Enter your salary or hourly wage and pay schedule to estimate your take-home pay after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, 401(k) and pre-tax benefits. For example, a single filer earning $75,000 a year, paid every two weeks and saving 5% in a 401(k), takes home about $2,256.44 per paycheck in a state with no income tax.
Paycheck Calculator
Federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare for 2026 · Updated October 12, 2026
- Gross pay per paycheck
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- Federal income tax (estimate)
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- Social Security (6.2%)
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- Medicare (1.45%+)
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- 401(k)
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- Pre-tax benefits
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- State income tax
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- Annual take-home pay
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- Total deductions as % of gross
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Federal tax is estimated from 2026 brackets and the standard deduction; your employer withholds using IRS Publication 15-T and your Form W-4, so paychecks can differ slightly. Local taxes are not included.
What comes out of a paycheck in 2026
- Federal income tax: based on your taxable wages after the 2026 standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, $24,150 head of household) and the 2026 brackets from 10% to 37%.
- Social Security: 6.2% of wages up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500, so the most an employee pays is $11,439 for the year.
- Medicare: 1.45% of all wages, plus an extra 0.9% on wages over $200,000 that employers must withhold.
- State and local tax: varies widely. Enter your state’s rate as a simple percentage; nine states have no tax on wage income (Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming).
Pre-tax deductions: what they lower
Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce the wages subject to federal income tax but not Social Security or Medicare. Health, dental and vision premiums paid through a Section 125 cafeteria plan reduce both. That is why the calculator treats them separately.
Example: $75,000 salary, paid every two weeks
| Line | Per paycheck | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,884.62 | $75,000.00 |
| 401(k) at 5% | $144.23 | $3,750.00 |
| Federal income tax (single) | $263.27 | $6,845.00 |
| Social Security | $178.85 | $4,650.00 |
| Medicare | $41.83 | $1,087.50 |
| Take-home pay | $2,256.44 | $58,667.50 |
Federal taxable income here is $75,000 − $3,750 − $16,100 = $55,150: the first $12,400 is taxed at 10%, the next $38,000 at 12% and the last $4,750 at 22%, for $6,845 a year.
Why your real paycheck may differ
- Employers withhold using the IRS percentage method in Publication 15-T and the choices on your Form W-4 (extra withholding, dependents, other income).
- Tax credits such as the Child Tax Credit and the new 2025–2028 deductions for tips and overtime are claimed on your tax return; see the federal income tax calculator.
- Local income taxes (for example in some cities in New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania) are not included.
FAQ
Is overtime taxed more?
No. Overtime is added to your wages and taxed at the same rates. It can push part of your income into a higher bracket, and for 2025–2028 the premium part of qualified overtime may be deductible on your return.
How do I convert hourly pay to salary?
Multiply your hourly rate by hours per week and by 52. At $25 an hour and 40 hours a week, that is $52,000 a year.
Related calculators
- Federal Income Tax Calculator 2026Your full-year tax with credits and new deductions
- Compound Interest CalculatorGrow the money you save from each paycheck
Sources
- IRS: Tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026 (IR-2025-103) · October 9, 2025
- Journal of Accountancy: Social Security wage base and COLA announced for 2026 · October 24, 2025
- IRS Publication 15-T, Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods
Figures current as of October 12, 2026
Each formula is checked against a separate test sheet with at least three worked examples. Results are estimates based on the numbers you enter and the published rules; your actual figures may differ. This is general information, not financial or tax advice.
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