Paycheck Calculator (2026)
Estimate your real take-home pay with official 2026 federal tax brackets, Social Security, and Medicare — hourly or salary.
| Line | Per check | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,500.00 | $65,000.00 |
| Federal income tax | -$216.15 | -$5,620.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$155.00 | -$4,030.00 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$36.25 | -$942.50 |
| Take-home pay | $2,092.60 | $54,407.50 |
Estimate uses 2026 federal brackets, the $16,100 standard deduction, Social Security to the $184,500 wage base, Medicare incl. the 0.9% additional tax over $200,000, and 2026 state tax rates with state standard deductions (single-filer brackets). Tax credits, W-4 adjustments, local/city taxes, and itemized deductions are not modeled — your actual withholding will differ. Not tax advice.
Job offers quote gross pay, but rent gets paid from net. This calculator applies the 2026 federal income tax brackets, the $184,500 Social Security wage base, and Medicare rates to show what actually lands in your account each payday — including how pre-tax 401(k) and health insurance change the picture. Paid by the hour with overtime? Work out your true gross first with the overtime calculator or time card calculator, or compare offers with the hourly to salary converter.
Paycheck calculator by state
State income tax ranges from zero (Texas, Florida, Washington…) to over 13% top marginal (California). Pick your state for a calculator with its 2026 rates pre-selected:
How It Works
Enter your pay
Hourly rate or salary, plus how often you get paid.
Set your situation
Filing status, 401(k) percentage, health insurance premium, and your state tax rate if any.
Read your paycheck
Take-home per paycheck plus the full annual breakdown: federal tax, Social Security, Medicare, and state tax.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is this paycheck calculator?+
It uses the official 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deduction (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32), the 2026 Social Security wage base of $184,500 at 6.2%, and Medicare at 1.45% plus the 0.9% additional tax over $200,000. It assumes you take the standard deduction and doesn’t model tax credits, W-4 extra withholding, or local taxes — so treat the result as a close estimate, not your exact stub.
What taxes come out of a paycheck?+
Three federal pieces: federal income tax (10%–37% brackets applied to taxable income), Social Security (6.2% of wages up to $184,500 in 2026), and Medicare (1.45%, plus 0.9% on wages above $200,000). Most states add state income tax — enter your state’s rate in the optional field; nine states (like Texas and Florida) have none.
Why is my actual paycheck different from the estimate?+
Common reasons: your W-4 claims dependents or extra withholding, you have local/city taxes, you itemize instead of taking the standard deduction, or you have post-tax deductions (Roth 401(k), garnishments, union dues). Employers also withhold per-period using IRS tables, which can differ slightly from the annualized math shown here.
How do 401(k) and health insurance affect take-home pay?+
Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce your federal taxable income but NOT Social Security or Medicare wages. Employer health premiums under a Section 125 cafeteria plan reduce both. The calculator handles this distinction correctly — it’s why putting $100 into each affects your net pay differently.
Does it handle state income tax?+
Yes, via a flat-rate field: enter your state’s income tax rate (or an effective rate if your state has brackets). States range from 0% (TX, FL, WA, NV, TN, SD, WY, AK, NH) to over 13% top marginal in California.
Is my salary data private?+
Completely. Everything is computed in your browser — no salary, deduction, or filing information is uploaded or stored anywhere.