Free US Paycheck Calculator
Estimate what actually lands in your bank account after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and state tax — broken down by paycheck, month, or year. Useful for budgeting, comparing job offers, or checking a new employer's payroll numbers.
What Gets Deducted From Your Paycheck
- Federal income tax — based on 2026 IRS marginal tax brackets and your filing status
- Social Security — a flat 6.2% up to the annual wage base limit ($184,500 in 2026)
- Medicare — a flat 1.45% on all wages (plus an extra 0.9% above $200,000)
- State income tax — varies widely; nine states charge none at all
How This Calculator Works
This tool subtracts any pre-tax deductions (like 401(k) contributions or health insurance premiums) and the 2026 standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, $24,150 head of household) from your gross salary, applies the 2026 IRS marginal tax brackets to what is left, then adds FICA taxes on top. It's an estimate — actual withholding depends on your W-4 elections, additional credits, and local taxes not modeled here.
A Worked Example
Take a single filer earning $75,000 a year, paid biweekly, with no state income tax and no pre-tax deductions. The 2026 standard deduction of $16,100 brings taxable income down to $58,900. Federal tax is then charged bracket by bracket:
- 10% on the first $12,400 = $1,240
- 12% on $12,400 to $50,400 ($38,000) = $4,560
- 22% on $50,400 to $58,900 ($8,500) = $1,870
That is $7,670 of federal income tax. Social Security takes 6.2% of the full $75,000 ($4,650) and Medicare 1.45% ($1,087.50), so total tax is $13,407.50 and annual take-home is $61,592.50, or about $2,369 per biweekly paycheck. The effective tax rate is 17.9%, even though this person is "in the 22% bracket".
Marginal Rate vs. Effective Rate
Being in the 22% bracket does not mean 22% of your income goes to federal tax. Only the dollars above the bracket threshold are taxed at that rate; everything below it is taxed at the lower rates first. That is why the effective rate in the example is under 18%. It also means a raise that pushes you into a higher bracket can never reduce your take-home pay. Only the extra dollars are taxed at the higher rate, so more gross always means more net.
How Pre-Tax Deductions Change the Numbers
Adding a $6,000 traditional 401(k) contribution to the example lowers taxable income to $52,900. Federal tax falls to $6,350, a saving of $1,320, which is exactly 22% of the contribution because every dollar came out of the top bracket. Take-home drops by $4,680 rather than $6,000, so the retirement account is funded partly with money that would otherwise have gone to tax. This calculator treats all pre-tax deductions as reducing federal income tax only, which is correct for 401(k) and traditional 403(b) contributions. Health, dental and vision premiums paid through a Section 125 cafeteria plan are also exempt from Social Security and Medicare tax, so real payroll will show slightly lower FICA than this estimate if your deductions are mostly insurance premiums.
Social Security and Medicare Caps
Social Security tax stops once wages reach the annual wage base, $184,500 in 2026. Someone earning $250,000 pays 6.2% on $184,500 ($11,439) and nothing on the remainder, which is why the paychecks of high earners get larger late in the year. Medicare has no cap, and an extra 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax applies to wages above $200,000. Employers must withhold it above that threshold regardless of filing status, so at $250,000 Medicare comes to $3,625 plus $450, or $4,075. Both taxes are charged on the full gross salary; pre-tax retirement contributions do not reduce them.
Why Pay Frequency Matters
Weekly pay means 52 paychecks, biweekly 26, semi-monthly 24 and monthly 12. The annual figures are identical, but the per-paycheck amounts are not: a biweekly paycheck is smaller than a semi-monthly one on the same salary because there are two more of them. Biweekly schedules also produce two months each year with three paydays, which is worth knowing when you budget by the month. Semi-monthly pay (usually the 15th and the last day) lines up with monthly bills, but the number of workdays per paycheck varies.
What This Calculator Leaves Out
- State tax brackets. The state field is a single flat percentage. Most states with an income tax use their own progressive brackets and deductions, so use your state's effective rate rather than its top rate.
- Local taxes. Cities and counties in states such as New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland and Indiana levy their own wage taxes.
- Credits and itemized deductions. The Child Tax Credit, education credits and itemizing instead of taking the standard deduction all change the final bill, but not necessarily what is withheld.
- W-4 choices. Extra withholding, multiple-job adjustments and dependents claimed on your W-4 alter what is taken from each paycheck, even though the annual tax owed stays the same.
- Post-tax deductions. Roth 401(k) contributions, garnishments and after-tax benefits reduce net pay without reducing taxable income.
- Bonuses. Supplemental wages are usually withheld at a flat 22% federal rate, which is why a bonus paycheck can look more heavily taxed than a regular one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my actual paycheck different from this estimate? Real payroll also factors in your W-4 allowances/elections, local city taxes, union dues, additional voluntary deductions, and any tax credits — this calculator estimates the core federal/FICA/state components only.
What's the difference between gross and net pay? Gross pay is your salary before any deductions. Net (take-home) pay is what actually deposits into your bank account after taxes and deductions.
Do 401(k) contributions reduce my taxable income? Yes — traditional 401(k) contributions are pre-tax, lowering the income federal tax is calculated on (Social Security and Medicare still apply to the full amount).
Which states have no income tax? Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming charge no state income tax on wages. New Hampshire repealed its remaining tax on interest and dividends at the start of 2025, and Washington taxes only certain capital gains.
Is this financial or tax advice? No — this is an educational estimate. For an exact figure, consult a tax professional or your employer's payroll department. See our methodology page for the bracket data and assumptions used.
What's the difference between marginal and effective tax rate? Your marginal rate is the rate on your next dollar of taxable income, set by the bracket you are in. Your effective rate is total tax divided by total income, which is always lower because the earlier brackets are taxed at lower rates. The "What this means" panel shows your effective rate.
Does Social Security tax stop at some point in the year? Yes. Once your wages for the year pass $184,500 (the 2026 wage base), the 6.2% Social Security deduction stops until January. Medicare continues on every dollar and rises by 0.9% above $200,000.
Why do I get three paychecks in some months? Biweekly pay produces 26 paychecks a year, but twice-a-month pay only produces 24. The two extra biweekly checks land in whichever months contain three of your paydays, usually two months a year.