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Salary Calculator

Estimate your US take-home pay after federal and state taxes for any pay frequency.

2026 Tax Year Estimate: Uses 2026 IRS federal brackets, $184,500 Social Security wage base, and approximate state income tax rates. Does not account for all deductions, credits, local taxes, or individual W-4 elections. Consult a tax professional for precise figures.
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Your Details

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Enter your gross annual salary before taxes and deductions. This is the number on your offer letter or W-2 Box 1.

How often you receive a paycheck. Biweekly (every 2 weeks) gives 26 paychecks per year; semi-monthly gives 24.

Nine states have no income tax: AK, FL, NV, NH, SD, TN, TX, WA, WY. State tax can significantly impact take-home pay.

Your filing status affects both your tax bracket thresholds and your standard deduction amount.

Per Paycheck Estimate

Estimated Take-Home Pay
$2,163
per paycheck (biweekly)
Gross Pay $2,885
Federal Income Tax (est.) -$519
State Income Tax (est.) $0
FICA (SS + Medicare) -$221
Annual Breakdown
Annual Take-Home $56,238
Effective Tax Rate 18.5%
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Frequently Asked Questions

How is federal income tax calculated on my paycheck?
Federal income tax is calculated using progressive tax brackets set by the IRS. For 2026, single filers pay 10% on the first $11,925, 12% on income from $11,926–$48,475, 22% on $48,476–$103,350, 24% on $103,351–$197,300, 32% on $197,301–$250,525, 35% on $250,526–$626,350, and 37% above that. Each bracket only applies to the income within that range, not your entire salary. This calculator uses these 2026 brackets to estimate your federal withholding.
What is FICA and how much is withheld?
FICA stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act and covers Social Security and Medicare taxes. For 2026, Social Security tax is 6.2% of your gross pay up to the annual wage base limit of $184,500. Medicare tax is 1.45% with no income limit. High earners (above $200,000 single/$250,000 joint) pay an additional 0.9% Medicare surtax on wages above that threshold. These are separate from income taxes and are not reflected in standard income tax bracket calculations.
Which states have no state income tax?
Nine states currently have no state income tax on wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire (though it taxes investment income), South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. If you live in one of these states, your take-home pay will be significantly higher compared to high-tax states like California, New York, or Oregon. Note that no-income-tax states often offset this with higher sales taxes or property taxes.
What is the difference between biweekly and semi-monthly pay?
Biweekly pay means you receive a paycheck every two weeks, resulting in 26 paychecks per year. Two months of the year you'll receive three paychecks instead of two. Semi-monthly pay means you receive a paycheck twice a month (typically the 1st and 15th), resulting in exactly 24 paychecks per year. The annual gross pay is the same either way, but each individual paycheck is slightly larger with semi-monthly pay.
What deductions reduce my taxable income?
Several deductions can reduce the income subject to federal tax. Pre-tax contributions to a 401(k) or traditional IRA reduce your taxable income dollar-for-dollar. Health insurance premiums paid through an employer plan are often pre-tax. Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions are also pre-tax. The standard deduction for 2026 is $16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married filing jointly, and $24,150 for head of household. This calculator applies the 2026 standard deduction before computing federal tax and does not account for all possible deductions or credits.
How does filing status affect my paycheck?
Your federal tax filing status—single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, or head of household—determines which tax bracket thresholds apply to you. Married filing jointly generally results in lower taxes because the bracket thresholds are doubled. Head of household has its own bracket structure that falls between single and married rates. This calculator uses single filing status as a baseline estimate; adjust accordingly for your actual situation.
What is take-home pay?
Take-home pay (also called net pay) is the amount deposited into your bank account after all taxes and deductions have been withheld from your gross paycheck. It equals your gross pay minus federal income tax, state income tax, FICA (Social Security and Medicare), and any voluntary deductions like 401(k) contributions or health insurance premiums. This calculator estimates the tax portion; actual take-home pay will differ based on your specific withholding elections and voluntary deductions.
Is this salary calculator accurate?
This calculator provides a reasonable estimate of your take-home pay based on approximate federal tax brackets and state income tax rates. It is intended for planning and educational purposes only. Actual withholding depends on your W-4 elections, filing status, specific state rules, local/city taxes (not included), pre-tax deductions, and other factors. For precise payroll calculations, consult your employer's payroll department, a CPA, or tax software.

How US Income Tax Actually Works

The most persistent tax myth in America: earning a raise can push you into a higher bracket and leave you taking home less money. This is not how the system works. The US uses progressive marginal tax rates, which means only the dollars above each threshold get taxed at the higher rate. A raise always increases your take-home pay.

Here's a concrete 2026 example for a single filer earning $80,000. First, subtract the standard deduction of $16,100. Taxable income: $63,900. Now apply the brackets: the first $12,400 is taxed at 10% ($1,240). The portion from $12,400 to $47,150 is taxed at 12% ($4,170). The remaining $16,750 up to $63,900 is taxed at 22% ($3,685). Total federal tax: $9,095. Effective rate: 11.4%. Not 22%.

FICA taxes come on top of federal income tax and show up as separate deductions on your paycheck. Social Security takes 6.2% of income up to $184,500 in 2026 — above that threshold, no more Social Security tax is withheld. Medicare takes 1.45% with no income cap. Your employer matches both, meaning your total compensation costs your employer significantly more than your gross salary.

State taxes vary more than most people realize. Nine states have no income tax at all: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. California sits at the other extreme with a top marginal rate of 13.3% for incomes over $1 million. For someone earning $100,000, the difference between living in Texas versus California can be $5,000 to $7,000 per year in state tax alone.

The W-4 form controls how much federal tax your employer withholds from each paycheck. If too little is withheld you owe at tax time. If too much is withheld you get a refund — which sounds good but means you gave the government an interest-free loan for the year.

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About This Salary Calculator

This salary calculator estimates your paycheck using 2026 federal income tax brackets and approximate state income tax rates for all 50 US states plus Washington D.C. Enter your annual salary, choose your pay frequency, and select your state to see a per-paycheck breakdown of gross pay, federal tax withholding, state tax withholding, and estimated take-home.

The calculator also shows FICA taxes (Social Security at 6.2% and Medicare at 1.45%), giving you a complete picture of payroll deductions. The effective tax rate displayed is your combined estimated federal and state income tax as a percentage of gross income. Remember this is an estimate—your actual paycheck will vary based on your W-4 withholding elections, pre-tax deductions, and other factors specific to your employer and situation.