📋

Walk-through

How to Use This Calculator

5 steps

1

Choose salary or hourly

Pick how you're paid. For salary, enter your gross annual pay. For hourly, enter your rate and the hours you work each week — the calculator annualizes it as rate × hours × 52.

2

Set your pay frequency

Choose weekly (52 checks), biweekly (26), semimonthly (24), or monthly (12). The same annual pay split across more checks means a smaller amount per check, but the yearly total is identical.

3

Pick your state and filing status

Select your state of residence and whether you file single, married filing jointly, or head of household. Nine states levy no wage income tax, so their state line is $0.

4

Add pre-tax deductions

Enter any per-paycheck pre-tax deductions such as a 401(k) contribution or health premium. These lower your taxable income for federal and state tax.

5

Read your net paycheck

The hero shows your take-home per paycheck. The Annual Breakdown tab splits your pay into federal tax, FICA, state tax, and net, and the State Comparison tab shows the same pay in your state vs Texas and California.

⚡

Reference

Formula & Methodology

4 formulas

Annualize gross pay

Annual gross = salary (or hourly rate × hours/week × 52)

Everything is computed on an annual basis, then divided by your number of pay periods.

Federal income tax

Federal tax = brackets(annual gross − pre-tax − standard deduction) − credits

2026 IRS brackets apply to taxable income after the standard deduction (single $16,100, married $32,200, head of household $24,150). Each dependent reduces tax by the $2,000 Child Tax Credit.

FICA (Social Security + Medicare)

FICA = 6.2% × min(gross, $184,500) + 1.45% × gross + 0.9% surtax over the threshold

Social Security stops at the 2026 wage base of $184,500; Medicare has no cap and adds a 0.9% surtax on wages over $200,000 (single) / $250,000 (married).

Net paycheck

Net per paycheck = (annual gross − pre-tax − federal − FICA − state) ÷ pay periods

State tax uses your state's 2026 rates (or $0 in a no-tax state). The result is your estimated take-home per check.

✓

High YMYL

Trust, Methodology & Sources

Reviewed by Calculover Editorial Review · Updated 2026-07-17 · 3 sources

Editorial accountability

Author: Quinn Sumner{{^authorProfileUrl}}Quinn Sumner{{/authorProfileUrl}} - Editor

Owner: Quinn Sumner - Editorial owner

Reviewer: Calculover Editorial Review - Government-source and limitation review

Last reviewed: 2026-07-17

Last verified: 2026-07-17

Data effective: 2026-01-01

Methodology

The Paycheck Calculator annualizes gross pay, subtracts pre-tax deductions and the filing-status standard deduction, applies 2026 IRS federal brackets, adds FICA (6.2% Social Security to the $184,500 wage base, 1.45% Medicare plus a 0.9% surtax over the ACA thresholds), and applies each state's 2026 income tax, then divides by the number of pay periods to estimate net pay per paycheck.

Assumption: The Paycheck Calculator relies on the values you enter and does not independently verify income, benefit elections, or residency.

Assumption: FICA is computed on full gross wages; Section-125 health and HSA amounts that reduce the FICA base in reality are not separately modeled, so the estimate is conservative.

Assumption: State income tax uses single-filer brackets with the filing-appropriate standard deduction; federal, state, and local tax rules can change after the last-verified date.

Limitations & guidance

The Paycheck Calculator does not model local city or county income taxes, state disability insurance, post-tax deductions, supplemental-wage (bonus) withholding, or the exact withholding produced by your Form W-4 and employer payroll system.

Confirm your actual withholding against your pay stub, the IRS, your state tax authority, or a qualified tax professional before relying on these figures.

Professional guidance: The Paycheck Calculator is for financial education only and is not tax, legal, or financial advice. Your real paycheck depends on your Form W-4 and local rules. Consult a qualified tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.

Primary sources

IRS — Tax Inflation Adjustments for Tax Year 2026 (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) - Internal Revenue Service

Social Security — Contribution and Benefit Base (2026 wage base) - Social Security Administration

2026 State Income Tax Rates and Brackets - Tax Foundation

📖

Glossary

Key Terms Explained

9 terms

Gross pay Total earnings before any taxes or deductions — your salary or hourly rate times hours worked.

Net pay (take-home) What actually lands in your bank account after federal income tax, FICA, state withholding, and pre-tax deductions.

FICA Federal Insurance Contributions Act — the payroll tax funding Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%), 7.65% of gross pay combined.

Social Security wage base The maximum annual earnings subject to the 6.2% Social Security tax — $184,500 for 2026. Earnings above it are not taxed for Social Security.

Additional Medicare Tax An extra 0.9% Medicare tax on wages above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly). Employers withhold it on wages over $200,000.

Withholding The amount your employer holds back from each paycheck to prepay your income taxes, based on your Form W-4.

Standard deduction A flat amount subtracted from income before federal tax is figured — $16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, $24,150 head of household for 2026.

Filing status Your tax category — single, married filing jointly, or head of household — which sets your brackets and standard deduction.

