Take-Home Pay Calculator

Gross pay vs. take-home pay

Your gross pay is what your employer agrees to pay you. Your take-home, or net, pay is what actually reaches your bank account after taxes and deductions. For many US workers the gap is 20% to 30% of gross, and knowing the real number is the foundation of any budget, rent decision or job comparison.

Paychecks are withheld using IRS Publication 15-T and your Form W-4, so your actual paycheck can differ slightly from this annual estimate. If you get a large refund or owe every April, your withholding doesn't match your true tax, and updating your W-4 brings them closer.

How federal income tax brackets really work

The US uses progressive brackets: each rate applies only to the slice of taxable income inside its band. Moving into the 22% bracket doesn't make all your income taxed at 22% — only the dollars above the threshold. That's why your effective rate, total tax divided by gross pay, is always lower than your marginal rate, the rate on your next dollar.

For 2026, the standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers and married people filing separately, $24,150 for heads of household and $32,200 for married couples filing jointly. Most households take the standard deduction; if you itemize because of large mortgage interest, state taxes or charitable gifts, your tax may be lower than shown here.

Social Security and Medicare (FICA)

Employees pay 6.2% Social Security tax on wages up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500, and 1.45% Medicare tax on all wages. Employers match both. Above $200,000 of wages, employers must also withhold an extra 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax, which has no employer match.

The Additional Medicare threshold on your actual tax return depends on filing status — $250,000 for married couples filing jointly and $125,000 for married filing separately — so couples may get some of that 0.9% back, or owe more, when they file. This calculator uses the $200,000 withholding threshold for all statuses.

If you're self-employed

Freelancers and sole proprietors pay both halves of FICA as self-employment tax: 12.4% Social Security up to the wage base plus 2.9% Medicare, calculated on 92.35% of net earnings. You can deduct half of that tax when figuring income tax. There's no employer withholding, so most self-employed people make quarterly estimated payments to avoid underpayment penalties.

Enter your expected net profit — revenue minus business expenses — as gross pay and choose self-employed. Remember that business deductions, the qualified business income deduction and retirement plans such as a SEP-IRA can lower your bill further.

Pre-tax deductions that raise your take-home pay

Traditional 401(k) contributions lower your federal taxable income dollar for dollar, so a $1,000 contribution in the 22% bracket costs only about $780 in take-home pay. Health, dental and vision premiums through an employer plan, health savings account contributions and commuter benefits usually escape both income tax and FICA.

Use the What if slider to see how much of a raise you'd actually keep, and compare it with increasing your 401(k) contribution. Many people find that capturing the full employer match is the highest-return move available.

State income tax

Nine states — Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming — don't tax wage income, and we apply 0% there. Other states use flat or graduated systems with their own deductions and credits, and some cities and counties add local income tax. Until we publish verified state tables, enter your expected state rate in the Custom state tax field; your previous state return divided by your taxable income is a good starting point.