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Paycheck Calculators & Tools

Free paycheck calculators for US workers. See your exact take-home pay after federal income tax, state tax, Social Security, Medicare, and other deductions — for any salary, hourly rate, or pay frequency.

Paycheck & Income Calculators

Choose the right tool for your situation.

Paycheck Calculator

See your exact take-home pay after all federal and state deductions.

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Salary After Tax Calculator

Find out exactly how much of your annual salary you actually take home.

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Hourly to Salary Calculator

Convert hourly wages to an annual salary equivalent — and see your after-tax income.

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Overtime Pay Calculator

Calculate your overtime pay and total weekly earnings.

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Understanding Your Take-Home Pay

Your gross salary is the number on your offer letter — but it's rarely what lands in your bank account. For most American workers, the difference between gross pay and net (take-home) pay is 20–35%, depending on income level, filing status, and state. Understanding exactly what's deducted — and why — is the foundation of any financial plan.

The major deductions from every US paycheck fall into two categories: income taxes (federal, state, and sometimes local) and FICA taxes (Social Security and Medicare). These are mandatory. On top of those, many employees have voluntary deductions for benefits like health insurance, 401(k) contributions, and flexible spending accounts.

Our paycheck calculators apply all of these deductions accurately using 2026 IRS tax brackets, the current FICA rates, and state-specific tax schedules. Whether you're evaluating a new job offer, planning your budget, or trying to understand why your paycheck is what it is — these tools give you the answers in seconds.

What Affects Your Paycheck Size?

Federal Income Tax Withholding

Federal income tax is withheld from every paycheck based on your W-4 elections, filing status, and annualized income. The US uses progressive brackets ranging from 10% to 37% in 2026. The amount withheld is an estimate of your annual tax liability divided by the number of pay periods — your actual tax is settled when you file your return each April.

State Income Tax

Nine states have no income tax at all (Texas, Florida, Nevada, Washington, Wyoming, South Dakota, Alaska, Tennessee, and New Hampshire on wages). The remaining states have rates ranging from Pennsylvania's flat 3.07% to California's progressive top rate of 13.3%. State tax is calculated separately from federal tax and has its own brackets and deductions.

FICA Taxes (Social Security & Medicare)

Social Security is 6.2% of gross wages, but only on the first $176,100 of income in 2026 (the "wage base limit"). Once you exceed that, Social Security deductions stop for the year. Medicare is 1.45% on all wages with no cap. High earners pay an additional 0.9% Medicare surtax on wages above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly). Together, FICA takes 7.65% for most workers.

Pre-Tax Deductions

Pre-tax deductions reduce your taxable income before income tax is calculated. Common examples include traditional 401(k) and 403(b) contributions, health insurance premiums paid through your employer, HSA contributions, and FSA elections. These are among the most powerful tools available to increase your effective take-home pay — every dollar contributed pre-tax saves you your marginal tax rate in federal and state taxes.

Federal vs. State Withholding: Key Differences

FeatureFederalState
Rate TypeProgressive (7 brackets)Flat or progressive (varies)
Top Rate37%0% to 13.3%
Standard Deduction (Single)$15,000$0 to $8,000+
Form UsedW-4 (IRS)State withholding form
No-Tax StatesN/A — always appliesTX, FL, NV, WA, WY, SD, AK, TN, NH

Frequently Asked Questions

Your employer withholds federal income tax based on the information you provide on your W-4 form — primarily your filing status and whether you claim any additional withholding or exemptions. The withholding is an advance payment against your annual tax liability. Your actual tax is calculated when you file your return. If too much was withheld, you get a refund; if too little, you owe the difference.
Bi-weekly means you're paid every two weeks — 26 paychecks per year. Semi-monthly means twice a month — 24 paychecks per year. Over a year, both result in similar annual income, but bi-weekly produces two "extra" paychecks in months that contain three pay dates. Bi-weekly is the most common US pay frequency.
Several factors can cause this: different filing status (single vs. married), different states (no income tax vs. high income tax), different pre-tax deductions (401k contributions, health insurance), different W-4 elections, and whether anyone has exceeded the Social Security wage base ($176,100 in 2026). Location is often the biggest single variable — a $100,000 salary in Texas vs. California can differ by over $7,000 annually in take-home.
The most effective legal methods are: (1) Contribute more to a traditional 401(k) or 403(b) — every pre-tax dollar saves you your marginal rate in taxes; (2) Enroll in an HSA or FSA for medical expenses — tax-free spending on healthcare; (3) Review your W-4 to ensure you're not over-withholding; (4) If you have children or dependents, claim applicable tax credits on your W-4. These strategies can meaningfully reduce taxes without reducing your employer's compensation commitment.
The Social Security wage base ($176,100 in 2026) is the maximum amount of wages subject to the 6.2% Social Security tax. Once your total wages for the year exceed this threshold, Social Security withholding stops. This means high earners effectively get a raise in the back half of the year. For workers at or above this threshold, the paycheck benefit of exceeding the cap can be $880+ per month.