Paycheck Calculator
How this calculator works
Start with your annual gross salary, then subtract pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions or health insurance premiums — these lower the income that federal (and most state) tax is calculated on.
From there, the calculator applies simplified federal income tax brackets for your filing status, the standard deduction, FICA taxes (6.2% Social Security up to the annual wage base, plus 1.45% Medicare), and whatever flat state/local rate you enter.
The result is split evenly across your chosen pay frequency so you can see roughly what lands in your account each paycheck, not just the annual number.
Why your real paycheck might differ
Tax credits and itemized deductions aren't included here — things like the Child Tax Credit or mortgage interest deduction can meaningfully change your actual tax bill.
State taxes vary widely. Some states have no income tax at all, others use their own bracket systems rather than a flat rate — this tool simplifies to one flat percentage for speed.
Additional withholdings like union dues, wage garnishments, or extra voluntary deductions aren't factored in.
A worked example
Take a single filer earning $65,000/year in a state with a 4% flat rate, contributing 5% pre-tax to a 401(k): pre-tax deductions bring taxable pay down to $61,750. After the $15,000 standard deduction, taxable income is roughly $46,750, landing mostly in the 12% federal bracket.
That works out to about $10,000–11,000 a year in combined federal, FICA, and state tax — leaving roughly $54,000–55,000 in take-home pay, or about $2,100 per bi-weekly paycheck. Your own numbers will shift with filing status, deductions, and where you live.
Common questions
Take-home pay starts with your gross pay, subtracts pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions and health insurance premiums, then subtracts federal income tax, Social Security tax (6.2%), Medicare tax (1.45%), and any state or local income tax.
This calculator uses simplified federal tax brackets and the standard deduction, and lets you enter a flat state tax rate. It doesn't account for tax credits, itemized deductions, local taxes, or every state's specific rules, so your actual paycheck may differ.
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 taxes and other withholdings are subtracted.
Traditional 401(k) contributions are typically pre-tax, meaning they're subtracted from your pay before federal (and most state) income tax is calculated. They still count toward Social Security and Medicare taxes.
For a single filer with no pre-tax deductions and an average state rate, expect roughly $8,000–9,500 a year in combined federal income tax, FICA, and state tax — leaving around $40,500–42,000 in take-home pay. Enter your actual state and deductions above for a closer estimate.
Overtime pay (typically 1.5× your hourly rate past 40 hours/week) is still taxed the same way as regular wages — it's added to your gross pay, not taxed at a special "overtime rate." A bigger paycheck can look like it's taxed more heavily due to how per-paycheck withholding tables work, but your overall effective tax rate is based on total annual income.