Paycheck Calculator
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See your exact net take-home pay per paycheck after federal tax, state tax, and FICA deductions.
Net Pay Per Paycheck
$0
📐 Formula
Net Pay = Gross Pay − Federal Tax − State Tax − FICA − Pre-tax Deductions
How to Use the Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary
Input your total gross annual salary before any deductions. If you are paid hourly, multiply your rate by 2,080 for a standard full-time year.
Select pay frequency
Choose weekly (52), bi-weekly (26), semi-monthly (24), or monthly (12). This determines your per-paycheck gross before deductions.
Enter state tax rate
Input your state's flat income tax rate — from 0% in Texas or Florida to 13.3% for California's top rate. Check your state revenue website for the current figure.
Add pre-tax deductions
Include monthly 401(k), HSA, or FSA contributions. These reduce federal and state taxable income dollar-for-dollar, directly increasing your take-home pay.
How Federal Paycheck Withholding Works
Your employer withholds federal income tax based on your W-4 filing status using the IRS withholding tables. Withholding is an estimate — your true liability is settled at year-end. The 2026 standard deduction is $15,000 (single) and $30,000 (MFJ). Federal tax is calculated progressively: only income in each bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate — a 22% bracket earner does not pay 22% on all income, only on income above the 12% threshold.
FICA: What It Is and Why It Comes Off Every Paycheck
FICA funds Social Security (6.2% on wages up to $176,100 in 2026) and Medicare (1.45% on all wages). Unlike income tax, FICA is unaffected by filing status or deductions — it applies to every dollar of earned income. An additional 0.9% Medicare surtax applies on wages above $200,000 (single). Your employer matches your FICA contributions, paying an equal amount separately. FICA and withholding together typically account for 25–35% of a paycheck for workers in the 22% bracket.
The Best Way to Increase Take-Home Pay Without a Raise
Maximising pre-tax 401(k) contributions is consistently the most impactful legal lever. In the 22% bracket, a $500/month 401(k) contribution saves $110/month in federal tax alone — a 22% guaranteed return before any investment growth. Additionally, reviewing your W-4 if you consistently receive a large refund lets you recapture that over-withholding immediately, effectively giving yourself a tax-free raise. An HSA contribution of $300/month on top of 401(k) saving generates further pre-tax relief for eligible high-deductible health plan holders.
How to Calculate Paycheck Withholding by Hand: Worked Example
Take a biweekly paycheck of $2,500 gross. FICA is fixed by law regardless of filing status or allowances:
Social Security (6.2% up to the annual wage base): $2,500 × 0.062 = $155.00.
Medicare (1.45% on all wages, no cap): $2,500 × 0.0145 = $36.25.
Total FICA: $155.00 + $36.25 = $191.25 per check, or 7.65% of gross — this portion is identical for every worker at this income level regardless of state or filing status. On an annualized basis ($2,500 × 26 = $65,000), federal income tax withholding (which does vary by filing status and allowances) typically adds another $6,500–$7,500 per year for a single filer with no dependents, layered on top of the fixed FICA amount.
What Determines How Much Federal Tax Is Withheld?
What does the W-4 actually control?
The W-4 tells your employer which withholding table to apply — it does not change your actual tax bill, only how much is collected throughout the year versus reconciled at filing. Claiming dependents or additional deductions on the W-4 reduces withholding per check (more take-home pay now); leaving it at defaults or adding "extra withholding" increases it (larger refund, smaller checks). Neither choice changes what you ultimately owe for the year — only the size of the refund or balance due in April.
What is the single best lever to increase take-home pay without a raise?
Pre-tax retirement contributions. Every dollar directed to a traditional 401k or HSA reduces the income federal withholding is calculated on, so a $200 contribution typically reduces take-home pay by less than $200 — commonly $150–$160 for someone in the 22% bracket once income tax and, for an HSA, FICA savings are counted — while still building retirement or medical savings.
Why do two people with the same salary have different net pay?
State income tax rates, local taxes, health insurance premium levels, retirement contribution rates, and filing status all shift withholding independently of gross salary. Comparing two job offers by net pay requires matching all of these assumptions, not just the headline salary figure.
Why does a bonus paycheck get taxed so heavily?
Bonuses are commonly withheld using the IRS supplemental wage rate — a flat 22% federal rate up to $1 million, separate from your regular paycheck's bracket-based withholding. On a $2,000 bonus that means $440 withheld for federal tax alone, plus FICA, regardless of your normal marginal rate. As with regular overtime, this is a withholding rate, not your final tax rate — if your annual income keeps you below the 22% bracket, part of that withholding is returned as a refund when you file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & Methodology
Calculations are based on the most current publicly available data from authoritative government and industry sources: