About the Paycheck Calculator
This paycheck calculator turns an annual salary into the net amount that actually lands in your bank account each payday. It applies the 2026 federal income tax brackets and standard deduction for your filing status, Social Security (6.2% up to the $184,500 wage base), Medicare (1.45%, plus the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax on high earners), a state income tax rate you choose, and pre-tax 401(k) and health insurance deductions.
Use it to check a job offer, plan a budget around your real take-home pay, see what a bigger 401(k) contribution costs per check, or compare weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly and monthly pay schedules. The breakdown shows exactly where every dollar of gross pay goes.
It is an annualized estimate for the 2026 tax year: it assumes the standard deduction, no tax credits, and a flat effective state rate. Your employer’s actual withholding follows your Form W-4, so individual paychecks can differ by a few dollars; the refund or balance due at tax time settles the difference.
With the default inputs, the take-home pay per paycheck is $2,098.37. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the paycheck calculator
- 1Enter your annual gross salary before any deductions.
- 2Choose how often you are paid and your filing status.
- 3Enter your state’s income tax rate (0 if your state has none).
- 4Add your 401(k) percentage and any pre-tax health premiums per paycheck.
- 5Read your take-home pay per check and review the breakdown table.
Formula and method
Federal taxable income is gross salary minus traditional 401(k) contributions, pre-tax health premiums and the 2026 standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, $24,150 head of household). The 2026 brackets (10% to 37%) are applied progressively, so each rate only taxes the slice of income inside its bracket.
FICA is charged on wages after Section 125 health premiums but before 401(k) deferrals: 6.2% Social Security up to the $184,500 wage base and 1.45% Medicare on all wages, plus 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax above $200,000 ($250,000 married filing jointly). State tax is approximated as a flat rate on wages after pre-tax deductions. Annual net pay is divided by the number of pay periods.
- Gross
- Annual salary before any deductions
- Std. deduction
- 2026 standard deduction for your filing status
- FICA
- Social Security (6.2%) + Medicare (1.45%) payroll taxes
- n
- Pay periods per year (52, 26, 24 or 12)
Worked examples
$75,000 salary, single, paid biweekly
A 6% 401(k) contribution ($4,500) and the $16,100 standard deduction leave $54,400 of federal taxable income, taxed at $6,680. FICA adds $5,737.50 and a 5% state tax $3,525, leaving $54,557.50 a year — about $2,098 every two weeks.
$120,000, married filing jointly, semi-monthly
A 10% 401(k) ($12,000) and $3,600 of pre-tax health premiums cut federal taxable income to $72,200 after the $32,200 joint deduction, so federal tax is only $8,168. The premiums also lower FICA wages to $116,400. Net pay is about $3,443 per semi-monthly check.
$250,000 single earner in a no-tax state
Social Security stops at the $184,500 wage base ($11,439), while Medicare adds 0.9% on the $50,000 above $200,000 for a total of $4,075. Federal tax on $233,900 of taxable income is $51,304, leaving about $15,265 a month.
Frequently asked questions
How much is taken out of my paycheck for taxes?+
For most employees FICA takes a fixed 7.65% (6.2% Social Security plus 1.45% Medicare), and federal income tax typically takes another 5–15% of gross pay depending on income and filing status. State tax adds 0–10% depending on where you live.
What is the difference between gross and net pay?+
Gross pay is your salary before anything is withheld. Net pay (take-home pay) is what remains after income taxes, FICA and deductions such as 401(k) contributions and health premiums.
Does a 401(k) contribution reduce FICA taxes?+
No. Traditional 401(k) deferrals reduce federal and most state income tax, but Social Security and Medicare are still charged on them. Section 125 health, dental and vision premiums reduce both income tax and FICA.
Why is my biweekly paycheck different from half my monthly pay?+
Biweekly pay splits your salary into 26 checks, so each check is salary ÷ 26. Semi-monthly pay uses 24 checks. Two months a year, biweekly workers receive three paychecks instead of two.
What is the Social Security wage base for 2026?+
For 2026 the Social Security tax applies to the first $184,500 of wages. Earnings above that are only subject to Medicare tax, so high earners see larger paychecks once they pass the limit.
Why does my actual paycheck differ from this estimate?+
Employers withhold using your Form W-4 and IRS Publication 15-T tables, which can differ slightly from your true annual liability. Local taxes, credits, after-tax deductions and state-specific rules also change the result.
Tax results are estimates based on published rules and simplified assumptions. They are not tax advice — check official guidance or a tax professional for your situation.