance premiums deducted each paycheck. Check your pay stub for the exact amount.
?Dental insurance premium deducted from your paycheck, if enrolled.
?Vision insurance premium deducted from your paycheck, if enrolled.
?Health Savings Account contribution. Pre-tax savings for medical expenses. Requires a high-deductible health plan.
?Flexible Spending Account for healthcare or dependent care. Use-it-or-lose-it pre-tax dollars.
?Any other pre-tax deductions like commuter benefits, life insurance, or disability insurance.
?How often you get paid. This helps convert your per-paycheck deductions to annual amounts.
Used to annualize your per-paycheck deduction amounts

📊 Retirement & Taxes

?Percentage of your salary contributed to your 401(k) retirement plan. Reduces taxable income now; taxed when withdrawn in retirement.
Reduces federal/state taxable income
?Select your state to automatically calculate state income tax. Tax is calculated using 2026 state tax brackets or flat rates. Local taxes are not included.
Select your state for automatic tax calculation

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Dependents (Tax Credits)

?Qualifying children under age 17 at year-end who you claim as dependents. Each provides a $2,200 tax credit (2026).
$2,200 credit each (2026)
?Other qualifying dependents like children 17+, elderly parents, or disabled relatives. Each provides a $500 tax credit.
$500 credit each

🛡️ Additional Tax Exemptions

?Annual dollar amount of additional deductions beyond the standard deduction for federal taxes. This corresponds to W-4 Step 4(b) — extra deductions you expect to claim on your tax return (e.g., itemized deductions above the standard deduction, student loan interest, IRA contributions).
Reduces federal taxable income
?Annual dollar amount of additional deductions or exemptions for state taxes. If your state withholding form allows you to claim extra allowances or exemptions, enter the total annual dollar value here. Check your state's withholding form for the per-allowance amount and multiply by the number you claim.
Reduces state taxable income
These reduce your taxable income beyond the standard deduction. If your state uses withholding allowances, multiply your allowances by the per-allowance amount from your state's withholding form.

💸 After-Tax Deductions (Per Paycheck)

?Roth 401(k) contributions are made with after-tax dollars. Your contributions grow tax-free and withdrawals in retirement are tax-free.
?If you've borrowed from your 401(k), loan repayments are deducted from your paycheck after taxes. The principal goes back into your 401(k) account.
?Regular union membership dues deducted from your paycheck. These are typically a flat amount or percentage of your wages.
?Court-ordered deductions for child support, alimony, tax levies, student loans, or other debts. These are mandatory after-tax deductions.
?Any other after-tax deductions like charitable contributions, life insurance (beyond employer-provided), or voluntary benefits.
After-tax deductions don't reduce your taxable income—they're subtracted from your net pay after all taxes are calculated.
📊 Your Take-Home Pay
Annual Net Pay
$0
Based on $0 gross income
Annual Gross
$0
Total Deductions
$0
💳 Net Pay Per Paycheck
Weekly
$0
Bi-Weekly
$0
Semi-Monthly
$0
Monthly
$0
Net Pay $0
Federal Tax $0
FICA (SS/Med) $0
State Tax $0
401(k) $0
Other Pre-Tax $0
After-Tax $0
Effective Tax Rate ?Your actual tax burden as a percentage of gross income. This is lower than your marginal rate because only income above each threshold is taxed at higher rates.
0%
Marginal Bracket: 10% ?The tax rate applied to your last (highest) dollar of income. Additional income is taxed at this rate.

📚 2026 Federal Tax Brackets

Rate Single Married Filing Jointly Head of Household
10% $0 - $12,400 $0 - $24,800 $0 - $17,700
12% $12,400 - $50,400 $24,800 - $100,800 $17,700 - $67,450
22% $50,400 - $105,700 $100,800 - $211,400 $67,450 - $105,700
24% $105,700 - $201,775 $211,400 - $403,550 $105,700 - $201,750
32% $201,775 - $256,225 $403,550 - $512,450 $201,750 - $256,200
35% $256,225 - $640,600 $512,450 - $768,700 $256,200 - $640,600
37% Over $640,600 Over $768,700 Over $640,600

🆕 Key 2026 Tax Information

📄 Standard Deduction

Single: $16,100 • Married: $32,200 • Head of Household: $24,150. These amounts are subtracted from your income before calculating taxes.

🔒 Social Security Wage Base

$184,500 for 2026. You pay 6.2% Social Security tax on earnings up to this limit. Medicare tax (1.45%) applies to all earnings.

👶 Child Tax Credit

$2,200 per qualifying child under 17 (up from $2,000). Phase-out begins at $400,000 (married) or $200,000 (single).

💊 Additional Medicare Tax

Extra 0.9% Medicare tax on wages over $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married). This is in addition to the standard 1.45%.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How accurate is this calculator?

This calculator provides estimates based on projected 2026 federal tax rules. Your actual paycheck may differ due to additional withholdings, state-specific rules, or employer policies. For precise amounts, consult your HR department or a tax professional.

What is FICA?

FICA stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It includes Social Security (6.2% up to the wage base) and Medicare (1.45% on all earnings, plus 0.9% on high earners). Your employer pays a matching amount.

Why does my take-home pay seem lower than expected?

Between federal taxes, FICA, state taxes, and pre-tax deductions, it's common to take home 65-80% of your gross pay. Higher earners may keep less due to higher marginal tax brackets.

Should I increase my 401(k) contributions?

401(k) contributions reduce your taxable income, lowering your current tax bill while building retirement savings. If your employer offers matching, try to contribute at least enough to get the full match—it's essentially free money.

What's the difference between marginal and effective tax rates?

Your marginal rate is the tax bracket on your last dollar of income. Your effective rate is your total tax divided by total income—always lower than marginal because only income above each threshold is taxed at higher rates.