Paycheck Calculator
Work out your take-home pay after federal, Social Security, Medicare, and state taxes — using the official 2026 withholding tables.
Your estimated paycheck
| Per paycheck | Per year | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Federal income tax | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| State tax | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Net (take-home) pay | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Pre-tax deductions per paycheck: $0.00 (reduce income-tax wages, not FICA). Total tax is about 0% of gross pay. Results update as you type.
How this paycheck calculator works
Enter your gross pay, how often you are paid, your federal filing status, and your state. The calculator applies the IRS Publication 15-T percentage method for federal withholding, Social Security and Medicare (FICA), and your state's official withholding method, then shows your estimated take-home pay per paycheck and per year. It assumes a standard Form W-4 with no dependent credits and a steady paycheck all year.
What comes out of a paycheck?
For most employees the deductions are federal income tax, Social Security (6.2% up to $184,500 of wages in 2026), Medicare (1.45%, plus 0.9% on wages over $200,000), and — in most states — state income tax. Texas and Florida have no state income tax, which is why the same salary takes home more there than in California, Illinois, or Ohio. Some cities and school districts also levy local income taxes; those are not included here.
Frequently asked questions
- How accurate is this paycheck calculator?
- It uses the same published withholding methods payroll departments use (IRS Publication 15-T for federal tax and each state's official withholding guide), so for a steady salary it should be within a few dollars of a real pay stub. Bonuses, overtime spikes, benefits, and extra W-4 entries can move a real check.
- Why is my actual take-home pay different?
- Common reasons: pre-tax benefits such as health insurance or a 401(k), post-tax deductions, garnishments, local income taxes, or W-4 settings such as dependent credits (Step 3) that this simple calculator does not model.
- Which states have no income tax?
- Nine states levy no broad personal income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. This site currently covers Texas and Florida among the no-tax states.
- When are the tables updated?
- Withholding tables change every January. This calculator uses the 2026 tables (IRS Publication 15-T for 2026 and the states' 2026 withholding guides) and is refreshed every January when the new tables are published.