How to use the paycheck calculator
- 1 Enter your gross yearly salary before any deductions.
- 2 Choose your pay frequency: weekly, every two weeks, twice a month or monthly.
- 3 Choose your filing status and enter your 401(k) percentage.
- 4 Enter your combined state and local income tax rate, or 0 if your state has none, then read your take-home pay per paycheck.
Worked example
$60,000 salary, paid every two weeks, single, 5% 401(k) and 4% state tax. Gross pay is $2,307.69 per paycheck. Taking off $115.38 for the 401(k), $179.23 federal tax, $143.08 Social Security, $33.46 Medicare and $87.69 state tax leaves take-home pay of about $1,748.85 per paycheck, or $45,470 a year.
What comes out of a US paycheck
Every paycheck loses the same layers in the same order. Pre-tax 401(k), HSA and most health insurance come off first, which lowers income tax. Then federal income tax is withheld from what is left, using IRS Publication 15-T and the W-4 you gave your employer. Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) still apply to your 401(k) contributions, although payroll health insurance and HSA contributions are exempt from them. State and local income tax comes last.
- No state income tax on wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.
- Biweekly pay means 26 paychecks, so two months a year have three paydays.
- Since 2020, the W-4 has no allowances; extra withholding is a dollar amount on line 4(c).
To see the yearly picture, use the Federal Income Tax Calculator. Paid by the hour? Start with the Hourly to Salary Calculator.
Features
All main deductions
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, 401(k) and state tax in one breakdown.
2026 figures
Federal brackets and standard deduction for 2026 and the $184,500 Social Security wage base.
Any pay schedule
Weekly (52), biweekly (26), semimonthly (24) or monthly (12) paychecks.
Additional Medicare tax
The extra 0.9% Medicare tax above $200,000 of wages ($250,000 joint) is included.
When to use it
Job offers
Compare two salaries by what you actually take home each payday. Paid by the hour? Convert first with the Hourly to Salary Calculator.
Budgeting
Plan rent and bills around your real paycheck, not the headline salary. See your full-year tax with the Federal Income Tax Calculator.
401(k) choices
See how much a 1% bigger contribution changes your paycheck, often less than you expect. Check what a bigger contribution builds with the 401(k) Calculator.
Moving states
Compare take-home pay in a state with no income tax and one with a flat rate. Then split your pay with the Budget Calculator.
Related Pay and Salary tasks
Frequently asked questions
How is take-home pay worked out?
Gross pay minus pre-tax 401(k), federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and state and local tax. This calculator estimates federal tax on a yearly basis and divides by your number of paychecks.
What is FICA?
FICA is Social Security (6.2% of wages up to $184,500 in 2026) plus Medicare (1.45% of all wages). Your employer pays a matching amount on top.
Does a 401(k) reduce Social Security and Medicare?
No. Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce federal and most state income tax, but Social Security and Medicare are still charged on them.
Why is my real paycheck a little different?
Payroll uses the IRS Publication 15-T withholding tables and your W-4 settings, and may deduct health insurance, HSA or other benefits. This calculator gives a close yearly estimate.
What state tax rate should I enter?
Use your state's flat rate or your expected average rate. States such as Texas, Florida, Washington, Nevada and Tennessee have no wage income tax, so enter 0.
How many paychecks are there a year?
52 if weekly, 26 if every two weeks, 24 if twice a month and 12 if monthly. Biweekly workers get two months each year with three paychecks.
Are bonuses taxed differently?
Bonuses are often withheld at a flat 22% federal rate, but they are taxed as normal income when you file. Your final tax depends on your total income for the year.
Results are estimates based on the official rates linked above. Confirm important figures with the issuing authority or a qualified adviser before you act on them.
Built and reviewed by Hamza Farooq, founder and lead developer
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