Paycheck Calculator
See your take-home pay after federal, FICA, and state taxes. Estimate your net paycheck for any pay frequency.
Last updated: January 2026
Paycheck Calculator
How your paycheck is calculated
Your gross pay is reduced by three main types of taxes: federal income tax (using progressive brackets), Social Security and Medicare (FICA — 7.65% total), and state income tax (varies by state, from 0% in Texas to 13.3% in California). Your net pay is what's left after all deductions.
This calculator uses 2024/2025 federal tax brackets and includes all 50 states' income tax rates (or zero for states with no income tax). It estimates federal tax using the standard deduction and simplifies withholding calculations. For exact amounts, consult your payroll department or tax professional.
Understanding withholding
Your employer withholds taxes from each paycheck based on the W-4 form you filled out. If too little is withheld, you owe at tax time. If too much, you get a refund. This calculator helps you estimate your per-paycheck withholding so you can adjust your W-4 if needed.
This is an estimate. Actual results vary.
Sources
- IRS Publication 15-T — Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods
- Social Security Administration — Contribution and Benefit Base
- State tax rates sourced from each state's department of revenue (2025)
More guidance for the Paycheck Calculator
How paycheck withholding works
Your paycheck starts with gross pay, then subtracts federal income tax, FICA, state tax where applicable, and voluntary deductions. Federal income tax depends on your W-4, filing status, taxable income, and pay frequency. FICA is more direct: Social Security is 6.2% up to the annual wage base and Medicare is 1.45% on wages, with an additional Medicare tax for high earners.
Pre-tax and post-tax deductions
A 401(k), HSA, FSA, and some health insurance premiums can reduce taxable wages before income tax is calculated. Roth contributions, garnishments, and some insurance deductions may come out after tax. That is why two people with the same salary can have different take-home pay. Once you know net income, build a spending plan with the budget planner.
Why refunds happen
A tax refund usually means too much was withheld during the year. Some people like the forced savings effect, but a large refund also means you gave the government an interest-free loan. If your life changes through marriage, dependents, a second job, or freelance income, review your W-4 and state withholding forms.
When to consult a professional
Talk to a CPA or payroll specialist if you have equity compensation, multi-state wages, self-employment income, large bonuses, or back taxes. This calculator is useful for planning, but official payroll systems and tax returns determine final amounts.
Practical example
The safest way to use the Paycheck Calculator is to run one realistic case, then change one assumption at a time. Start with your current numbers, save or write down the result, then test a conservative scenario and an optimistic scenario. This makes the tool more useful than a single answer because you can see which input actually drives the outcome. For money, tax, legal, or health-adjacent decisions, the range is often more important than the exact midpoint.
Decision checklist
Before relying on any calculator result, check whether the inputs match your real situation, whether rates or rules have changed this year, whether the result excludes fees or local rules, and whether a professional review would be cheaper than a mistake. Use the result as a planning estimate, then verify critical numbers against official documents, lender quotes, payroll records, contracts, or professional advice.