Take-Home Pay Calculator (2026)
Last updated: 2026-03-28
Convert your salary or hourly wage to after-tax take-home pay. This calculator uses 2026 federal tax brackets, standard deductions, Social Security ($184,500 wage base), Medicare, and simplified state income tax rates for all 50 states plus DC. Add 401(k) and health insurance deductions for a complete paycheck breakdown.
Take-Home Pay Calculator (2026)
Enter your salary or hourly rate to see your after-tax take-home pay with a full breakdown of deductions.
Optional — pre-tax retirement contribution
Optional — pre-tax employer-sponsored premium
This calculator provides estimates based on 2026 federal tax rates, simplified state tax approximations, and standard deductions. It does not account for itemized deductions, tax credits, local taxes, pre-tax transit benefits, FSA/HSA contributions, or other payroll adjustments. FICA taxes (Social Security and Medicare) are calculated on gross pay before 401(k) and health insurance deductions, matching actual payroll practice. State tax uses a flat-rate approximation — your actual state tax may differ. This is not tax or payroll advice.
How to Use This Calculator
- Choose salary or hourly— enter your annual salary, or your hourly rate and hours per week.
- Select your filing status— this determines your tax brackets and standard deduction amount.
- Choose your state— the calculator applies a simplified state income tax rate. States like Texas and Florida have no state income tax.
- Select pay frequency— weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly. This determines your per-paycheck amount.
- Add pre-tax deductions(optional) — enter monthly 401(k) contributions and health insurance premiums to see their impact on your take-home pay.
- Click "Calculate Take-Home Pay" to see your full breakdown: annual, monthly, and per-paycheck amounts.
Understanding Your Paycheck Deductions
Every paycheck has multiple deductions that reduce your gross pay to your net (take-home) pay. Understanding these deductions helps you plan your budget and make informed decisions about retirement contributions and benefits enrollment.
Federal Income Tax
Based on your taxable income (gross minus pre-tax deductions minus standard deduction) applied to graduated tax brackets. Your W-4 form controls how much is withheld per paycheck.
State Income Tax
Varies by state. Nine states (AK, FL, NV, NH, SD, TN, TX, WA, WY) charge no state income tax on wages. Rates in other states range from ~1.95% (North Dakota) to ~9.3% (California).
Social Security (OASDI)
6.2% of gross wages up to $184,500 in 2026. Your employer pays an additional 6.2%. This funds retirement, disability, and survivor benefits.
Medicare
1.45% of all gross wages (no cap). An additional 0.9% applies to earnings over $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (MFJ). Your employer pays a matching 1.45%.
How Federal Tax Brackets Work
The U.S. uses a progressive tax system with marginal tax brackets. This means different portions of your income are taxed at different rates — not your entire income at a single rate.
For example, a single filer earning $80,000 in taxable income (after the $15,700 standard deduction) would pay: 10% on the first $11,925 ($1,192.50), 12% on $11,926–$48,475 ($4,386.00), and 22% on $48,476–$80,000 ($6,935.50) — for a total of $12,514.00 in federal income tax. That is an effective rate of about 15.6%, even though the marginal rate on the last dollar is 22%.
| Rate | Single | Married Filing Jointly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | Up to $11,925 | Up to $23,850 |
| 12% | $11,926 – $48,475 | $23,851 – $96,950 |
| 22% | $48,476 – $103,350 | $96,951 – $206,700 |
| 24% | $103,351 – $197,300 | $206,701 – $394,600 |
| 32% | $197,301 – $250,525 | $394,601 – $501,050 |
| 35% | $250,526 – $626,350 | $501,051 – $751,600 |
| 37% | Over $626,350 | Over $751,600 |
Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-11 (2026 inflation adjustments).
States With No Income Tax
Nine states do not levy an income tax on earned wages, which means residents keep more of each paycheck compared to high-tax states. Here is the full list:
Alaska
Florida
Nevada
New Hampshire
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Washington
Wyoming
Note: New Hampshire taxes interest and dividends (though this is being phased out), and Washington imposes a capital gains tax on high earners. Neither state taxes regular employment wages. Some no-income-tax states compensate with higher property taxes or sales taxes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is take-home pay calculated?
