How this paycheck calculator works
A paycheck is gross pay minus a stack of deductions that are taken in a specific order. The order matters because some deductions lower the amount of pay that is taxed and others do not. The calculator follows the same sequence a payroll department does:
- Start with gross pay. Enter an annual salary, or an hourly rate and weekly hours. The tool annualizes the pay and then divides by the number of pay periods you choose (52 weekly, 26 biweekly, 24 semimonthly, 12 monthly).
- Remove pre-tax benefits. Traditional 401(k) deferrals, HSA contributions and Section 125 premiums are subtracted before income tax. HSA and Section 125 amounts are also removed before Social Security and Medicare tax; 401(k) deferrals are not.
- Apply the federal standard deduction. For 2026 this is $16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married couples filing jointly and $24,150 for heads of household.
- Run the result through the 2026 brackets, then subtract the child tax credit if you have qualifying children.
- Add FICA. Social Security is 6.2% of wages up to $184,500; Medicare is 1.45% of all wages, plus a 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax on wages above $200,000 (single).
- Add your state. The calculator applies the state’s own brackets, standard deduction and credits, then adds state payroll programs where they exist (for example California SDI, New York SDI and Paid Family Leave, or Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave).
2026 federal income tax brackets used
These marginal rates apply only to the slice of taxable income inside each range. Moving into a higher bracket never reduces your take-home pay for the income below it.
| Rate | Single | Married filing jointly | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 to $12,400 | $0 to $24,800 | $0 to $17,700 |
| 12% | $12,400 to $50,400 | $24,800 to $100,800 | $17,700 to $67,450 |
| 22% | $50,400 to $105,700 | $100,800 to $211,400 | $67,450 to $105,700 |
| 24% | $105,700 to $201,775 | $211,400 to $403,550 | $105,700 to $201,750 |
| 32% | $201,775 to $256,225 | $403,550 to $512,450 | $201,750 to $256,200 |
| 35% | $256,225 to $640,600 | $512,450 to $768,700 | $256,200 to $640,600 |
| 37% | $640,600 and above | $768,700 and above | $640,600 and above |
Worked example: $75,000 salary, single, California, paid biweekly
Here is the full calculation for a single filer earning $75,000 in California with no pre-tax deductions, paid every two weeks:
| Item | Biweekly paycheck | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,884.62 | $75,000 |
| Federal income tax | -$295.00 | -$7,670 |
| Social Security | -$178.85 | -$4,650 |
| Medicare | -$41.83 | -$1,088 |
| California income tax | -$107.23 | -$2,788 |
| CA SDI | -$37.50 | -$975 |
| Take-home pay | $2,224.22 | $57,830 |
Federal taxable income is $58,900 after the standard deduction, which puts the top slice of income in the 22% bracket. Total taxes and payroll programs take 22.9% of gross pay, leaving about $2,224.22 per biweekly check. The same salary in a no-income-tax state such as Texas leaves $2,368.94 per check, a difference of roughly $3,763 a year. Use the state comparison tool to run that test for any two states.
What changes your take-home pay the most
Filing status and dependents
Filing as married filing jointly roughly doubles the standard deduction and bracket widths, and each qualifying child under 17 can reduce federal tax by up to $2,200. The credit starts to phase out at $200,000 of income ($400,000 for joint filers).
Retirement and health account contributions
Every dollar of traditional 401(k) deferral reduces federal income tax at your marginal rate, so a $100 contribution at the 22% bracket only lowers your paycheck by about $78 before any state benefit. The 2026 employee deferral limit is $24,500 (plus $8,000 catch-up for most workers over 50). The 2026 HSA limits are $4,400 for self-only and $8,750 for family coverage. Our guide on pre-tax and post-tax deductions explains which is better for you.
Where you live
Nine states do not tax wages at all, a handful use a flat rate, and the rest use brackets that can reach above 10%. A few states also charge payroll-based premiums for disability or paid family leave. Browse the paycheck calculator for every state to see the rate structure, and our guide to states with no income tax for the trade-offs.
Your W-4
The calculator estimates your actual tax liability. Employers withhold based on your Form W-4. If you claimed extra jobs, dependents or deductions on that form, your stub can differ. Enter an amount in Extra federal withholding to mirror a W-4 Step 4(c) request. Read the W-4 guide for what each step does.
Accuracy and limits
The federal and FICA math follows IRS rules exactly for the inputs provided. State income tax is modeled with each state’s published rates, standard deduction, personal exemption and personal credit. It does not model state dependent exemptions, local surtaxes (apart from the optional local rate you can enter), income-tested credits, or itemized deductions. See the methodology page for a state-by-state list of simplifications. For a withholding check tailored to your exact job situation, the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator is the authoritative tool.