Finance
Paycheck Calculator
Estimate your take-home pay per paycheck using 2026 federal tax brackets, FICA (Social Security + Medicare), and state withholding.
Your paycheck
Net per paycheck
$2,189.52
Gross $2,884.62 | Effective tax 16.1% | Marginal 22%
Federal
$261.31
Social Security
$164.54
Medicare
$38.48
State
$0.00
Estimate only. Uses 2026 federal brackets and simplified state rates. Not tax advice.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Paycheck Calculator
How are federal income taxes calculated?
Federal income tax is progressive, so only the income that falls inside each bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate. The rates run 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%, and the bracket ranges are wider for married filing jointly and head of household than for single filers. This calculator first subtracts your pre-tax deductions and the standard deduction from your gross pay, then applies the brackets to what is left, so your taxable income is lower than your salary.
What is FICA and how much is withheld?
FICA is the combined Social Security and Medicare payroll tax. Social Security takes 6.2% of wages up to a yearly cap, which is $184,500 in 2026; earnings above the cap owe no Social Security tax. Medicare takes 1.45% of all wages, plus an extra 0.9% on wages above $200,000 for single and head of household filers, or $250,000 for married filing jointly. Contributing to an HSA through payroll lowers the wages subject to FICA, while a traditional 401(k) does not.
How does state income tax affect my paycheck?
It depends on your state. Florida and Texas have no state income tax, so residents owe nothing there. This calculator applies a simplified flat 4% to California and New York wages (gross minus pre-tax deductions) purely as an illustration; both states actually use progressive brackets and extra rules, so treat the state figure here as a rough estimate only.
Why do pre-tax deductions like 401(k) and HSA reduce my taxes?
Both come out of your pay before federal income tax is figured, so they shrink your taxable income. A traditional 401(k) lowers federal income tax but still owes Social Security and Medicare; an HSA funded through payroll escapes both income tax and FICA. A $5,000 yearly 401(k) contribution cuts federal tax by about $600 to $1,100, depending on whether your top dollars sit in the 12% or 22% bracket.
Why is my net pay so much lower than my gross?
Several deductions stack: federal income tax, Social Security at 6.2%, Medicare at 1.45%, any state income tax, your pre-tax contributions like 401(k) or HSA, and post-tax items like Roth 401(k) or wage garnishments. For someone earning $60,000 a year, filing single with no pre-tax deductions, federal income tax plus FICA alone runs about 16% of gross, before any state tax or other withholding.