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Paycheck Calculator – US Take-Home Pay After Taxes

Estimate your take-home pay per paycheck in the United States. Enter your salary, pay frequency, filing status, 401(k) contribution and an estimate of your state and local tax rate to see federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and your net pay.

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How to use the paycheck calculator

  1. Enter your annual gross salary. If you’re paid hourly, convert it first with the hourly to salary calculator.
  2. Choose your pay frequency: weekly, every two weeks, twice a month or monthly.
  3. Choose your filing status.
  4. Enter your 401(k) or 403(b) contribution as a percentage of pay.
  5. Add other pre-tax deductions such as health insurance premiums or an HSA.
  6. Enter an estimate of your state and local income tax rate.

You’ll see your take-home pay per paycheck and per year, a breakdown of every tax, your federal tax bracket and your effective tax rate.

How the estimate works

  1. Pre-tax deductions (401(k), health premiums) are taken off your salary.
  2. The standard deduction is subtracted to get taxable income.
  3. Federal income tax is calculated with the progressive brackets for your filing status.
  4. Social Security is 6.2% of wages up to $184,500 in 2026; Medicare is 1.45% of all wages, plus 0.9% above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly).
  5. State and local tax uses the flat rate you enter on wages after pre-tax deductions.
Take-home pay = Gross − Pre-tax deductions − Federal tax − Social Security − Medicare − State tax

Worked example: $75,000, single, paid every two weeks

  • 401(k) at 5% = $3,750
  • Taxable income = $75,000 − $3,750 − $16,100 = $55,150
  • Federal tax = 10% of $12,400 + 12% of $38,000 + 22% of $4,750 = $6,845
  • Social Security = 6.2% × $75,000 = $4,650
  • Medicare = 1.45% × $75,000 = $1,087.50
  • State and local at 4% of $71,250 = $2,850
  • Take-home ≈ $55,818 a year, or $2,146.83 per paycheck (26 a year)

2026 federal tax brackets (single)

Taxable incomeRate
Up to $12,40010%
$12,400 – $50,40012%
$50,400 – $105,70022%
$105,700 – $201,77524%
$201,775 – $256,22532%
$256,225 – $640,60035%
Over $640,60037%

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32. Brackets for married couples filing jointly are roughly twice these amounts.

State income tax

Nine states have no tax on wages, including Texas, Florida, Washington, Nevada and Tennessee — enter 0%. Others use flat rates or their own brackets. A flat estimate is close enough for budgeting; your state revenue department has exact tables.

Ways to increase take-home pay

  • Review your W-4 if you get a large refund every year — you may be over-withheld.
  • Use pre-tax benefits such as an HSA or FSA for health costs.
  • Balance 401(k) contributions with your monthly budget, but always get the full employer match — see the 401(k) calculator.

UK workers can use the UK take-home pay calculator. This is an estimate, not tax advice; tax figures are stored with their source and the date we last checked them — see our disclaimer.

Frequently asked questions

How much is $75,000 a year after taxes?

For a single filer contributing 5% to a 401(k) with a 4% state and local tax estimate, take-home pay is about $55,818 a year, or $2,146.83 every two weeks. Federal income tax is about $6,845, Social Security $4,650 and Medicare $1,087.50.

What taxes come out of a US paycheck?

Federal income tax, Social Security (6.2% up to the yearly wage base), Medicare (1.45%, plus 0.9% on high earnings), and in most states state income tax. Some cities and counties add local income tax.

What is the 2026 standard deduction?

$16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married couples filing jointly and $24,150 for heads of household. The calculator subtracts it before applying the federal tax brackets.

What is my tax bracket?

Your bracket is the rate on your last dollar of taxable income. In 2026 a single filer with $55,150 of taxable income is in the 22% bracket — but only the income above $50,400 is taxed at 22%; the rest is taxed at 10% and 12%.

Does a 401(k) reduce my taxes?

Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce federal (and usually state) income tax because they come out before tax. They do not reduce Social Security and Medicare tax.

Why is my real paycheck different?

Your employer’s withholding depends on your W-4, the exact pay-period tables, benefits, credits and local taxes. This calculator gives a yearly estimate spread evenly over your paychecks.

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