Paycheck Calculator (2026)
Built & reviewed by Nandu Kannan · Overtime rules cited to primary statutes
See your real take-home pay. Enter your gross pay, filing status and state — get net pay per paycheck and per year, with federal tax, state tax, Social Security and Medicare broken out. All figures are 2026 estimates.
| 2026 estimate | Per paycheck | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $0 | $0 |
| Federal income tax | $0 | $0 |
| State income tax | $0 | $0 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $0 | $0 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | $0 | $0 |
| Total tax | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay | $0 | $0 |
Effective tax rate: 0%
2026 estimates using federal brackets, the standard deduction, FICA and state income tax only. Ignores 401(k), health premiums, local taxes, credits and other deductions. Not tax advice.
How take-home pay is calculated
Net pay = gross pay − federal tax − state tax − Social Security − Medicare
Federal tax uses the 2026 brackets after the standard deduction ($16,100
single / $32,200 married filing jointly). Social Security is 6.2% up to the
$184,500 wage base; Medicare is 1.45% on everything (plus 0.9% over
$200k/$250k). State tax depends on where you work — from 0% in nine states
to over 10% at high incomes in California or New York.
2026 federal tax brackets
Rates apply to taxable income — gross pay minus the 2026 standard deduction ($16,100 single / $32,200 married filing jointly). This table is generated from the same data the calculator uses.
| Rate | Single — taxable income | Married filing jointly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $12,400 | $0 – $24,800 |
| 12% | $12,400 – $50,400 | $24,800 – $100,800 |
| 22% | $50,400 – $105,700 | $100,800 – $211,400 |
| 24% | $105,700 – $201,775 | $211,400 – $403,550 |
| 32% | $201,775 – $256,225 | $403,550 – $512,450 |
| 35% | $256,225 – $640,600 | $512,450 – $768,700 |
| 37% | over $640,600 | over $768,700 |
2026 FICA (Social Security & Medicare)
| Tax | Employee rate | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security | 6.2% | Wages up to the $184,500 2026 wage base |
| Medicare | 1.5% | All wages — no cap |
| Additional Medicare | 0.9% | Wages over $200,000 (single) / $250,000 (married) |
Your employer pays a matching 6.2% + 1.45% on top — it never comes out of your paycheck.
Worked example: $60,000, single, in Texas
Texas has no state income tax, so only federal tax and FICA apply. A single filer earning $60,000 in 2026 pays about $5,020 federal income tax (on $43,900 taxable after the standard deduction), $3,720 Social Security and $870 Medicare — total tax $9,610, an effective rate of 16.0%. Take-home pay: $50,390 per year, roughly $1,938 per biweekly paycheck. These numbers come from the same engine as the calculator above — run your own salary, state and filing status to compare.
Your state: see all 50
State income tax is the biggest variable between two identical paychecks. Pick your state for a 2026 calculator with that state's exact rates and rules:
California · Texas · Florida · New York · Pennsylvania · Illinois · Ohio · Georgia · North Carolina · Michigan · …and every other state — each state page links its neighbors, so you can browse all 50 states + D.C.
Frequently asked questions
How is take-home pay calculated?
Start with gross pay, subtract federal income tax (using the 2026 brackets and standard deduction), state income tax, Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%). What remains is your net — or take-home — pay. This calculator does that math for any pay period: hourly, weekly, biweekly, monthly or annual.
What is FICA?
FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) is the payroll tax that funds Social Security and Medicare. Employees pay 6.2% for Social Security on wages up to the 2026 wage base ($184,500) and 1.45% for Medicare on all wages, plus an extra 0.9% Medicare tax on income over $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly). Your employer pays a matching share.
Why is my paycheck smaller than my salary?
Your salary is a gross figure. Before money reaches your bank account, your employer withholds federal income tax, state income tax (in most states), Social Security and Medicare — typically 20–35% combined for middle incomes. Pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions and health premiums reduce it further.
How does filing single vs. married change my paycheck?
Married filing jointly gets a larger standard deduction ($32,200 vs. $16,100 for single in 2026) and wider tax brackets, so the same income is usually taxed less. On one income, switching from single to married withholding typically increases each paycheck; with two similar incomes the difference shrinks.
Which states have no income tax?
Nine states tax no wage income: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. In those states your paycheck is reduced only by federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare.
Is this before or after 401(k) and health insurance?
These results ignore 401(k), HSA, health premiums and other pre-tax deductions, as well as local/city taxes and credits. They are 2026 estimates of tax withholding only — your real paycheck stub will differ. Not tax advice.
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