US Paycheck Calculator
Estimate your take-home pay after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state tax and 401(k) contributions for 2026.
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Quick Tip
Enter your annual gross salary before any deductions.
About This Tool
Why use US Paycheck Calculator?
This paycheck calculator estimates how much of your salary reaches your bank account after the main US payroll deductions for 2026: federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state income tax and pre-tax retirement contributions. It uses the 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deduction published by the IRS and the 2026 Social Security wage base of $184,500.
Example: a single filer earning $75,000 who puts 5% into a traditional 401(k) and lives in a state with a 4% income tax contributes $3,750 to the 401(k), leaving $55,150 of federal taxable income after the $16,100 standard deduction. Federal income tax is $6,845, Social Security is $4,650, Medicare is $1,087.50 and state tax is $2,850. Take-home pay is about $55,817.50 a year, or $2,146.83 per biweekly paycheck.
Key Benefits
Updated for 2026
Uses the 2026 federal brackets, the $16,100 / $32,200 / $24,150 standard deductions, and the $184,500 Social Security wage base.
Every deduction shown
See federal tax, Social Security, Medicare, state tax and retirement savings line by line, so you know exactly where your pay goes.
401(k) tax savings
Traditional 401(k) contributions lower federal and state income tax but not Social Security or Medicare, and the calculator reflects that.
How to use US Paycheck Calculator
- 1
Enter your annual gross salary before any deductions.
- 2
Choose your filing status and how often you are paid.
- 3
Add your traditional 401(k) or 403(b) contribution as a percentage, plus any other pre-tax deductions such as health insurance premiums or HSA contributions.
- 4
Enter your state income tax rate, or 0 if you live in a state with no tax on wages.
- 5
Review take-home pay per paycheck and the annual breakdown of every deduction.
Best use cases
Compare two job offers on actual take-home pay rather than headline salary.
See how raising your 401(k) contribution changes each paycheck.
Budget rent or a mortgage from the amount that really arrives every two weeks.
Check whether moving to a state with no income tax changes your net pay meaningfully.
How this tool compares
US Paycheck Calculator FAQs
How is federal income tax calculated on my paycheck?
Your salary minus pre-tax deductions and the standard deduction gives taxable income. The progressive 2026 brackets then apply: for a single filer, 10% on the first $12,400, 12% up to $50,400, 22% up to $105,700, and higher rates above that. Only the income inside each bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate.
What are Social Security and Medicare taxes in 2026?
Employees pay 6.2% Social Security tax on wages up to $184,500 and 1.45% Medicare tax on all wages. An Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9% applies to wages above $200,000 for single and head of household filers, or $250,000 for married couples filing jointly.
Which states have no state income tax on wages?
Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming do not tax wage income. Some cities and counties elsewhere add local income taxes, which you can include in the state rate.
Why is my real paycheck slightly different?
Employers withhold using the IRS Form W-4 tables, which depend on your W-4 choices, extra withholding and credits such as the Child Tax Credit. This calculator estimates your annual tax liability using the standard deduction, so treat it as a close estimate rather than a payslip.
Does a 401(k) contribution reduce my taxes?
Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce federal income tax and, in most states, state income tax. They do not reduce Social Security or Medicare tax. Roth 401(k) contributions are taken after tax, so they do not lower your tax today.
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