Calculators
Paycheck Calculator
Calculate take-home pay from gross salary with our free paycheck calculator. Includes federal tax, FICA, state tax, and deductions for accurate net pay estimates.
Use Paycheck Calculator to get instant results without uploads or sign-ups. Everything runs securely in your browser for fast, reliable output.
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About this tool
Calculate your exact take-home pay after all taxes and deductions with our comprehensive paycheck calculator. Understanding your net pay is crucial for budgeting, comparing job offers, and financial planning. Our calculator factors in federal income tax, FICA taxes (Social Security and Medicare), state income tax, and common deductions like 401k contributions and health insurance premiums to show what actually hits your bank account.
Your gross salary and take-home pay can differ dramatically - a $60,000 salary typically results in about $45,000-48,000 take-home depending on your state and deductions. That's $15,000+ in taxes and withholdings! Our calculator breaks down exactly where your money goes: federal tax (10-37% depending on bracket), FICA tax (7.65% for most), state tax (0-13% depending on state), and voluntary deductions. This transparency helps you make informed financial decisions.
Perfect for evaluating job offers (compare net pay, not just gross), budgeting monthly expenses based on actual take-home, optimizing tax withholdings to avoid surprises, and understanding the value of benefits like employer 401k match and health insurance. The calculator handles all common pay frequencies: weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, and monthly paychecks.
Your financial information stays completely private - all calculations happen in your browser with no data sent to servers. Use the calculator to model different scenarios like raises, deduction changes, or moving to different states. Works on all devices and can be used offline after the first visit.
Usage examples
Annual Salary to Bi-Weekly Paycheck
$60,000 salary, bi-weekly pay, 22% federal, 5% state, 5% 401k
Gross: $2,308/check. Federal: -$508. FICA: -$177. State: -$115. 401k: -$115. Net: $1,393/check ($36,218/year take-home).
High Earner Tax Impact
$150,000 salary, monthly pay, 24% federal, 7% state
Gross: $12,500/month. Taxes: -$4,856 (39%). Net: $7,644/month ($91,728/year). Nearly 40% goes to taxes at higher income levels.
No State Tax Advantage
$70,000 in Texas (0% state) vs California (9.3% state)
Texas net: $51,870/year. California net: $45,500/year. Same salary, $6,370 more take-home in Texas - equivalent to 9% raise.
Impact of 401k Contributions
$80,000 salary, 0% vs 10% 401k contribution
No 401k: $58,400 take-home. With 10%: $53,680 take-home + $8,000 saved. Pre-tax 401k reduces taxable income, lowers taxes paid.
Part-Time Weekly Pay
$15/hour, 25 hours/week, weekly pay
Gross: $375/week. Federal: -$38. FICA: -$29. State: -$19. Net: $289/week ($15,028/year). Lower income = lower tax rate.
How to use
- Enter your gross pay (before taxes) per paycheck
- Select your pay frequency (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly)
- Enter federal income tax withholding percentage
- Enter state tax rate (0% for no-tax states)
- Enter any pre-tax deductions (401k, health insurance)
- Click "Run Tool" to calculate take-home pay
- View net pay, tax breakdown, and annual projections
Benefits
- Calculate exact take-home pay after all deductions
- See federal, state, and FICA tax breakdown
- Factor in 401k, health insurance, and other deductions
- Compare different pay frequencies (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly)
- Evaluate job offers based on net pay, not gross
- Budget accurately with actual take-home amounts
- Understand where every dollar of your paycheck goes
- Optimize tax withholdings to avoid refunds or owing
- Compare take-home pay in different states
- No registration or personal information required
- 100% private - calculations done in your browser
- Free forever with instant calculations
FAQs
How much of my paycheck goes to taxes?
Most people pay 25-35% of gross pay in taxes and deductions. Federal income tax: 10-37% (marginal brackets), FICA: 7.65% (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%), State: 0-13% depending on state, plus pre-tax deductions like 401k and health insurance. For example, on $60,000 salary: ~$9,000 federal, $4,590 FICA, $3,000 state (5%) = $16,590 (27.6%) in taxes alone.
What is FICA and why is it deducted?
FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) funds Social Security and Medicare. All employees pay 7.65%: 6.2% for Social Security (on first $160,200 in 2023) and 1.45% for Medicare (on all income). High earners pay additional 0.9% Medicare tax on income over $200,000. Your employer matches this, paying another 7.65%. FICA is non-negotiable - everyone pays it regardless of deductions or tax bracket.
How do pre-tax deductions reduce my taxes?
Pre-tax deductions like 401k, health insurance, and HSA come out before calculating income tax, reducing taxable income. Example: $60,000 salary with $5,000 (401k + insurance) pre-tax means you only pay income tax on $55,000. At 22% bracket, this saves $1,100 in federal tax. You still pay FICA on the full $60,000. Pre-tax deductions are one of the best tax advantages available to employees.
Why is my actual paycheck less than gross salary divided by pay periods?
Gross salary divided by pay periods doesn't account for taxes and deductions. $60,000 ÷ 26 bi-weekly checks = $2,308 gross, but after ~27% taxes/deductions, net is only ~$1,685. Many people make this mistake when budgeting. Always budget using net pay. Also, some deductions may come out of certain checks (annual insurance premiums), making those checks smaller.
Which states have no income tax?
Nine states have no income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. This can mean 5-10% more take-home pay compared to high-tax states like California (13.3%), New York (10.9%), or New Jersey (10.75%). However, these states often have higher property or sales taxes. A $70,000 salary takes home ~$6,000 more annually in no-tax states.
Should I adjust my W-4 withholdings?
Your W-4 determines how much federal tax is withheld. Too much = big refund but less money each paycheck. Too little = owe taxes in April. Ideal is breaking even - minimize interest-free loan to the government while avoiding penalties. Adjust W-4 after life changes: marriage, kids, second job, or side income. Use IRS withholding calculator or our paycheck calculator to find the right amount.
What is the difference between gross and net pay?
Gross pay is total earnings before any deductions - what your employer "pays" you and uses for tax calculations. Net pay (take-home) is what actually deposits in your bank after all taxes, insurance, 401k, etc. For example: $5,000 gross monthly becomes ~$3,650 net after 27% in deductions. Always use net pay for budget planning. Gross is mainly for tax forms and loan applications.
How much should I contribute to my 401k?
At minimum, contribute enough to get full employer match - it's free money! Most employers match 3-6% of salary. Then aim for 10-15% total (including match) to retire comfortably. For example, on $60,000 salary: 6% ($3,600) gets you employer 3% match ($1,800) = $5,400/year total (9%). The pre-tax benefit means a 6% contribution only reduces take-home by ~4.7% due to tax savings.
What is the Social Security wage base limit?
Social Security tax (6.2%) only applies to first $160,200 of income (2023 limit, adjusted yearly). Income above this doesn't pay Social Security tax, but still pays Medicare tax (1.45%). High earners see a "raise" mid-year when they hit the cap and stop paying 6.2% on additional income. For example, at $200,000 salary, you save $2,471 on the last $39,800 earned.
How do I calculate take-home pay from hourly wage?
Multiply hourly wage by hours per pay period to get gross pay. Then subtract taxes and deductions. For $20/hour, 40 hours/week, bi-weekly pay: $20 × 80 hours = $1,600 gross. Subtract ~27% ($432) for taxes = $1,168 net per check ($30,368/year). Overtime (time-and-a-half) is $30/hour but also taxed at your rate. Always factor taxes when evaluating hourly jobs.
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