🇺🇸 Paycheck After Tax Calculator — USA 2026
Enter your salary to see exactly how much you take home after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax. Results update instantly.
Understanding your paycheck means understanding four separate deductions that happen before money hits your bank account: federal income tax (based on IRS brackets), Social Security (6.2% up to the wage base), Medicare (1.45% with an additional 0.9% on earnings above $200,000), and state income tax (which varies wildly — 0% in Texas and Florida, up to 13.3% in California).
The gap between gross salary and take-home pay surprises most people. A $75,000 salary in New York City, after federal tax, FICA, state tax, and city tax, leaves roughly $54,000-$56,000 in take-home pay — about 73% of gross. The same salary in Houston, Texas (no state income tax) leaves about $59,000-$61,000 — a meaningful $5,000 annual difference just from the state tax component.
This calculator uses 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction. State taxes are approximated using effective flat rates for quick estimation. For exact payroll figures including pre-tax 401(k) contributions, HSA deductions, and employer-specific benefits, you'll want to check your employer's pay stub or use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator.
Quick answer
Take-home pay = gross minus federal income tax, FICA, and state tax
This calculator estimates withholding using 2026 federal brackets, standard deduction, Social Security wage base, Medicare, and simplified state flat rates. Use it for planning — not employer payroll filing.
Your details
Pre-tax deductions (optional)
Reduces federal & state taxable income
Pre-tax employer-sponsored plan
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Enter your salary to calculate take-home pay
All calculations update instantly
How to use and formula
How take-home pay is estimated
Federal tax uses 2026 brackets and standard deduction. FICA includes Social Security and Medicare. State tax uses simplified flat rates.
- Enter gross pay for your pay period (annual, monthly, bi-weekly, or hourly).
- Choose filing status and state of residence.
- Optional: add pre-tax 401(k) and health premiums.
- Review federal, FICA, state, and net pay breakdown.
Net pay ≈ gross − federal income tax − FICA − state tax − pre-tax deductions
Effective rate = total tax ÷ gross
$60,000 salary in Texas (no state tax) vs California will show different net pay.
Understanding your US paycheck
A US paycheck reflects gross wages minus federal income tax withholding, Social Security and Medicare (FICA), state income tax where applicable, and local taxes in cities like New York City. Pre-tax deductions — 401(k), health insurance premiums, HSA contributions — reduce taxable wages for income tax but Social Security and Medicare usually apply to gross up to wage bases unless specifically exempt.
Net pay is what deposits to your bank; gross pay is your agreed compensation before withholdings. Hourly workers multiply rate × hours; salaried workers divide annual salary by pay periods. Overtime, bonuses, and commissions are often taxed at supplemental wage rates. This calculator estimates take-home using 2026 federal brackets and state rules — actual employer payroll systems may differ slightly on rounding and W-4 settings.
Federal income tax withholding
Form W-4 (2020 and later) uses filing status, multiple jobs, dependents, and other income to set federal withholding. The IRS Publication 15-T tables convert taxable wages per pay period into withholding amounts. Marginal brackets apply: only income in each bracket is taxed at that rate annually, though withholding spreads estimation across paychecks.
Selecting Single vs Married Filing Jointly changes brackets and standard deduction assumptions. Additional withholding on line 4(c) increases per-paycheck deduction for side income or prior under-withholding. Use this tool to sanity-check a job offer or compare W-4 adjustments — not to replace your employer's ADP, Gusto, or Paychex output.
FICA, state, and local taxes
Social Security tax is 6.2% on wages up to the annual wage base ($176,100 in 2026). Medicare is 1.45% on all wages; an additional 0.9% Medicare surtax applies to wages above $200,000 for single filers (thresholds differ for married). Employers match Social Security and Medicare except the surtax.
Nine states have no broad income tax on wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire (wages only), South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming. Others use progressive or flat rates. Local taxes apply in NYC, Philadelphia, Detroit, and hundreds of Ohio municipalities. Select your state in the calculator for a combined estimate.
Pre-tax vs post-tax deductions
Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce federal and usually state taxable income. Roth 401(k) contributions are post-tax — no immediate income tax savings but qualified withdrawals are tax-free. Health insurance premiums through employer Section 125 plans are typically pre-tax for income tax and FICA. FSAs and commuter benefits may be pre-tax within IRS limits.
Post-tax deductions — Roth 401(k), union dues, garnishments — do not reduce income tax withholding. Enter approximate pre-tax deduction totals to model realistic net pay when comparing job offers with different benefit packages.
Paycheck examples by scenario
$75,000 salary, biweekly, Single, Texas (no state income tax): higher net than same salary in California due to state withholding. $120,000 in New York City: add NYC local tax on top of NY state. Hourly $28 × 40 hours weekly with 5% 401(k): calculator shows per-week net after federal, FICA, and selected state.
Bonus paychecks may use flat 22% federal supplemental rate (37% over $1 million) rather than annualized W-4 method — actual bonus withholding can look higher than this calculator's regular pay estimate. Adjust expectations for one-off payments.
Tax planning tips for employees
Review W-4 after life events — marriage, children, second job, or large itemized deductions (if applicable). Increase withholding if you owe at filing time; decrease cautiously to avoid penalties. Contribute enough to capture full employer 401(k) match before taxable brokerage investing.
Use IRS Tax Withholding Estimator annually. Pair this paycheck calculator with our sales tax calculator for purchase planning, not for quarterly estimated tax on self-employment — freelancers need Schedule C and self-employment tax calculations instead.
Common mistakes to avoid
Treating this as an official W-4 result
Employers use IRS tables, pre-tax benefits, and local taxes not fully modeled here.
Using flat state rate for California or NY
Progressive states need bracket math; flat rates here are approximations for quick estimates.
Forgetting pre-tax 401(k) and health insurance
Pre-tax deductions reduce taxable wages and are not entered in this basic tool.
Annualizing irregular bonuses incorrectly
Large one-time bonuses can be withheld at supplemental rates — different from this estimate.
Official source and review note
Rates and rules on this page were last reviewed in May 2026 against Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Use the linked authority for filing, registrations, or address-specific compliance.
Estimate your net pay before budgeting
Use this estimate for budgeting and job offers. For payroll withholding, use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator and your employer W-4 settings.