Take-home pay (net pay) is your gross income minus all deductions: federal income tax, state income tax, Social Security tax (6.2%), Medicare tax (1.45%), and any pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions and health insurance premiums. This calculator uses 2026 tax brackets, standard deductions, and the $184,500 Social Security wage base to estimate your after-tax income.
What is the difference between gross pay and net pay?
Gross pay is your total earnings before any deductions. Net pay (take-home pay) is what you actually receive after federal tax, state tax, FICA taxes (Social Security and Medicare), and pre-tax deductions are subtracted. For example, a $75,000 salary might result in approximately $55,000-$62,000 in take-home pay depending on your state and deductions.
What are the 2026 federal income tax brackets?
For 2026, the federal tax brackets for single filers are: 10% on income up to $11,925, 12% on $11,926-$48,475, 22% on $48,476-$103,350, 24% on $103,351-$197,300, 32% on $197,301-$250,525, 35% on $250,526-$626,350, and 37% on income above $626,350. Married filing jointly brackets are roughly double these amounts. These are marginal rates, meaning only income within each bracket is taxed at that rate.
What is the standard deduction for 2026?
The 2026 standard deductions are: $15,700 for single filers and married filing separately, $31,400 for married filing jointly, and $23,500 for head of household. The standard deduction reduces your taxable income before federal tax brackets are applied. Most taxpayers take the standard deduction rather than itemizing.
How does Social Security tax work?
Social Security tax (also called OASDI) is 6.2% of your gross wages up to the wage base limit. For 2026, the Social Security wage base is $184,500, meaning you pay 6.2% on the first $184,500 of earnings. Your employer also pays a matching 6.2%. Once your earnings exceed $184,500, no additional Social Security tax is withheld for the rest of the year.
What is the Additional Medicare Tax?
The Additional Medicare Tax is an extra 0.9% on earnings above $200,000 for single filers and $250,000 for married filing jointly. This is in addition to the standard 1.45% Medicare tax. Unlike the standard Medicare tax, the Additional Medicare Tax has no employer match. It was enacted as part of the Affordable Care Act to fund Medicare.
Do 401(k) contributions reduce my taxes?
Yes, traditional 401(k) contributions are pre-tax, meaning they reduce your federal and state taxable income. However, they do NOT reduce your FICA taxes (Social Security and Medicare are calculated on gross pay before 401(k) deductions). For 2026, the 401(k) contribution limit is $23,500, or $31,000 if you are 50 or older. Roth 401(k) contributions are after-tax and do not reduce your current taxable income.
Which states have no income tax?
Nine states have no state income tax on earned wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. If you live in one of these states, your take-home pay will be higher than someone with the same salary in a state like California (9.3%), New York (6.85%), or Oregon (9.0%). New Hampshire and Washington do have taxes on certain investment income but not on wages.
How does pay frequency affect my take-home pay?
Pay frequency does not change your annual take-home pay, but it affects the amount per paycheck. Weekly pay means 52 paychecks per year, bi-weekly means 26, semi-monthly means 24, and monthly means 12. More frequent paychecks mean smaller individual amounts but more consistent cash flow. Tax withholding is calculated per pay period, which can cause small rounding differences.
Why is my actual paycheck different from this estimate?
This calculator provides a simplified estimate. Actual paychecks may differ due to: additional pre-tax deductions (FSA, HSA, transit benefits), post-tax deductions (Roth 401k, life insurance, garnishments), local/city taxes, tax credits, W-4 withholding adjustments, bonus or commission taxes, and rounding by your payroll system. Use your most recent pay stub for the most accurate comparison.
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Last updated: 2026-03-28. This calculator provides estimates only and is not a substitute for professional tax or payroll advice. Actual take-home pay may differ due to local taxes, tax credits, W-4 withholding elections, post-tax deductions, or other payroll adjustments not modeled here. State tax uses a flat-rate approximation — your actual state tax may vary based on brackets and credits. Sources: IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-11 (2026 inflation adjustments), SSA wage base announcement, IRS Publication 15 (Circular E).