Paycheck Calculator
Estimate your take-home pay per paycheck. Calculate gross pay, taxes, and net income based on your salary, pay frequency, and tax rates.
A paycheck calculator estimates take-home pay — the amount actually deposited after federal income tax withholding, state income tax, FICA (Social Security and Medicare), and any pre-tax deductions. The gap between gross salary and net paycheck is wider than most Americans expect: a $75,000 salary in a typical US state often arrives as roughly $4,600-4,900 per month after taxes, not the $6,250 the annual figure implies. Our calculator lets you model different pay frequencies, tax rates, and states so you can plan cash flow with realistic numbers.
The key concepts are gross vs. net pay, marginal vs. effective tax rate, and how pre-tax deductions change everything. Your marginal rate is the rate paid on your next dollar earned — for 2026 at a $75,000 single-filer income, the top marginal federal bracket is 22%. Your effective rate is total federal tax divided by total taxable income, which at the same income is closer to 12-13% thanks to the standard deduction and the lower rates that apply to your first dollars earned. Confusing marginal and effective rates leads to common mistakes like "a raise will push me into a higher bracket and cost me money" — which is not how progressive taxation works in the US.
FICA (Social Security 6.2% up to the wage base + Medicare 1.45% with no cap, plus 0.9% additional Medicare over $200k single) is a flat 7.65% on most W-2 wages. State tax varies wildly: zero in states like Texas, Florida, and Washington; over 9% at the top in California and Oregon. Pre-tax 401(k), HSA, and FSA contributions shrink taxable income dollar-for-dollar and can meaningfully change the bottom-line paycheck. This tool is educational only and uses simplified flat-rate math — it is not financial advice, and for exact withholding you should consult a CPA or use IRS Form W-4 guidance.
Quick answer: On a $75,000 salary paid biweekly (26 checks/year) with a 22% federal and 5% state rate, gross pay is about $2,885/check and net take-home is roughly $2,106 per paycheck — or $54,750/year. This paycheck calculator estimates per-paycheck and annual take-home for any salary, frequency, and tax-rate combo.
Inputs
Quick presetsGross salary before any taxes or pre-tax deductions.
Biweekly = every 2 weeks (26 checks); semi-monthly = twice a month (24 checks).
Use your effective rate from last year's return, not your marginal bracket.
Nine states have 0%. Include local/city income tax here if applicable.
Results
How to use this calculator
Enter **annual salary** (gross, pre-tax), then pick **pay frequency** — weekly (52), biweekly (26, most common for US hourly and many salaried), semi-monthly (24), or monthly (12). Biweekly and semi-monthly sound similar but biweekly produces two "extra" paychecks per year (typically two months have three paydays), which is useful for targeting debt or savings sprints.
For **federal tax rate**, use your effective rate (total federal tax ÷ taxable income) rather than your marginal bracket. Your last tax return is the best source. As a rough guide: 10-12% for incomes under $50k single, 14-18% for $50k-100k, 18-22% for $100k-200k, higher above.
For **state tax rate**, check your state's income tax schedule. Nine states have no income tax. California, Oregon, and New Jersey sit at the high end. Include local/city income tax (NYC, Philadelphia, some Ohio cities) here.
This calculator is simplified — it does not automatically include FICA (add 7.65% to your total rate for a closer estimate), 401(k)/HSA contributions, or health insurance premiums. For a truly accurate paycheck, use your employer's payroll portal or a state-specific calculator.
Worked examples
$75k salaried worker in a 5% state
A single filer earns $75,000/year and is paid biweekly (26 checks). Gross per paycheck is $2,884.62. Using 12% effective federal (after standard deduction) + 7.65% FICA + 5% state = 24.65% total, tax per paycheck is about $711, leaving a net of roughly $2,173 per paycheck. Annual take-home works out to about $56,500 — or $4,710/month for budgeting. If this filer contributes $500/paycheck to a pre-tax 401(k), taxable pay drops to $2,384 per paycheck and takes even more off the tax line, boosting take-home efficiency.
Raise from $90k to $110k and the bracket myth
A worker considers whether a $20,000 raise is "worth it" given higher taxes. In the US progressive system, only the dollars above the bracket threshold are taxed at the higher marginal rate — not the entire income. At $90k single the marginal rate is 22%; the raise to $110k keeps them in the same 22% bracket (for 2026). Take-home increase after 22% federal + 7.65% FICA + 5% state is roughly 65% of $20k, or about $13,000/year net. The raise always produces more take-home; it never costs money.
Texas vs. California on the same $120k
Two engineers earn $120,000 biweekly. Engineer A lives in Austin (TX, 0% state income tax); Engineer B lives in San Francisco (CA, ~9.3% top marginal, effective ~6% at this income). Gross per paycheck is $4,615 for both. Using 17% effective federal for both: Engineer A pays 17% = $785/check, netting about $3,830 per paycheck ($99,500/year). Engineer B pays 17% + 6% = 23% = $1,062/check, netting about $3,553 per paycheck ($92,400/year). Same nominal salary, but Engineer A takes home about $7,100 more per year — enough to fund most of a Roth IRA contribution annually purely from state-tax geography.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between gross and net pay?
Gross pay is your total earnings before any deductions — your annual salary divided by pay periods. Net pay is what lands in your bank account after federal income tax, state income tax, FICA (Social Security + Medicare), and any pre-tax deductions like 401(k), health insurance, HSA, or FSA contributions.
What is FICA?
FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) is the payroll tax funding Social Security and Medicare. Social Security is 6.2% up to an annual wage base (around $176k in 2026); Medicare is 1.45% with no cap. An additional 0.9% Medicare tax applies to wages over $200k for single filers. Employers match the Social Security and Medicare portions.
Marginal vs. effective tax rate?
Your marginal rate is the rate applied to your next dollar earned — determined by your top bracket. Your effective rate is total tax divided by total taxable income. At $80k single for 2026, the marginal federal rate is 22% but the effective rate after standard deduction is closer to 12-13%. Never compare marginal rates when evaluating raises or career moves.
How do 401(k) contributions affect my paycheck?
Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce taxable income dollar-for-dollar. Contributing $500/paycheck in the 22% bracket saves about $110 in federal tax, so the actual take-home drop is only about $390. Roth 401(k) contributions are after-tax and do not reduce current-year tax.
What about HSA and FSA contributions?
Both are pre-tax and reduce taxable income. HSA contributions (for HDHP-enrolled filers) additionally escape FICA when made through payroll, producing a triple tax advantage (pre-tax in, tax-free growth, tax-free qualified withdrawals). FSA funds are use-or-lose within the plan year with limited rollover.
Why is my bonus taxed higher?
It is not actually taxed higher — employers are required to withhold 22% federal (or 37% above $1M) on supplemental wages. That may be more or less than your marginal rate. The actual tax is settled when you file your return, and any overwithholding comes back as a refund.
What states have no income tax?
Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming have no state income tax on wages. They typically compensate with higher sales tax, property tax, or other fees.
How do I read my paystub?
A paystub shows gross pay, each deduction line (federal withholding, state withholding, FICA-OASDI for Social Security, FICA-HI for Medicare, pre-tax benefits), and net pay. Year-to-date columns aggregate the current year's totals. Review annually for accuracy — withholding errors are common after life events like marriage or a new dependent.