US Paycheck Calculator
Estimate your net take-home pay after federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare. Works for hourly or salaried pay, any pay frequency, and all filing statuses.
How this paycheck calculator works
Enter your annual salary or hourly rate, choose your pay frequency and filing status, then calculate. The tool applies 2026 federal tax brackets, the standard deduction, Social Security (6.2%), and Medicare (1.45%) to estimate your net paycheck. Optional pre-tax deductions (like 401(k) contributions or health insurance premiums) reduce your taxable income before the tax calculation.
What's taken out of a paycheck?
Three main things reduce a gross paycheck to a net one: federal income tax (based on your income and filing status, calculated progressively across tax brackets), Social Security tax (6.2% of wages up to the annual wage base limit), and Medicare tax (1.45% of all wages, with an extra 0.9% on high earners). This calculator does not include state or local income tax, since these vary widely — some states like Texas, Florida, and Washington have no state income tax at all.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn't this include state tax?
State income tax rates and rules vary enormously by state — some are flat, some are progressive, and several states charge no income tax at all. This calculator focuses on federal withholding, which applies the same way nationwide, so you get an accurate baseline you can then adjust for your state.
Is this the same as what my employer withholds?
It's a close estimate using standard IRS tax brackets and the standard deduction. Your actual paycheck may differ slightly based on your W-4 elections, additional withholding requests, or other benefits deducted from your pay.
What's the difference between gross pay and net pay?
Gross pay is your total earnings before any deductions. Net pay (take-home pay) is what actually lands in your bank account after taxes and other deductions are subtracted.
Is my data stored anywhere?
No. This tool is part of the Toolyard collection of free, browser-based utilities. All calculations run locally in your browser — nothing you enter is uploaded to a server or stored anywhere.