Paycheck Calculator
Enter your pay and how often you get paid. The calculator estimates your federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, takes off your 401(k) and benefits, and shows your take-home pay for each paycheck and for the year.
It uses the 2026 federal numbers published by the IRS and the Social Security Administration. State tax is a box where you type your own state’s rate.
Please note: Estimate only, based on 2026 federal figures and the standard deduction. This is not tax or financial advice. Your actual withholding depends on your W-4 and your employer’s payroll system.
How it works
Federal income tax is figured from your yearly pay. First your pre-tax 401(k) and pre-tax benefits come off. Then the standard deduction for your filing status comes off ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, $24,150 head of household for 2026). What remains is taxed in steps, called brackets, from 10% up to 37%. Each rate applies only to the part of your income inside that step.
Social Security is 6.2% of pay up to $184,500 for the year. Medicare is 1.45% of all pay, plus 0.9% on pay over $200,000. Pre-tax health insurance lowers the pay these apply to. A 401(k) contribution does not.
State tax is not guessed, because rates and rules differ a lot. Pick a state that does not tax wages, such as Texas, Florida or Washington, or type the percent your state takes from your pay. Local city taxes can be added to the same box.
Your employer’s payroll system uses a withholding method that can differ from this estimate by a little, depending on your W-4. Your final tax bill is set when you file your return. This tool is for planning.
taxable income = yearly pay − 401(k) − pre-tax benefits − standard deduction
federal tax = brackets applied to taxable income
Social Security = 6.2% of pay up to $184,500
Medicare = 1.45% of pay (+0.9% over $200,000)
take-home = pay − all taxes − deductionsWorked example: $60,000 a year, single, paid every two weeks, in Texas
Gross pay per paycheck is $2,307.69. Taxable income is $60,000 − $16,100 = $43,900. Federal tax is $1,240 on the first $12,400 plus 12% of the next $31,500, which is $5,020 a year, or $193.08 a paycheck.
Social Security takes $3,720 a year and Medicare takes $870. There is no Texas income tax. Take-home pay is $50,390 a year, which is $1,938.08 each paycheck. Total tax is about 16% of gross pay.
Frequently asked questions
Which year are the tax numbers for?
The 2026 tax year. The IRS and SSA publish new numbers each autumn, and this page is updated for them. The date of the last check is at the bottom of this page.
Why does my real paycheck differ?
Your W-4, local taxes, other deductions and the exact method your employer uses all change it. Use this to plan, and your pay stub for the real figure.
What is the difference between pre-tax and after-tax deductions?
Pre-tax items, such as a 401(k) or health insurance, are taken from your pay before income tax is figured, so they lower your tax. After-tax items, such as a Roth contribution or union dues, are taken after tax and do not.
Which states have no income tax on wages?
Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. The state list in the calculator covers them. For all other states, type your rate.
Does it work for hourly pay?
Yes. Choose hourly, then enter your rate and hours per week. It multiplies by 52 weeks. Overtime and shifts that vary are not modeled, so use your average weekly hours.
Does it include credits, such as for children?
No. Tax credits are taken when you file your return, and they would raise your refund, not change your paycheck unless you change your W-4. The estimate here is for the standard case.
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Sources
Content last reviewed 2026-10-13.