Paycheck Calculator
Last Updated:
See your exact net take-home pay per paycheck after federal tax, state tax, and FICA deductions.
Quick answer: Net pay equals gross pay minus federal tax, state tax, FICA, and any pre-tax deductions. FICA alone takes 7.65% of every paycheck (6.2% Social Security plus 1.45% Medicare), and unlike federal or state tax it can't be reduced by a 401(k) or other pre-tax deduction. Combined with federal and state withholding, that's why take-home pay is routinely 25–35% below gross for a typical earner.
Net Pay Per Paycheck
$0
FICA is calculated on gross wages and is not reduced by pre-tax deductions (traditional 401(k) contributions remain subject to Social Security and Medicare tax).
📐 Formula
Net Pay = Gross Pay − Federal Tax − State Tax − FICA − Pre-tax Deductions
How to Use the Paycheck Calculator
Enter your salary or hourly rate
Choose "Annual Salary" and input your total gross salary, or choose "Hourly Rate" and enter your hourly wage plus hours worked per week, and the calculator converts these to an annual salary automatically.
Select your filing status
Choose Single, Married Filing Jointly, or Head of Household. This determines which 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deduction apply.
Select pay frequency and state tax rate
Choose weekly (52), bi-weekly (26), semi-monthly (24), or monthly (12) pay periods, then input your state's flat income tax rate, from 0% in Texas or Florida to 13.3% in California, at its top marginal rate.
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 $16,100 (Single), $32,200 (Married Filing Jointly), or $24,150 (Head of Household); this calculator supports all three filing statuses. Federal tax is calculated progressively: only income in each bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate, so a 22% bracket earner does not pay 22% on all income, only on income above the 12% threshold.
| Taxable Income (Single) | Marginal Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $12,400 | 10% |
| $12,401 – $50,400 | 12% |
| $50,401 – $105,700 | 22% |
| $105,701 – $201,775 | 24% |
| $201,776 – $256,225 | 32% |
| $256,226 – $640,600 | 35% |
| Over $640,600 | 37% |
Married Filing Jointly and Head of Household use the same 7 rates at wider (MFJ) or intermediate (HOH) income thresholds; select your filing status above to see them applied, or see the full bracket tables for all 3 statuses on the Overtime Tax Calculator.
FICA: What It Is and Why It Comes Off Every Paycheck
FICA funds Social Security (6.2% on wages up to $184,500 in 2026) and Medicare (1.45% on all wages). The base 7.65% rate is unaffected by filing status. It is also, with one narrow exception, unaffected by pre-tax deductions: it applies to every dollar of earned income, including money directed to a traditional 401(k). Only a Section 125 cafeteria-plan HSA contribution is FICA-exempt. This calculator's "Pre-tax Deductions (401k, HSA)" field treats both types the same way and computes FICA conservatively, as if none of that field is FICA-exempt, so a reader whose pre-tax total includes an HSA contribution will see a slightly understated take-home figure. An additional 0.9% Medicare surtax applies above $200,000 for Single and Head of Household filers, or $250,000 for Married Filing Jointly; this is the one part of FICA that does vary by filing status. 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
Maximizing 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 (FICA is unaffected by a 401(k) contribution, per the note above). 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; in reality an HSA contribution also lowers FICA wages slightly (unlike a 401(k)), though this calculator's blended input field doesn't model that distinction.
How to Calculate Paycheck Withholding by Hand: Worked Example
Take a biweekly paycheck of $2,500 gross with no pre-tax deductions. FICA's base rate is fixed by law regardless of filing status:
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 (the 0.9% Additional Medicare surtax only applies well above this income level, and its $200,000/$250,000 threshold does vary by 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 $5,500–$5,800 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. A traditional 401(k) contribution reduces the income federal and state withholding is calculated on, but not FICA wages, so a $200 401(k) contribution typically reduces take-home pay by $150–$160 for someone in the 22% bracket. A real HSA contribution reduces take-home pay by slightly less than that, since it also lowers FICA wages; this calculator's combined 401(k)/HSA field doesn't model that difference and treats every dollar entered there like a 401(k) contribution.
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 (37% on any amount above $1 million in a year), 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 pay, 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: