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US Paycheck Calculator 2026

Estimate your federal, FICA and state tax withholdings to see your real take-home pay per pay period.

US Paycheck Calculator 2026

Top 10 states by population. Add-on local taxes (NYC, Philadelphia) are not included.

Take-home per pay period

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Enter your gross salary to see the result.

What is take-home pay?

Your take-home pay is what actually lands in your bank account after federal income tax, FICA payroll tax (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%) and any state income tax are withheld. The 2026 federal brackets are progressive: each slice of income is taxed at its own marginal rate. The standard deduction ($15,750 single, $31,500 married) is subtracted before tax is computed, so your effective rate is always lower than your top marginal rate. State taxes vary wildly: Texas and Florida charge nothing, while California and New York apply additional progressive scales on top of federal. This calculator uses flat top-rate approximations for the 10 largest states; for an exact dollar figure consult your state’s revenue department.

How to use the calculator

  1. Enter your gross annual salary as listed in your offer letter or W-2 box 1.
  2. Choose your pay frequency. Most US employers run bi-weekly (every two weeks, 26 paychecks per year).
  3. Pick your state of residence — even if you work remotely, your home state usually withholds.
  4. Select your filing status. Married filing jointly uses a wider standard deduction and bracket schedule.
  5. The result is your estimated net per pay period. The breakdown shows where the money went.

How the math works

Federal tax is computed by walking the 2026 brackets after subtracting the standard deduction. FICA is Social Security 6.2% (capped at the $168,600 wage base) plus Medicare 1.45% with no cap. State tax uses a flat approximation of each state’s top progressive rate.

Net = Gross − Federal Tax − FICA (7.65%) − State Tax

2026 federal income tax brackets

Each bracket only applies to the portion of income inside it — not your whole salary.

Marginal rate Single Married jointly
10%$0 – $11,925$0 – $23,850
12%$11,925 – $48,475$23,850 – $96,950
22%$48,475 – $103,350$96,950 – $206,700
24%$103,350 – $197,300$206,700 – $394,600
32%$197,300 – $250,525$394,600 – $501,050
35%$250,525 – $626,350$501,050 – $751,600
37%$626,350+$751,600+

Frequently asked questions

Why is my take-home less than the calculator says?
Most paychecks also have 401(k) contributions, health insurance premiums, HSA, life insurance and other voluntary deductions that this calculator doesn’t know about. Subtract those manually.
Are 401(k) contributions taxable?
Traditional 401(k) contributions are pre-tax — they reduce your federal taxable income (and most state). Roth 401(k) contributions are post-tax. Either way they reduce your take-home check.
Why is California so high?
California has the highest top marginal rate (13.3%) of any state. We use 9.3% as a flat approximation for typical middle-class earners; high earners pay more.
Does this include local city taxes?
No. Cities like NYC, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Detroit add their own local income tax. Subtract 2–3% extra if you live in one of them.
What about Medicare surtax?
High earners (above $200,000 single, $250,000 married) pay an additional 0.9% Medicare surtax. The calculator does not currently apply it.
Is this enough to budget with?
It’s a solid starting point. For exact numbers run your real W-4 through your employer’s payroll system or use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator.
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