Paycheck Calculator — Estimate Your Take-Home Pay After Taxes
Free 2026 salary calculator after taxes. Enter your income details below to see your estimated net pay per paycheck, broken down by federal tax, state tax, and FICA.
Single Paycheck Calculator
Effective rate: 10.8%
Effective rate: 4.7%
6.2% up to $176,100
1.45% (+ 0.9% above threshold)
Total effective rate: 23.2%
Pay Breakdown
Step-by-Step Guide
Choose your salary type
Toggle between "Annual Salary" if you know your yearly pay, or "Hourly Rate" if you are paid by the hour. For hourly, also enter your typical hours per week.
Enter your income
Type your salary or hourly wage in the input field. For the most accurate results, use your gross (before-tax) income.
Select your pay frequency
Choose how often you receive a paycheck: weekly (52 paychecks/yr), biweekly (26/yr), semi-monthly (24/yr), or monthly (12/yr). This determines how each amount is divided.
Pick your filing status
Your IRS filing status determines your standard deduction and tax bracket thresholds. Single applies to unmarried individuals. Married Filing Jointly usually results in a lower tax bill for couples. Head of Household applies to unmarried people who support a dependent.
Select your state
Choose the state where you work (not necessarily where you live). State income tax rates vary widely — from 0% in states like Texas and Florida to over 13% in California. The calculator uses 2026 state tax rates.
Review your results
Your estimated take-home pay, federal tax, state tax, Social Security, and Medicare are displayed per paycheck and annually. The donut chart shows the visual breakdown of where your gross pay goes.
Key Terms Explained
Estimate only: This calculator provides approximate figures based on standard 2026 federal and state tax rates. It does not account for additional withholdings, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA, FSA), local/city taxes, tax credits, or other individual factors. Results are for informational purposes. Please consult a qualified tax professional or CPA for advice specific to your financial situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about using a paycheck calculator and understanding your take-home pay.
Gross pay is your total earnings before any deductions — the number on your job offer or salary agreement. Net pay, also called take-home pay, is what actually lands in your bank account after federal income tax, state income tax, Social Security, and Medicare are withheld. A take-home pay calculator like this one helps you understand the gap between the two so you can budget accurately.
Your filing status determines both your standard deduction and your tax bracket thresholds. For example, Married Filing Jointly doubles most bracket thresholds compared to Single, meaning a couple can earn more before reaching higher tax rates. Head of Household falls between Single and MFJ. Using a salary calculator after taxes that accounts for filing status gives you a much more accurate estimate than a flat percentage.
As of 2026, nine states have no tax on wage income: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. If you are comparing a job in California or New York against a role in Texas, the paycheck calculator by state feature in this tool is especially useful — the difference in take-home pay can be significant even if the gross salaries are similar.
Use the "Compare Two Offers" mode at the top of this page. Enter each offer's salary, pay frequency, filing status, and state separately. The compare two job offers calculator then shows you the take-home pay for each role side by side and highlights which offer puts more money in your pocket — per paycheck and per year. A higher gross salary in a high-tax state can easily yield less take-home pay than a lower offer in a no-income-tax state.
FICA stands for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It funds two programs: Social Security (6.2% of wages up to the 2026 wage base of $176,100) and Medicare (1.45% on all wages). Higher earners also pay an Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9% on income above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly). Unlike income tax, FICA is not reduced by your standard deduction — it applies to every dollar of wages. These amounts are automatically factored into this paycheck calculator.
The U.S. uses a progressive tax system, meaning higher income is taxed at higher marginal rates. When your salary increases, the extra dollars may be taxed at a higher bracket rate. This is why using a salary calculator after taxes for each income level is important — your gross raise and your net raise are often quite different numbers. The good news: only the income above each bracket threshold is taxed at the higher rate, not your entire salary.
The IRS recommends reviewing your W-4 whenever you experience a major life change: getting married or divorced, having a child, taking on a second job, or receiving a significant raise or bonus. Outdated W-4 information can lead to owing taxes at filing time or having too much withheld throughout the year. After using this take-home pay calculator to understand how much will I take home, compare that figure to your actual net pay — a large difference may indicate your W-4 needs updating.
The IRS adjusts the standard deduction annually for inflation. For tax year 2026, the estimated standard deductions are: $15,000 for Single and Married Filing Separately filers, $30,000 for Married Filing Jointly, and $22,500 for Head of Household. The standard deduction is subtracted from your gross income before federal income tax brackets are applied, which is why higher deductions lead to lower federal tax bills. This calculator automatically applies the correct 2026 deduction based on your selected filing status.