TAX · FEDERAL

Take-Home Pay Calculator

Estimate your after-tax income by paycheck. Accounts for 2026 federal brackets, state income tax, Social Security, and Medicare withholding.

LAST REVIEWED · APR 10, 2026 · BY M. REYES, CPA
You need
$2,143
Est. cost
25.7%
IncomeReset
Gross Annual Salary
$75,000
$10K$500K
Pay Frequency
Filing Status
State
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How take-home pay is calculated

Your take-home pay is what remains after four categories of deductions: federal income tax, state income tax, Social Security (6.2% on the first $176,100), and Medicare (1.45%, plus 0.9% above $200K). The calculator applies 2026 marginal brackets after subtracting the standard deduction.

Why your paycheck differs from the annual number

Withholding is spread across pay periods, but brackets are annual. If you switch jobs mid-year or receive a bonus, your per-paycheck withholding may not match the annualized rate. Use this calculator to sanity-check — then adjust your W-4 if needed.

States with no income tax

Texas, Florida, Nevada, Wyoming, Washington, South Dakota, Alaska, Tennessee, and New Hampshire have no state income tax on wages. Moving from California (7.25% effective) to Texas saves a six-figure earner roughly $7,000/year in state tax alone.

Methodology. Applies 2026 federal marginal tax brackets to gross income minus the standard deduction ($15,000 single / $30,000 MFJ). FICA: 6.2% Social Security on the first $176,100, 1.45% Medicare with 0.9% additional Medicare surtax above $200,000. State tax uses flat effective rates for the 10 most populous states.

Sources

  • IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-11 (2026 brackets and standard deduction)
  • Social Security Administration wage base announcement 2026
  • State department of revenue published rates (2026 tax year)
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Frequently asked questions

What is take-home pay? +
Take-home pay is your gross salary minus all payroll deductions — federal income tax, state income tax, Social Security, and Medicare. It's the amount actually deposited into your bank account each pay period.
How do I increase my take-home pay without a raise? +
Maximize pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions, HSA contributions, and FSA elections. These reduce your taxable income, lowering your federal and often state tax withholding.
Does this calculator include local taxes? +
Not yet. Cities like New York City, Philadelphia, and Detroit levy additional local income taxes that reduce take-home pay further. We plan to add local taxes in a future update.
What's the difference between marginal and effective tax rate? +
Your marginal rate is the bracket percentage on your last dollar of income. Your effective rate is total tax divided by total income — always lower than marginal because earlier dollars are taxed at lower rates.
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