Paycheck Calculator
Your gross salary looks bigger on paper than what lands in your bank account every two weeks. This paycheck calculator walks through every deduction in order — federal income tax withholding, state tax, FICA (Social Security and Medicare), pre-tax benefits like 401(k) and health insurance, and post-tax items — to show net pay for weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly or monthly pay schedules.
How take-home pay is calculated
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1
Enter gross pay
Annual salary or hourly rate × hours per period.
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2
Pick state and filing status
State determines state income tax; filing status (single, married, head of household) sets federal withholding brackets.
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3
Add pre-tax deductions
401(k) contribution, HSA, pre-tax health insurance premiums.
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4
Apply federal + state + FICA tax
Federal uses the W-4 withholding tables; FICA is a flat 7.65%; state varies.
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5
Subtract post-tax items
Roth 401(k) contributions, garnishments, charitable deductions.
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6
Read net pay
The number that hits your bank account each period.
FICA (payroll tax) rates
| Tax | Rate (2025) | Wage cap |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security (OASDI) | 6.2% | $176,100 |
| Medicare | 1.45% | None |
| Additional Medicare | 0.9% | Over $200k single / $250k married |
| Total FICA for most | 7.65% | - |
Employers match the 7.65%, so total FICA contribution to the federal government is 15.3% of your wage (below the Social Security cap).
2025 federal income tax brackets (single filer)
| Bracket | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $11,925 | 10% |
| $11,925 - $48,475 | 12% |
| $48,475 - $103,350 | 22% |
| $103,350 - $197,300 | 24% |
| $197,300 - $250,525 | 32% |
| $250,525 - $626,350 | 35% |
| $626,350+ | 37% |
The brackets are marginal — only the dollars in each range are taxed at that rate.
State income tax variation
- No state income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire (investment income), South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming.
- Flat rate states: Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah.
- Progressive (tiered): California, New York, New Jersey, Oregon, Minnesota and most others.
California’s top marginal state rate is 13.3%; New York City adds a city tax on top of state.
Common deductions
| Item | Pre-tax? | Limit (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional 401(k) | Yes | $23,500 ($31,000 if 50+) |
| Roth 401(k) | No | Same limit shared |
| HSA (high-deductible) | Yes | $4,300 single / $8,550 family |
| FSA (healthcare) | Yes | $3,300 |
| Health insurance | Usually yes | Varies by plan |
| Commuter benefits | Yes | $325/month |
Effective vs marginal tax rate
- Marginal rate — what your last dollar earned is taxed at.
- Effective rate — total tax ÷ total income. Always lower than marginal because lower brackets fill first.
A $100,000 single filer hits the 22% marginal bracket but has an effective federal rate around 15-17% after standard deduction.
Paycheck vs actual tax owed
The calculator gives the amount withheld. Actual tax owed is reconciled at year-end on your 1040 — if too much was withheld you get a refund, if not enough you owe. Use this to estimate paycheck, but rely on a proper tax filing for the yearly total.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common reasons: FICA (7.65% of gross), federal withholding based on W-4 assumptions that may over-withhold, state income tax, pre-tax 401(k) and health premiums, and post-tax items like garnishments. Walk through each line item on a recent pay stub to see where each dollar goes.
Yes for planning — it’s based on current IRS withholding tables and state rates. The actual pay stub can differ slightly due to bonuses taxed at supplemental rates, quarterly true-ups of Medicare surtax, or employer-specific pre-tax plans.
Traditional if you expect your retirement tax rate to be lower than now (common for high earners today). Roth if you expect the opposite (common for early-career) or want tax diversification. Many people split contributions across both.
W-4 withholding is an estimate, not a final calculation. Second jobs, spouse’s income, freelance work, investment gains, or claiming too many allowances on W-4 can all produce under-withholding. Use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator to adjust.