Paycheck Calculator
Estimate what actually lands in your bank account. Enter your pay, how often you are paid, and your state, and this calculator subtracts federal income tax, state income tax, Social Security, and Medicare to show your take-home pay per paycheck and per year, using the 2026 IRS brackets, standard deduction, and Social Security wage base.
It works from either an hourly wage or a salary, models pre-tax 401(k) contributions, and shows the full breakdown so you can see exactly where each dollar goes. State income tax uses each state’s 2026 brackets for all 50 states and D.C.; local income taxes, such as city taxes in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York City, are not included.
Calculator
Estimated take-home pay per paycheck
$2,012.25
$52,318 per year
- Effective tax + FICA rate
- 16.2%
Where your paycheck goes (per year)
Estimate only — not tax advice. Federal figures use 2026 IRS brackets, the standard deduction, and the $184,500 Social Security wage base. State income tax is estimated from 2026 state brackets and standard deductions (source: Tax Foundation) and excludes local income taxes, state disability/paid-leave payroll taxes (e.g. CA SDI, WA Cares), and most state tax credits. Your employer computes exact withholding from your Form W-4, so your actual paycheck may differ.
Paycheck calculators by state
Estimate take-home pay with your state’s 2026 income tax built in.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
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Calculation Formulas
Your gross pay is annualized, then reduced by pre-tax contributions (like a traditional 401(k)) and the 2026 standard deduction for your filing status.
Example:
A $62,400 salary, single, no 401(k): $62,400 − $16,100 = $46,300 taxable.
Tax is progressive: only the income within each bracket is taxed at that bracket’s rate (10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, 37% for 2026).
FICA is charged on gross wages — a pre-tax 401(k) lowers your income tax but not your Social Security or Medicare tax.
What is left is the cash that reaches your bank account, divided by how often you are paid for the per-paycheck figure.
Key Figures
| Figure | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 standard deduction | $16,100 / $32,200 | Single (or MFS) / Married filing jointly, per IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32. |
| 2026 tax brackets | 10%–37% | Seven brackets; the permanent post-OBBBA TCJA rate structure. |
| Social Security | 6.2% to $184,500 | 2026 Social Security tax and wage base (SSA). |
| Medicare | 1.45% (+0.9%) | No wage cap; an extra 0.9% applies to wages above $200,000. |
Note: Results are estimates for planning purposes. Rates, fees, taxes, and insurance vary by lender and location — confirm exact figures with a licensed professional before making financial decisions.
Standards & Sources
Last verified: July 2026
- IRS 2026 inflation adjustments
Brackets and the standard deduction come from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 (IR-2025-103, October 2025), which set the official 2026 figures under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
- 2026 FICA rates and wage base
Social Security (6.2% on wages up to $184,500) and Medicare (1.45%, plus 0.9% above $200,000) follow IRS Publication 15 and the SSA’s 2026 wage base.
- State tax from 2026 state brackets — local tax not included
State income tax is estimated from each state’s 2026 brackets and standard deduction (Tax Foundation). The tool does not include local income taxes, state disability or paid-leave payroll taxes, most state credits, or the exact per-paycheck withholding your employer computes from your W-4 using IRS Publication 15-T. It is an estimate, not tax advice.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter your pay and choose the period it covers — hourly, weekly, monthly, or annual salary.
- Pick your filing status and how often you are paid so the per-paycheck figures are right.
- Optionally add your annual pre-tax 401(k) or similar contributions to see their effect on federal tax.
- Read your estimated take-home pay per paycheck, with the full federal tax and FICA breakdown below it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is my take-home pay calculated?
Take-home pay is your gross pay minus federal income tax, Social Security (6.2%), and Medicare (1.45%), plus any pre-tax deductions like a 401(k). This calculator annualizes your pay, applies the 2026 IRS brackets and standard deduction to find federal income tax, adds FICA, and divides the result across your pay periods.
Does this calculator include state income tax?
Yes. Choose your state and the calculator adds an estimate of 2026 state income tax from that state’s brackets and standard deduction. It does not include local income taxes (common in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Indiana, and New York City) or state payroll programs such as California SDI and WA Cares, so subtract those separately if they apply to you.
Why is my real paycheck a little different from this estimate?
Your employer computes withholding from your Form W-4 using the IRS Publication 15-T tables, which can differ from your true annual tax liability — especially with multiple jobs, extra withholding, or credits. This tool estimates the underlying federal tax and FICA; treat it as a close approximation, not an exact paystub.
How does a 401(k) contribution change my paycheck?
Traditional 401(k) contributions come out before federal income tax, so they lower your taxable income and your income tax — but they do not reduce Social Security or Medicare tax, which apply to your full gross wages. Enter your annual contribution to see the effect.
What are the 2026 Social Security and Medicare rates?
For 2026, Social Security is 6.2% on wages up to $184,500, and Medicare is 1.45% on all wages with no cap. An additional 0.9% Medicare tax applies to wages above $200,000. These are the employee-side rates used here.
Guides to go with this calculator
How Much of Your Paycheck Goes to Taxes?
Your paycheck shrinks between gross and take-home for four separate reasons. Here’s each one, in 2026 numbers — and why being “in the 22% bracket” doesn’t mean 22% of your pay.
Is Your Salary Good? Judge Offers by Take-Home
Two people earning the same salary can take home thousands of dollars apart. Here is how to judge an offer by what actually lands in your account — and where it goes furthest.
2027 HSA Contribution Limits (and 2026): Full Guide
The IRS has already set the 2027 HSA limits: $4,500 for self-only coverage and $9,000 for families. Here are the 2026 and 2027 numbers, who qualifies, and how to decide between an HSA and an FSA at open enrollment.
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