💵 Paycheck Calculator

A paycheck is the actual amount of money you take home after taxes and deductions are withheld from your gross salary. While your gross salary is the number employers quote in an offer letter, your net paycheck — the amount deposited into your bank account — is always lower because several mandatory deductions are taken out first.

Understanding the gap between gross and net pay is essential for budgeting, comparing job offers, and planning major financial decisions. The three biggest deductions on most American paychecks are:

• Federal income tax — a progressive tax with seven brackets ranging from 10% to 37%, depending on your taxable income and filing status (Single, Married Filing Jointly, or Head of Household).
• FICA taxes — Social Security at 6.2% of wages up to a $168,600 cap (2024), and Medicare at 1.45% of all wages. High earners also pay an Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9% on wages above $200,000 (Single) or $250,000 (Married Filing Jointly).
• State income tax — varies widely, from 0% in Texas, Florida, Nevada, and Washington to over 11% in top-bracket states like California and New Jersey.

This calculator applies the official 2024 IRS tax brackets, FICA rules, and a simplified flat state rate for all 50 states plus DC so you can see how much of your salary actually reaches your pocket.

The calculator follows the standard take-home-pay flow used by US payroll systems:

1. Taxable income = gross annual salary − pre-tax deductions (such as 401(k), HSA, and traditional health insurance).
2. Federal income tax is computed by applying each progressive bracket in turn — only the portion of income that falls in a bracket is taxed at that rate.
3. Social Security = 6.2% × min(gross, $168,600). Income above the wage base is not subject to SS tax.
4. Medicare = 1.45% × gross + 0.9% × max(0, gross − threshold), where the threshold is $200,000 for Single filers and $250,000 for Married Filing Jointly.
5. State income tax = simplified flat rate × taxable income. (Real state systems are graduated, so this is an approximation.)
6. Net annual pay = gross − federal tax − Social Security − Medicare − state tax − post-tax deductions.
7. Net per paycheck = net annual ÷ pay periods (12 for monthly, 26 for bi-weekly, 52 for weekly, or 1 for annual).

Worked example: $75,000 Single in California

With $5,000 in 401(k) contributions and monthly pay, taxable income is $70,000. Federal tax runs about $10,453, Social Security $4,650, Medicare $1,088, and California state tax roughly $6,510. Total deductions reach roughly $22,700.50 (post-tax excluded), leaving about $52,299.50 net annually — around $4,358.29 per month. The effective tax rate is about 30.27%.

1. Enter your gross annual salary (before any deductions).
2. Select your pay frequency: annual, monthly, bi-weekly, or weekly.
3. Choose your IRS filing status (Single, Married Filing Jointly, or Head of Household).
4. Pick your state from the dropdown to apply the correct state income tax rate.
5. Add any pre-tax deductions like 401(k) or HSA, and any post-tax deductions.
6. Click Calculate to see your take-home pay per paycheck and for the full year.

What is the difference between gross and net paycheck?

Gross pay is your total salary before any taxes or deductions. Net pay (take-home pay) is what actually lands in your bank account after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state income tax, and any pre-tax or post-tax deductions are withheld. The gap between gross and net is typically 20–35% for most US workers.

How accurate is this paycheck calculator?

It uses the official 2024 IRS federal tax brackets, the $168,600 Social Security wage base, and current Medicare rules including the Additional Medicare Tax. State tax is simplified to a single flat rate per state, while real state systems use graduated brackets and allow various credits — so treat the state portion as an estimate, not a payroll-grade figure.

What is FICA on my paycheck?

FICA stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It is the combined Social Security tax (6.2% of wages up to $168,600 in 2024) and Medicare tax (1.45% of all wages, plus an extra 0.9% on wages above $200,000 for Single filers or $250,000 for Married Filing Jointly). Employers match Social Security and the base Medicare portion, but not the Additional Medicare Tax.

Which US states have no income tax?

Eight states have no individual income tax on wage income: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, Wyoming, and (for wage earners) Tennessee. New Hampshire taxes only interest and dividends. Selecting "No state tax" in the calculator sets the state deduction to zero.

What are pre-tax vs post-tax deductions?

Pre-tax deductions (401(k), traditional 403(b), HSA, FSA, and some health insurance premiums) are subtracted from gross salary before federal and state income tax is calculated, lowering your taxable income. Post-tax deductions (Roth contributions, garnishments, union dues, some life insurance) are withheld after tax is computed, so they do not reduce taxable income.

Does the calculator include local or city taxes?

No. Many cities and counties (notably New York City, Baltimore, and most of Ohio) also levy local income taxes of 1–4%. This calculator covers federal, FICA, and state only. For an exact paycheck, add the local rate manually or check with your payroll provider.

This tool is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Consult a qualified financial professional for advice specific to your situation.

A few practical tips to manage your paycheck and potentially boost your take-home pay:

• Review your W-4 annually — the form your employer uses to calculate federal withholding. Life events like marriage, a new child, or a second job all change the right withholding amount.
• Maximize pre-tax contributions — 401(k), HSA, FSA, and traditional health premiums lower your taxable income, which reduces federal and state tax dollar-for-dollar.
• Watch the Social Security cap — once you pass $168,600 in 2024 wages, the 6.2% SS tax stops, so late-year paychecks jump noticeably if you earn above the cap.
• Plan for the Additional Medicare Tax — high earners above $200k/$250k should budget for the extra 0.9% or they may owe at tax time.
• State matters — moving from California or New York to Texas or Florida can add thousands to take-home pay purely through state tax savings.