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Paycheck Calculator — Take-Home Pay After Tax (United States)

Published by H. Jhon · October 2026

Find out exactly how much of your salary lands in your bank account. Enter your gross annual pay and this free paycheck calculator estimates your net income after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes, using 2026 brackets and the standard deduction.

Annual gross salary ($)

Filing status

401(k) contribution %

Your state

How the paycheck calculator works

How US take-home pay is actually calculated in 2026

Every US paycheck is reduced by the same three layers, in this order: federal income tax, FICA payroll taxes, and — in most states — state income tax. The calculator above applies the 2026 model below, which is also the model behind every state and salary page on this site.

Layer 1: Federal income tax (2026 brackets, single filer)

Federal tax is charged on taxable income — gross pay minus the $16,100 standard deduction for a single filer in this model — using marginal brackets. Only the income inside each bracket pays that bracket's rate:

Taxable income	Rate
$0 – $12,400	10%
$12,400 – $50,400	12%
$50,400 – $105,700	22%
$105,700 – $201,775	24%
$201,775 – $256,225	32%
$256,225 – $640,600	35%
Over $640,600	37%

Layer 2: FICA — Social Security and Medicare

Social Security takes 6.2% of wages up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500; Medicare takes 1.45% on all wages, plus an extra 0.9% on earnings above $200,000 for a single filer. On a $75,000 salary FICA is a fixed $5,738 no matter which state you live in — it is usually the second-biggest line on the payslip.

Layer 3: State income tax — where the map splits

Nine states levy no broad-based income tax, while top rates elsewhere exceed 10%. Side by side on the same $75,000 salary (single filer, standard deduction, 2026 rules):

State	Federal tax	FICA	State tax	Take-home pay (year)	Per biweekly paycheck
Texas	$7,670	$5,738	$0	$61,593	$2,369
California	$7,670	$5,738	$3,640	$57,952	$2,229
New York	$7,670	$5,738	$3,520	$58,073	$2,234

The federal and FICA lines are identical — the entire $3,520 gap between Texas and New York on this salary is state tax. The pattern holds at other salaries too:

State	Net on $50,000	Net on $75,000	Net on $100,000
Texas	$42,355	$61,593	$79,180
Florida	$42,355	$61,593	$79,180
New York	$40,210	$58,073	$74,245
California	$40,732	$57,952	$72,969
Oregon	$38,554	$55,604	$71,004

For a salary not shown here, run the calculator above with your state selected, or open the matching salary breakdown — for example the $75,000 after-tax breakdown shows the same salary state by state.

Embed this calculator

Copy the code below to add this free calculator to your website or blog. No signup, no branding inside the tool.

<iframe src="https://freekalc.com/paycheck-calculator?embed=1" width="100%" height="700" style="border:0;border-radius:12px;box-shadow:0 2px 12px rgba(0,0,0,.08)" title="Paycheck Calculator 2026 | FreeKalc" loading="lazy"></iframe>

The embed adapts to your page width and works on any CMS — WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, Ghost, plain HTML.

Browse all embeddable calculators →

Enter your annual gross salary — the amount before any deductions.
Pick your federal filing status. State estimates are currently enabled only for single filers; married mode clearly excludes state tax rather than applying unsupported single-filer rules.
Add your 401(k) percentage and your state income tax rate (use 0 for states like Florida, Texas or Nevada with no income tax).
The calculator applies 2026 federal brackets, the standard deduction, 6.2% Social Security and 1.45% Medicare to show your net pay per year, month and paycheck.

Sources: IRS 2026 federal brackets and state departments of revenue. Rules version 2026.10.14; material rates rechecked October 14, 2026. Estimates only — see our editorial policy.

Frequently asked questions

How accurate is this paycheck calculator?

It uses the official 2026 IRS federal brackets, the standard deduction, and current FICA rates, so typical W-2 salaries give a close estimate. It does not model itemized deductions, credits like the child tax credit, or local city taxes.

Does the calculator include state taxes?

Yes for single filers: choose a state and the versioned 2026 state rules are applied. Married state calculations are intentionally disabled until state-specific joint brackets are implemented and tested.

Why is my real paycheck different?

Your employer may also deduct health insurance premiums, HSA contributions, union dues or wage garnishments, and pre-tax benefits reduce taxable income. Treat the result as a solid estimate, not payroll advice.

Is 401(k) contribution included?

Yes — traditional 401(k) contributions reduce your federal taxable income. Enter the percentage you contribute and it is subtracted before federal tax (note Social Security and Medicare still apply to the full gross).

Estimates are for guidance only and are based on published 2026 rates. Always confirm with a qualified professional for financial decisions.

Take-home pay by state

The same salary is worth a different amount in every state. See the state-by-state hub or jump to detailed rule pages for California, New York, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Oklahoma, Oregon, Louisiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Alaska, Hawaii, New Mexico and South Carolina.