Paycheck Calculator 2026
Enter your salary, pay frequency, and filing status to estimate your take-home pay after taxes.
Take-Home Pay Per Paycheck
Net Pay
$2,368.94
of $2,884.62 gross
Annual Net Pay
$61,593
Federal Tax
$7,670
Social Security
$4,650
Medicare
$1,088
State Tax (est.)
$0
401(k) Contribution
$0
Estimate only. State tax is a flat approximation; actual state/local rules vary and may have their own brackets, credits, or no income tax at all.
How This Paycheck Calculator Works
Your take-home pay is what is left after several mandatory withholdings come out of your gross wages. This calculator estimates four of them: federal income tax (using the 2026 progressive brackets and standard deduction for your filing status), Social Security tax (6.2% up to the 2026 taxable wage base of $184,500), Medicare tax (1.45%, plus an extra 0.9% on wages above $200,000 for single filers or $250,000 for married filing jointly), and an optional flat state tax estimate you enter yourself.
If you contribute to a traditional 401(k), that percentage of your salary is deducted from your paycheck and excluded from federal taxable income, lowering your federal tax bill, but it is still subject to Social Security and Medicare tax, since FICA applies to gross wages regardless of retirement contributions.
Because every state taxes income differently, and many cities add their own local tax, this calculator lets you enter a flat state and local rate as an estimate rather than modeling every state's bracket system. If you live in a state with no income tax, such as Texas, Florida, or Washington, simply leave that field at 0%.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between gross pay and net pay?
Gross pay is your total earnings before any deductions. Net pay, also called take-home pay, is what actually lands in your bank account after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare, state tax, and any pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions or health insurance premiums are subtracted.
Why is my paycheck smaller than gross salary divided by pay periods?
Even if your job has no state income tax, federal payroll taxes still apply: 6.2% Social Security (up to the annual wage base), 1.45% Medicare, and federal income tax withholding based on your filing status and income level. These combined withholdings typically reduce gross pay by 15-30% depending on income and elections.
Does a 401(k) contribution reduce my take-home pay?
Yes, but less than you might think. A traditional 401(k) contribution lowers your federal taxable income, which reduces the federal tax withheld from that paycheck. So while your net pay does decrease by your contribution amount, part of that reduction is offset by paying less federal tax, not by losing the full dollar amount.
Why does this calculator ask for a flat state tax rate instead of calculating it automatically?
All 50 states have different rules. Some, like Texas and Florida, charge no state income tax at all. Others use flat rates, and many use their own progressive bracket systems with separate deductions and credits. Entering your state's approximate effective rate keeps the calculator simple while still giving you a reasonably accurate estimate.