Enter your annual gross salary, select your pay frequency (how often you get paid), choose your filing status, and enter your state's income tax rate (0 if your state has no income tax). Optionally, add your 401k contribution percentage and health insurance premium per paycheck. Click Calculate Take-Home Pay and your net paycheck, annual take-home pay, and a full deduction breakdown appear instantly — completely free, no login needed.
This calculator uses 2026 federal income tax brackets and the current Social Security and Medicare rates. The state tax field accepts a flat rate — use your state's effective rate for the best approximation.
Most employees see four categories of deductions on every paycheck. Understanding each one helps you plan your budget accurately:
The US uses a progressive tax system with seven brackets (10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, 37% as of 2026). You don't pay one rate on all your income — you pay each rate only on the income within that bracket. Traditional 401k contributions reduce your federal taxable income, shrinking your federal tax bill proportionally.
In 2026, Social Security tax is 6.2% of wages up to the wage base limit of $184,500. Income above that cap is not subject to Social Security tax. Your employer matches this 6.2% on your behalf, meaning the total Social Security contribution on your wages is 12.4%.
Medicare tax is 1.45% of all wages with no wage base cap. An additional 0.9% applies to wages over $200,000 (Single) or $250,000 (Married Filing Jointly). Like Social Security, your employer matches the base 1.45%. High earners pay the additional 0.9% themselves — employers do not match the surtax.
Nine states have no income tax at all: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. The remaining states use either flat rates (e.g., Illinois at 4.95%) or progressive brackets similar to the federal system. Enter your state's flat rate or your estimated effective state rate.
Traditional 401k contributions are deducted from your gross pay before federal (and usually state) income tax is calculated. This means contributing $400/month to your 401k does not reduce your take-home pay by $400 — it reduces it by $400 minus the tax you would have paid. In the 22% federal bracket, a $400 contribution reduces take-home pay by approximately $312, while the full $400 goes into your retirement account.
Health insurance premiums paid through employer-sponsored plans are typically also pre-tax. This calculator treats health insurance as a post-tax deduction for simplicity — if yours is pre-tax, enter it in the 401k field or adjust your taxable income estimate accordingly.
Expert guides and educational resources to help you master the math.
Gross income and net income aren't just different labels — they differ by 25–35% for most workers. Here's exactly what gets taken out, why it varies, and which number to use for budgeting.
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state tax, 401(k) — your pay stub lists them all, but most people couldn't explain what each one actually is. Here's every line item explained in plain English.
FICA is 7.65% withheld from every paycheck: 6.2% Social Security (up to the $176,100 wage base) plus 1.45% Medicare. Here's what each part funds and how self-employed workers pay differently.