Pre-tax deduction Money taken from your paycheck before income tax, such as a 401(k) contribution or health premium, which lowers your taxable pay.

👥

Scenarios

Real-World Examples

3 worked examples

🤠

Texas single filer

$65,000 salary, biweekly, no state income tax

Annual salary $65,000 State Texas Filing status Single

Federal tax is about $5,620/yr and FICA about $4,973/yr, and Texas has no state income tax — so you net roughly $54,400/yr, or about $2,093 per biweekly paycheck (26 checks).

🌴

California single filer

Same $65,000 salary, but a high-tax state

Annual salary $65,000 State California Filing status Single

Federal tax and FICA are identical to Texas, but California withholds about $2,217/yr in state tax. Net take-home drops to roughly $2,007 per biweekly paycheck — about $86 less each check than in Texas.

⏱️

Hourly worker

$25/hour, 40 hours a week

Hourly rate $25 Hours per week 40 Pay frequency Biweekly

$25 × 40 hours × 52 weeks annualizes to $52,000 of gross pay. From there the calculator applies the same federal, FICA, and state math to show your net per paycheck — add overtime hours to the weekly figure to capture them.

📄

Deep Dive

What actually comes out of your paycheck

3 chapters · 4 min read

Two people can earn the exact same salary and take home very different amounts. This calculator shows why — it stacks federal income tax, FICA, and state withholding on top of each other and divides by your pay schedule to estimate your net paycheck. It is an educational estimate, not tax advice.

The three layers of paycheck tax

Your gross pay is reduced by three separate taxes. Federal income tax applies 2026 IRS brackets to your income after the standard deduction. FICA is a flat 7.65% payroll tax — 6.2% for Social Security (only up to the $184,500 wage base) plus 1.45% for Medicare (no cap, with a 0.9% surtax on high earners). State income tax varies enormously: nine states take nothing, while California and New York run progressive brackets above 10% at the top.

Because federal tax and FICA are the same everywhere, the difference between two states is entirely the state line — which is exactly what the State Comparison tab isolates.

Why pay frequency changes the number (but not the total)

Weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, and monthly schedules pay out 52, 26, 24, and 12 times a year. The same annual pay divided by more checks means a smaller amount per check, but your yearly take-home is identical. Biweekly (26 checks) and semimonthly (24 checks) are easy to confuse — biweekly gives you two extra checks a year, so each one is a bit smaller.

Pre-tax deductions such as a 401(k) contribution or health premium lower the income that federal and state tax are figured on, so they cut your tax bill while moving money toward retirement or benefits.

What this estimate does not include

This is a planning estimate. Your real withholding depends on the details of your Form W-4, and the tool does not model local city or county income taxes (such as NYC), state disability insurance (such as California SDI), post-tax deductions, or the exact way your employer's payroll software withholds. It computes FICA on your full gross wages, so if a large share of your pre-tax deductions are Section-125 health or HSA amounts (which are FICA-exempt), your real take-home may be slightly higher. Bonuses are withheld differently — see the Bonus Tax calculator. Always confirm your actual numbers against your pay stub, the IRS, or a tax professional.

❓

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

8 questions

Why isn't my net pay just gross minus one tax?+

Three taxes stack: federal income tax, FICA (Social Security + Medicare), and state income tax. Each is calculated differently — federal uses brackets after a deduction, FICA is a flat percentage, and state depends on where you live — so your take-home is gross minus all three plus any pre-tax deductions.

Which states have no income tax?+

Nine states levy no tax on wage income: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. In those states the state line on your paycheck is $0, though federal tax and FICA still apply.

What's the difference between biweekly and semimonthly?+

Biweekly means every two weeks — 26 paychecks a year. Semimonthly means twice a month (e.g. the 15th and last day) — 24 paychecks a year. Biweekly gives you two extra, slightly smaller checks; the annual total is the same either way.

How do pre-tax deductions help?+

Contributions to a 401(k), HSA, or pre-tax health plan come out before income tax is figured, lowering your taxable pay and your federal and state tax. It's a way to reduce your tax bill while funding retirement or benefits.

Is this exactly what my paycheck will be?+

It's a close estimate. Your actual withholding depends on your Form W-4 and can also include local taxes, state disability insurance, and post-tax deductions this tool doesn't model. Use it for planning, then confirm against your pay stub.

How do I handle overtime?+

For hourly pay, add your overtime hours to the weekly hours field so they're annualized with the rest. For a precise overtime-rate breakdown, use the dedicated Overtime calculator.

Does Social Security tax stop at some point?+

Yes. Social Security's 6.2% tax only applies to the first $184,500 of wages in 2026 (the wage base). Earnings above that are not subject to Social Security tax, though the 1.45% Medicare tax has no cap.

Are bonuses taxed the same way?+

Bonuses are supplemental wages and are usually withheld at a flat federal rate rather than through your normal brackets, so they can look more heavily taxed on the check. See the Bonus Tax calculator for that math.

Download a one-page PDF of your numbers instantly. Add your email to also get our occasional calculator tips — no spam, unsubscribe anytime. Privacy.

Paycheck Calculator