A paycheck calculator estimates your take-home pay per check. Enter your gross pay, pay frequency, filing status and state. The tool applies the 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction, 2026 FICA rates and wage base, and your state’s 2026 income tax where verified, then shows net pay plus every deduction line.
How to use it
- Enter your gross pay per check and your pay frequency.
- Pick your filing status and state.
- Add pre-tax deductions per check (401(k), HSA) if you have them.
- Read net pay per check, the annual totals, and your effective tax rate.
What gets deducted
Federal income tax: 2026 brackets (10% to 37%) on taxable income after the standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly). Social Security: 6.2% up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500. Medicare: 1.45% on all wages, plus 0.9% over $200,000 single / $250,000 joint. State tax: modeled per state; nine states have no wage income tax at all.
Worked example
Federal income tax: $295.00 Social Security: $178.85 Medicare: $41.83 State tax: $0.00
Net per check: $2,368.95 Net annual: $61,592.58 Effective tax rate: 17.88%
2026 Federal Income Tax Brackets
Marginal rates on taxable income, from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32. The calculator above applies these after the standard deduction.
| Rate | Single | Married filing jointly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $12,400 | $0 – $24,800 |
| 12% | $12,401 – $50,400 | $24,801 – $100,800 |
| 22% | $50,401 – $105,700 | $100,801 – $211,400 |
| 24% | $105,701 – $201,775 | $211,401 – $403,550 |
| 32% | $201,776 – $256,225 | $403,551 – $512,450 |
| 35% | $256,226 – $640,600 | $512,451 – $768,700 |
| 37% | Over $640,600 | Over $768,700 |
Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32.
Frequently asked questions
How is take-home pay calculated?
Start with gross pay, subtract pre-tax deductions, apply the standard deduction, compute federal tax on the brackets, then subtract Social Security, Medicare and state tax. What remains is net pay.
What is FICA?
The Federal Insurance Contributions Act tax: Social Security (6.2% up to the wage base) plus Medicare (1.45%, no cap). Your employer matches both.
Why do some states show no state tax?
Nine states levy no tax on wage income: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. Their residents still pay federal and FICA taxes.
Is this exact?
It is a close estimate. Actual withholding depends on your W-4, local taxes, and benefits. State figures use a simplified taxable income; treat them as estimates.
Sources
Federal brackets and standard deduction: IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32. Payroll figures: SSA 2026 Social Security Changes.