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Paycheck Calculator

Enter your salary or hourly rate to see take-home pay per paycheck, with federal tax, FICA, state tax and 401(k) all broken out.

Written by Jude Ramsey · Last updated August 2026 · How these calculators are checked

How paycheck is worked out

This paycheck calculator works backwards from gross pay to the number that actually lands in your account. It applies the federal income tax brackets for your filing status, Social Security and Medicare, an estimated state income tax, and any pre-tax deductions you make.

Because pre-tax contributions come out before income tax is calculated, raising your 401(k) percentage lowers your taxable pay as well as your take-home — the calculator shows both effects at once.

Worked example

Take the starting scenario, a pay basis of Annual salary. That gives a take-home pay of $1,977.15. Underneath, Gross per period comes out at $2,500 and Federal income tax at $206.6. Change any field and every figure updates as you type.

How to use it

  1. Choose annual salary or hourly rate, and enter the amount.
  2. Pick your pay frequency, filing status, state and tax year.
  3. Add your 401(k) percentage and any other pre-tax deductions.

Formula reference

taxable pay = gross − pre-tax deductions − standard deduction federal tax from the bracket table · FICA = 6.2% SS + 1.45% Medicare take-home = gross − federal − FICA − state − pre-tax

Questions people ask about this

How much of my paycheck goes to taxes?
For most middle incomes the combined federal, FICA and state bite lands somewhere between 20% and 30% of gross. The effective rate line shows yours.
Why is my first paycheck of the year smaller?
Social Security stops once you pass the annual wage base, so late-year paychecks can be larger. This tool spreads the tax evenly across the year.
Are state taxes exact?
No — state rates are approximate effective rates, since brackets, local taxes and credits vary. Federal figures follow the published brackets.

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