Paycheck Calculator
Take-home pay per paycheck after taxes and deductions.
Use 0 for states with no wage tax, such as Texas or Florida.
Your result
—
Enter your numbers to see the result.
This paycheck calculator estimates your take-home pay for each paycheck in 2026. Enter your salary, pay frequency, filing status, pre-tax deductions like 401(k) and health insurance, and your state income tax rate. It subtracts federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and state tax, and shows what lands in your bank account.
What is a Paycheck Calculator?
Your paycheck starts with gross pay and loses several deductions before it reaches your bank: federal income tax, Social Security (6.2% up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500), Medicare (1.45%, plus 0.9% on high earnings), state and sometimes local income tax, and pre-tax benefits such as 401(k) contributions and health insurance premiums.
A paycheck calculator estimates each of these so you can see your real take-home pay. It’s useful when you get a new job offer, a raise, change your 401(k) contribution or move to another state.
How does the Paycheck Calculator work?
The calculator subtracts pre-tax 401(k) and health premiums from gross pay, applies the 2026 standard deduction and federal brackets to estimate yearly federal income tax, and works out FICA on wages after health premiums (401(k) contributions are still subject to FICA).
State tax is estimated with the flat rate you enter. Everything is divided by the number of pay periods.
How to use the Paycheck Calculator step by step
- Enter your annual salary.
- Choose your pay frequency and filing status.
- Enter your 401(k) percentage.
- Enter your health insurance premium per paycheck.
- Enter a state income tax rate (0 if none).
- Read your take-home pay per paycheck and the breakdown.
Paycheck Calculator example with real numbers
You’re single, earn $75,000 a year, get paid every two weeks, put 6% into your 401(k), pay $85 per paycheck for health insurance and live in a state with roughly a 4% income tax.
| Example input | Value |
|---|---|
| Salary | $75,000 |
| Pay frequency | Every two weeks |
| Filing status | Single |
| 401(k) | 6% pre-tax |
| Health insurance | $85 per paycheck |
| State tax | 4% flat estimate |
| Example output | Value |
|---|---|
| Take-home pay per paycheck | $2,069.08 |
| Gross pay per paycheck | $2,884.62 |
| Federal income tax | $238.22 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $214.17 |
| State income tax | $105.06 |
| 401(k) | $173.08 |
| Health insurance | $85.00 |
| Marginal federal rate | 22% |
The paycheck calculator estimates take-home pay of $2,069.08 every two weeks. Federal income tax takes $238.22, Social Security and Medicare $214.17 and state tax $105.06 per paycheck.
Key features of this Paycheck Calculator
- 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction
- Social Security wage base and extra Medicare tax
- Pre-tax 401(k) and health premiums
- Weekly to monthly pay frequencies
- Flat state tax estimate
Who should use the Paycheck Calculator?
Who is this Paycheck Calculator for?
- Job seekers comparing offers
- Employees changing 401(k) contributions
- People moving between states
- New graduates with first jobs
Practical use cases
- Checking take-home pay on a new offer
- Seeing what raising your 401(k) to 10% costs per check
- Comparing pay in a no-income-tax state
- Building a monthly budget
Key benefits
- Realistic: all major deductions.
- Current: 2026 figures.
- Flexible: any pay frequency.
- Private: nothing leaves your browser.
Tips for better results
- Use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator to fine-tune your W-4.
- Raising your 401(k) by 1% reduces take-home by less than 1% of pay because of tax savings.
- Check for local income taxes in cities like New York or Philadelphia.
- If you earn tips or overtime, see the federal deductions in the income tax calculator.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Forgetting FICA when estimating net pay.
- Ignoring local taxes.
- Assuming the state rate is flat when it’s progressive.
- Comparing offers on gross pay only.
Limitations of this Paycheck Calculator
- State tax is a flat estimate.
- Withholding depends on your W-4 and may differ from actual tax.
- Local taxes, credits and other deductions aren’t included.
Paycheck Calculator vs other ways to calculate
| Deduction | 2026 rate or rule |
|---|---|
| Social Security | 6.2% up to $184,500 |
| Medicare | 1.45%, plus 0.9% above $200,000 |
| Federal income tax | 10%–37% brackets after standard deduction |
| 401(k) | Up to $24,500 pre-tax |
For your total tax and refund, use the income tax calculator. To convert hourly pay to a salary first, use the hourly to salary calculator.
Privacy and data handling
This Paycheck Calculator runs entirely in your browser. The numbers you type are not sent to Qorico or stored on any server, and nothing is saved after you close the page. The Copy and Download buttons create the result on your own device. If the page has analytics turned on, it may count that a calculation happened, but it does not record the values you entered.
Paycheck Calculator FAQs
How much is my take-home pay?
It’s gross pay minus pre-tax deductions, federal and state income tax, Social Security and Medicare. Enter your details above.
What is withheld from my paycheck?
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state and local income tax, and any benefits you chose, such as 401(k) and health insurance.
How do I fill out a W-4?
Use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator, then enter its suggestions on Form W-4 and give it to your employer.
Is overtime taxed more?
No. Overtime is taxed at the same rates, but a bigger check can be withheld at a higher rate. From 2025–2028, the overtime premium may be deductible on your return.
What is the Social Security wage base for 2026?
$184,500. Earnings above that aren’t subject to the 6.2% Social Security tax.
Do 401(k) contributions reduce FICA?
No. Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce income tax but are still subject to Social Security and Medicare.
Related tools
Sources and references
We checked the method and the current figures used in this Paycheck Calculator against these official and primary sources:
- IRS: Tax Withholding Estimator
- Social Security Administration
- IRS: Internal Revenue Service
- U.S. Department of Labor: wages and overtime
Written and reviewed by the Qorico Team
