Take-Home-Paycheck Calculator

What this take-home paycheck calculator does

Gross salary is not the amount that lands in your bank account. Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state and local tax, and pre-tax benefits all reduce the deposit. This calculator converts an annual salary into a per-paycheck and annual estimate of gross pay, deductions, and net pay.

It supports annual, semi-annual, quarterly, monthly, semi-monthly, bi-weekly, and weekly pay frequencies. It uses the same federal brackets and FICA rules as the Income Tax Calculator.

How to use this calculator

1. Enter the annual salary.
2. Choose the pay frequency.
3. Select the tax year and filing status.
4. Enter annual pre-tax deductions, such as a 401(k) or a pre-tax health premium.
5. Enter a flat state and local tax rate.
6. Click Calculate to see the per-period breakdown and the annual summary.

The default example is an $80,000 salary paid bi-weekly, single, 2025, with $6,000 of pre-tax deductions and no state tax.

Take-home pay formulas

Taxable wages = Annual salary − Pre-tax deductions
Federal income tax = Progressive tax on (Taxable wages − Standard deduction)
Social Security = 6.2% × min(Annual salary, Social Security wage base)
Medicare = 1.45% × Annual salary
Additional Medicare = 0.9% × max(0, Annual salary − filing-status threshold)
FICA = Social Security + Medicare + Additional Medicare
State and local tax = Taxable wages × state rate
Annual net = Salary − Pre-tax deductions − Federal tax − FICA − State tax
Per-period amount = Annual amount ÷ periods per year

Pre-tax retirement contributions reduce federal and state income tax, but they do not reduce Social Security and Medicare wages. That is why the FICA amount is based on the full salary while the income tax is based on salary minus pre-tax deductions.

What the results mean

• Gross pay per period: salary divided by the number of pay periods.
• Federal income tax per period: annual federal income tax divided by the number of periods.
• Social Security and Medicare: the employee-side FICA amounts per period.
• Pre-tax deductions: the per-period share of the annual deduction you entered.
• Net pay per period: what remains after federal tax, FICA, pre-tax deductions, and state tax.
• Annual summary: the same items for the full year, plus the take-home rate and marginal rate.
• Paycheck breakdown: a full-width table listing gross pay, each deduction, and net pay per period and for the year.

The take-home rate is annual net pay divided by annual salary. It is lower than one minus the marginal tax rate because FICA, state tax, and pre-tax deductions are also removed.

Assumptions and limitations

This calculator assumes a constant salary, a constant pay frequency, and the same pre-tax deduction each period. It uses the standard deduction and a single flat state and local rate. It does not include local wage taxes, wage garnishments, benefit premiums other than the pre-tax amount you enter, employer contributions, bonuses, overtime, commissions, or mid-year salary changes.

Federal withholding in real payroll uses IRS Publication 15-T tables and the employee's Form W-4. This calculator estimates the annual tax liability and divides it by the number of periods; it is not a payroll withholding engine. The result is a planning estimate, not a pay stub.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my actual paycheck different from this estimate?

Real payroll includes the Form W-4 withholding elections, local taxes, benefit deductions, and pay-period timing. This calculator uses a simplified annual liability divided by the number of periods. Use your pay stub for the exact amounts.

Do 401(k) contributions reduce FICA?

No. Pre-tax 401(k) deferrals reduce federal and state income tax, but Social Security and Medicare taxes are calculated on the salary before the deferral. The calculator follows that rule.

How many pay periods are in a year?

Annual has 1, semi-annual 2, quarterly 4, monthly 12, semi-monthly 24, bi-weekly 26, and weekly 52. A bi-weekly schedule can produce 27 paychecks in some years; this calculator uses the standard 26-period year.

Does this include state tax brackets?

No. State and local tax is a flat rate you enter. Actual state tax may use brackets, credits, and local surtaxes. Use your state's withholding tables or a state-specific calculator for a closer estimate.

Reference table

January holidays

Federal holidays may affect pay dates, banking, and payroll processing. Confirm your employer's holiday schedule.

Source

References:

• IRS — Revenue Procedure 2024-40 (2025 inflation adjustments)
• IRS — Revenue Procedure 2025-32 (2026 inflation adjustments)
• Social Security Administration — Contribution and benefit base
• IRS — Topic 560, Additional Medicare Tax

Disclaimer

This calculator is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a pay stub, tax advice, or a withholding calculation. Payroll rules and tax tables change. Confirm your withholding with your employer and the IRS, and consult a qualified tax professional for your situation.