How to use the paycheck calculator
- Enter your gross pay. Type the amount before any taxes or deductions, then choose how often you are paid: annual, monthly, bi-weekly, weekly or hourly. For hourly pay, also enter your hours per week.
- Choose your filing status. Single, married filing jointly, or head of household. This sets the 2026 standard deduction and the federal tax brackets used.
- Add pre-tax deductions. Enter your yearly 401(k), HSA or pre-tax insurance contributions. These lower your federal taxable income (but not your FICA).
- Enter a state tax rate. Type your state effective income tax rate as a percentage, or leave it at 0 if you live in a no-income-tax state. It is a simplified estimate.
- Read your results. Your take-home per paycheck, annual take-home, federal tax, FICA, estimated state tax and effective tax rate all recalculate instantly.
How take-home pay is worked out
First, every pay figure is converted to an annual gross — for example, hourly pay becomes hourly rate × hours per week × 52 weeks. From there your taxable income is annual gross minus your pre-tax deductions minus the 2026 standard deduction for your filing status (16,100 dollars single, 32,200 married filing jointly, 24,150 head of household), and is never less than zero.
Federal income tax is the sum of each marginal bracket applied to that taxable income — you only pay the higher rate on the part of your income that falls inside each band, not on everything. FICA is added on top of your gross wages: 6.2% Social Security up to the 184,500 dollar wage base plus 1.45% Medicare on all wages, with an extra 0.9% Medicare on very high earnings. Your optional state tax is a flat percentage of gross minus pre-tax deductions. Your net pay is annual gross minus pre-tax deductions, federal tax, FICA and state tax, divided across your pay periods.
State income tax at a glance
State rules vary a lot, which is why the state field is a single estimate you control. Nine states haveno income tax (enter 0): Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. Several others charge a flat rate, including (2026 examples): Arizona 2.5%, Colorado 4.4%, Illinois 4.95%, Indiana 2.95%, Kentucky 3.5%, Michigan 4.25%, North Carolina 4.5%, Ohio 2.75%, Pennsylvania 3.07%, Utah 4.5%, Georgia 4.99%, Idaho 5.3%, Louisiana 3%, Mississippi 4% and Massachusetts 5%. States with graduated brackets (such as California or New York) are not flat — use your effective rate for the closest estimate.
Why your real paycheck may differ
- W-4 settings: employers withhold based on your W-4, which can differ from your actual tax liability.
- Post-tax deductions: Roth 401(k), garnishments and some benefits come out after tax and are not modeled here.
- Local taxes: some cities and counties add their own income tax on top of state tax.
- Credits and extra income: the Child Tax Credit, dependents, bonuses and side income all change the real figure.
Is it private?
Yes. This paycheck calculator runs entirely in your browser with JavaScript. Your salary, deductions and state rate are never uploaded, logged or saved — there are no accounts and no tracking of what you enter. Once the page has loaded you can even use it offline.
Frequently asked questions
Does it work for hourly and bi-weekly pay?
Yes. Pick the matching pay frequency and the calculator converts to an annual gross, then shows your take-home for that same period. For hourly, enter your hours per week and it assumes 52 paid weeks a year.
Do 401(k) contributions lower my taxes?
Pre-tax 401(k), HSA and similar contributions reduce your federal taxable income, so they cut your income tax. They do not reduce FICA, because Social Security and Medicare are charged on your gross wages before those deductions.
What is an effective tax rate?
It is your total tax (federal income tax plus FICA plus state) divided by your gross pay, shown as a percentage. It is lower than your top marginal bracket because only part of your income is taxed at the highest rate.
Which year do the numbers use?
The standard deductions, federal brackets and FICA limits are the 2026 figures. The state rate is whatever you enter, so update it if your state changes its rate.
Related: Sales Tax Calculator · Loan & Mortgage Calculator · Savings Goal Calculator
Estimates only and not tax advice; verify important figures against IRS and your state tax authority.