US Paycheck Calculator
See your real take-home pay after federal, state, Social Security, and Medicare — for every pay frequency, all 50 states.
👤 Your Pay
💼 Pre-Tax Deductions (Optional)
How We Calculate
Step 1: Taxable Income
We start with your annual gross salary and subtract pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA, traditional IRA) plus the standard deduction ($15,750 single / $31,500 married / $23,650 HOH in 2026). The result is your federal taxable income.
Step 2: Federal Income Tax (2026 brackets)
2026 federal brackets are projected (2025 + ~2.7% inflation adjustment). Each bracket fills progressively — you don't pay the top rate on all your income. For example, at $75K single in 2026, only the dollars above ~$49,250 are taxed at 22%; the rest is taxed at 10-12%.
Step 3: State Income Tax
Nine states have no state wage tax (AK, FL, NV, NH, SD, TN, TX, WA, WY). The other 41 + DC use a representative effective state rate applied progressively. This is an approximation — actual state tax uses each state's own brackets, deductions, and credits.
Step 4: FICA
Social Security 6.2% on wages up to the 2026 wage base (~$180,000) and Medicare 1.45% on all wages. High earners pay an extra 0.9% Medicare surtax above $200K (single) / $250K (married). FICA = 7.65% for most workers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is federal income tax calculated on a paycheck?
Federal tax uses 2026 IRS brackets applied to your annualized gross minus pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA, traditional IRA) and the standard deduction. We then divide by your pay frequency. This matches what the IRS W-4 algorithm produces for most single-job W-2 employees within a few percent.
What is FICA and how much comes out of my check?
FICA = Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It's Social Security (6.2%) + Medicare (1.45%) = 7.65% of gross. You pay this on every dollar up to the Social Security wage base (~$180K in 2026) and on all wages for Medicare. High earners (above $200K single) pay an extra 0.9% Medicare surtax. Your employer matches the 7.65% — you only see your half on the pay stub.
Why does my paycheck vary by state?
Nine states have no state income tax on wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming. (NH taxes only dividends/interest.) The other 41 states + DC tax wages 0% (none) to ~13% (CA top bracket). Same salary in Texas vs California can mean a $5K+ annual difference in take-home.
Is this the same as my actual take-home pay?
Within 3-5% for most single-job W-2 employees. It excludes: pre-tax benefits beyond 401k/HSA/IRA (commuter, FSA, group life), post-tax deductions (garnishments, Roth contributions, charity), retirement match (free money you don't see on the stub but adds to total comp), and credits (EITC, child tax credit — these come at tax time). For exact figures, use your pay stub or ask HR.
How can I increase my take-home pay?
Five ways: (1) max pre-tax 401k to lower taxable income, (2) contribute to HSA if you have an HDHP (triple tax advantage: deductible going in, grows tax-free, withdraws tax-free for medical), (3) check your W-4 — many people over-withhold and give the government an interest-free loan, (4) negotiate gross — every $1K raise = ~$600-$700 take-home at the 22-32% combined bracket, (5) consider remote work from a no-tax state if your employer allows it (legal, common, saves thousands).
5 Paycheck Tips to Boost Take-Home
1. Max out your 401(k) — especially the employer match
A 401(k) contribution is pre-tax, meaning every $1 you contribute reduces your taxable income by $1. Maxing $24,500 in 2026 at the 22% federal bracket + 5% state = ~$6,600 in tax savings annually. The employer match is free money on top — never leave it on the table.
2. Use an HSA if you have a high-deductible health plan
HSAs are the only "triple tax-advantaged" account in the US: deductible going in, grows tax-free, withdraws tax-free for qualified medical expenses. 2026 limit: $4,600 single / $9,200 family. If you can pay current medical bills out of pocket, let the HSA grow like a stealth IRA.
3. Check your W-4 every January
The W-4 controls how much your employer withholds. Life changes (marriage, kid, second job, spouse working) should trigger a W-4 update. Use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator to dial it in. Many people over-withhold by $1K-$3K/year — that's money you could have earned interest on.
4. Avoid the "big refund" trap
A $5K refund means you gave the government an interest-free $5K loan all year. Adjust your W-4 to keep more in each paycheck instead. Zero refund is the optimal — you can invest the difference in an index fund and earn 7-10%/year. See how that compounds with our savings goal calculator, or weigh the trade-off with our pay off debt or invest tool.
5. Consider the total comp, not just salary
A $100K offer with a 6% 401(k) match + $5K HSA seed + $2K FSA + 4 weeks PTO is worth more than a $108K offer with no benefits. Always total-comp compare. Use our salary calculator to convert between annual/monthly/weekly/hourly, and our true cost of job offer calculator to model the full package.