Paycheck Calculator (Take-Home Pay)

The Paycheck Calculator (Take-Home Pay) estimates how much money actually lands in your bank account each pay period after federal income tax, state income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions and health insurance. Instead of just a single number, it shows an animated paycheck waterfall so you can see exactly where every dollar of your gross pay goes — and why your net pay is lower than your salary.

What Is Take-Home Pay?

Take-home pay (also called net pay) is your gross income minus all taxes and deductions. Your employer withholds money for federal and state income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, and also subtracts any benefits you elected, such as a 401(k) contribution or health insurance premium. What is left is the amount printed on your paycheck.

Take-Home Pay Formula

The order matters. Pre-tax deductions come out first because they lower the income that taxes are calculated on. Then income taxes and FICA are applied, and the remainder is your take-home pay.

How Each Deduction Works

2026 Federal Income Tax Brackets

Federal income tax is progressive: each portion of your income is taxed at its own rate. These are the 2026 brackets used by this calculator.

The 2026 standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married filing jointly, and $24,150 for head of household.

States With No Income Tax

Workers in these nine states keep more of every paycheck because no state income tax is withheld: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. The same gross salary therefore yields a higher take-home pay in these states than in high-tax states like California, New York, or Oregon.

Gross Pay vs Net Pay: Why the Gap?

Your gross pay is your full salary before anything is withheld. Your net pay is what is left after taxes and deductions. For a typical middle-income worker, federal tax, FICA, and state tax together remove roughly 20% to 35% of gross pay. If you also contribute to a 401(k) and pay for health insurance pre-tax, your paycheck shrinks further — but that money is working for your retirement and health, not disappearing.

How to Use This Calculator

1. Enter your gross pay and choose whether the amount is per year, per month, or per paycheck.
2. Choose your pay frequency (weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, monthly, or annual), your filing status, and your state.
3. Add pre-tax deductions if you have them: your 401(k) contribution percentage and any annual pre-tax health, HSA, or FSA benefits.
4. Click Calculate to see your take-home pay per paycheck, the animated paycheck waterfall, a where-your-money-goes split, and a full line-by-line breakdown.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is take-home pay?

Take-home pay, also called net pay, is the amount of money you actually receive in your paycheck after all taxes and deductions are subtracted from your gross pay. It is your gross income minus federal income tax, state income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and any pre-tax deductions such as 401(k) contributions and health insurance premiums.

How is take-home pay calculated?

Start with gross pay, subtract pre-tax deductions like 401(k) and Section 125 health benefits, then subtract federal income tax (based on taxable income and the standard deduction), state income tax, Social Security at 6.2%, and Medicare at 1.45%. What remains is your net take-home pay.

Does a 401(k) contribution reduce my taxes?

A traditional 401(k) contribution lowers your federal and state income tax because it is taken out before income tax is calculated. However, it does not reduce Social Security or Medicare taxes, since 401(k) contributions are still subject to FICA. Section 125 health benefits, by contrast, reduce both income tax and FICA.

How much is taken out of my paycheck for taxes?

For most workers, federal income tax ranges from 10% to 24% of taxable income, Social Security is 6.2% and Medicare is 1.45% of wages, and state income tax ranges from 0% in no-tax states to over 8%. Combined, typical total withholding is around 20% to 35% of gross pay depending on income and location.

Why is my take-home pay lower than expected?

Several deductions stack up: federal income tax, state income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and any pre-tax benefits and retirement contributions you elected. High earners also pay an extra 0.9% Medicare surtax above $200,000. Together these can reduce a paycheck by a quarter or more, which is why net pay is noticeably below gross pay.

Which states have no income tax?

Nine states have no state income tax on wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Workers in these states keep more of each paycheck because only federal income tax and FICA are withheld.

What is the gross amount of a $78,000 salary on a biweekly paycheck?

A biweekly schedule usually has 26 paychecks per year. Divide $78,000 by 26 to get $3,000 gross per paycheck before taxes and deductions. This differs from semi-monthly pay, which usually has 24 checks a year, or $3,250 gross per check at the same salary. The calculator estimates take-home pay after the taxes and deductions represented by its inputs.

What should I enter if I am paid twice a month?

Choose Semi-monthly, which represents two paychecks each month and typically 24 paychecks per year. Do not choose Bi-weekly unless you are paid every two weeks; that schedule usually produces 26 checks per year, so two months each year have three paydays. For an annual salary, enter the full yearly gross amount and select the schedule that matches your employer’s actual pay calendar.

Does this paycheck estimate include overtime pay?

The listed inputs cover gross income, pay frequency, filing status, state, 401(k), and annual pre-tax benefits; they do not provide a separate overtime field. For a rough estimate, include expected overtime in your gross income figure, but remember that overtime hours and payroll withholding can vary from check to check. A result based on annual income is an estimate, especially if your hours or pay change often.

Additional Resources

• FICA Tax - Wikipedia
• Income Tax in the United States - Wikipedia