Fill in the details and click Calculate to see your results.
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📘 About the Paycheck Calculator
Your paycheck starts with gross pay. Pre-tax deductions such as 401(k) contributions and health insurance come off first; then your employer withholds federal income tax, Social Security (6.2% up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500), Medicare (1.45%, plus 0.9% above $200,000) and any state and local income tax. What is left is your take-home (net) pay.
This calculator uses the 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, $24,150 head of household) on your annualized pay, like the IRS percentage method. State tax is estimated with a flat rate you enter, because each state has its own rules.
🧮 Formula
2026 figures from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 and the SSA. Results are estimates; your employer's payroll may differ slightly (rounding, W-4 Step 4 adjustments, state rules).
✏️ Worked examples
$3,000 every two weeks, single, 4% state
You get| Take-home pay per paycheck ($) | 2,166.04 |
| Federal income tax withheld ($) | 269.78 |
| Social Security 6.2% ($) | 181.04 |
| Medicare 1.45% ($) | 42.34 |
| State tax ($) | 110.8 |
| Local tax ($) | 0 |
| Take-home pay per year ($) | 56,316.92 |
Take-home 2,166.04 per paycheck.
Try this example →$8,000 monthly, married jointly, Texas
You get| Take-home pay per paycheck ($) | 6,461.97 |
| Federal income tax withheld ($) | 341.33 |
| Social Security 6.2% ($) | 483.6 |
| Medicare 1.45% ($) | 113.1 |
| State tax ($) | 0 |
| Local tax ($) | 0 |
| Take-home pay per year ($) | 77,543.6 |
Take-home 6,461.97 a month.
Try this example →🧭 How to use this calculator
What you enter
- Gross pay per paycheck ($)
- Pay frequency
- Filing status (W-4 Step 1c)
- 401(k) / 403(b) pre-tax per paycheck ($)
- Pre-tax health / FSA / HSA per paycheck ($)
- W-4 Step 3 credits per year ($)e.g. $2,200 per qualifying child under 17.
- Extra withholding per paycheck ($)
- State income tax rate (%)Use 0 for AK, FL, NV, NH, SD, TN, TX, WA, WY. Approximate flat rate.
- Local / city tax rate (%)
What you get
- Take-home pay per paycheck ($)
- Federal income tax withheld ($)
- Social Security 6.2% ($)
- Medicare 1.45% ($)
- State tax ($)
- Local tax ($)
- Take-home pay per year ($)
💡 2026 federal tax brackets (single)
- 10% up to $12,400 of taxable income
- 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
- 37% above
💡 Ways to change your take-home pay
- Raise your 401(k) contribution: it lowers federal and most state tax but not Social Security and Medicare.
- Update your W-4 if you have a second job, a working spouse or children — it changes how much is withheld, not the tax you finally owe.
❓ Frequently asked questions
How much tax is taken out of my paycheck?
Typically 15–30% in total: federal income tax (depends on income and filing status), 7.65% FICA (Social Security + Medicare) and state tax if your state has one.
What is the Social Security wage base for 2026?
$184,500. Above that, no more 6.2% Social Security tax is withheld that year, but Medicare continues.
Which states have no income tax?
Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire (no tax on wages), South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.
Does a 401(k) reduce Social Security tax?
No. Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce federal (and most state) income tax, but Social Security and Medicare are still charged on them.
What people are saying
★★★★★
Anonymous · 31 Oct 2026