Take-Home Pay Calculator
Estimate your US net pay from gross salary. Enter your effective tax rates (not marginal bracket rates) for the most accurate estimate.
Enter your numbers
Your results
Estimated take-home pay (annual)
$0.00
Where your paycheck goes
- Take-home $0
- Federal tax $0
- State tax $0
- FICA $0
- Other deductions $0
Estimate only — not a tax filing calculation.
How it works
This calculator uses a simple, transparent formula:
Monthly take-home is the annual figure divided by 12; a biweekly paycheck divides it by 26.
Where the money goes
For most US employees a paycheck is carved into four slices before it reaches your bank account. Federal income tax is the largest, based on progressive brackets. State income tax ranges from 0% (in states like Texas and Florida) to over 10% in high-tax states. FICA — 6.2% Social Security plus 1.45% Medicare — is flat and unavoidable on wage income (Social Security stops above the annual wage base, which this estimate ignores for simplicity). Other deductions are the ones you partly control: 401(k) contributions, health premiums, HSA/FSA. The bar above shows your personal split at a glance.
Why your effective rate matters more than your bracket
We ask for effective rates — total tax divided by total income — because that is what actually comes out of your pay. Your marginal bracket rate applies only to your last dollar earned and is always higher, so using it would understate your take-home pay. A quick way to find your effective rates: take last year's tax return, divide total tax by total income, and use that percentage here.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between marginal and effective tax rate?
Your marginal rate is the tax on your next dollar of income — the rate of your top bracket. Your effective rate is total tax divided by total income, and it is always lower. For take-home estimates, the effective rate is the one that matters.
Why doesn't this calculator use the 2026 tax brackets?
An exact federal calculation needs brackets, the standard deduction, filing status, and credits — too many inputs for a quick estimate. Entering your own effective rates (from last year's return: total tax divided by income) gives a fast, honest approximation without the complexity.
What should I include in other deductions?
Anything withheld from your paycheck beyond income tax: 401(k) or retirement contributions, health insurance premiums, HSA or FSA contributions, and similar pre-tax or post-tax deductions. Enter the annual total.
What is FICA and why is it separate from income tax?
FICA funds Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) — 7.65% total on wage income, separate from income tax because it goes to specific programs rather than general revenue. Unlike income tax it is flat, not progressive, so it takes the same bite at every income level (up to the Social Security wage base).
Will my actual paycheck match this exactly?
Probably not to the dollar. Real withholding depends on your W-4, pay frequency, pre-tax deductions, and state rules. Use this as a planning estimate; your employer's payroll system determines the exact amounts.