Paycheck Calculator (Take-Home Pay)
Estimate your net take-home pay per paycheck after 2026 federal income tax, FICA (Social Security & Medicare), state income tax, and pre-tax payroll deductions.
By Suhaib Hassan · Updated · How we verify formulas
Itemized Paycheck Deductions Breakdown
Bi-Weekly Pay CycleEquivalent Net Pay Across Frequencies
Federal Marginal Tax Bracket Distribution
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The Mechanics of Paycheck Withholding
Knowing how payroll taxes are calculated helps you avoid a surprise balance due — or an unnecessarily large refund — at tax time.
- Social Security wage cap: the 6.2% Social Security tax applies only to the first $184,500 of wages in 2026. Medicare (1.45%) has no cap.
- Additional Medicare Tax: employers withhold an extra 0.9% on wages above $200,000 in a year, whatever your filing status.
- Pre-tax isn't all the same: traditional 401(k) deferrals cut income tax but not FICA; Section 125 health premiums, payroll HSA contributions and commuter benefits cut both.
- Form W-4 (2020+): allowances are gone. You adjust withholding with dollar amounts — credits for dependents in Step 3 and extra withholding in Step 4(c).
Gross vs Net vs Total Compensation
Your gross salary is only part of what your employer spends to employ you.
- Employer FICA match: your employer pays its own 7.65% on top of yours — — a year at your pay.
- Employer health contributions: employers often pay most of the health insurance premium; your benefits statement shows the exact amount.
- Total cost before benefits: salary plus employer FICA comes to about — a year, before health, retirement match and unemployment insurance.
How this calculator works
Federal income tax withholding is estimated by annualizing your pay. Start with annual wages and subtract pre-tax deductions and the 2026 standard deduction for your filing status. Run the result through the 2026 IRS tax brackets, subtract any Form W-4 Step 3 credits, then divide by your number of paychecks. Social Security (6.2% up to $184,500) and Medicare (1.45%, plus 0.9% above $200,000) are applied to wages after Section 125 deductions. State tax uses a flat rate on your wages after pre-tax deductions. Real employer withholding follows IRS Publication 15-T, so individual paychecks can differ by a few dollars.
By Suhaib Hassan · 2026 figures verified 27 Sep 2026 against IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 and the SSA 2026 fact sheet · How CalculatePilot verifies formulas →
How to use this paycheck calculator
- Enter your gross pay. Enter your gross compensation as an annual salary or an hourly rate. For hourly pay, also enter your hours per week.
- Choose your pay frequency and filing status. Choose weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly or monthly paychecks, then choose your filing status.
- Add a state tax rate. Choose a state or enter your own effective state income tax rate.
- Enter your pre-tax deductions. Enter your traditional 401(k) or 403(b) deferral, health insurance premiums, HSA or FSA contribution and commuter benefits.
- Add post-tax items and read your net pay. Enter any Roth 401(k), other post-tax deductions, W-4 Step 3 credits or extra withholding, then read your net pay per paycheck.
What counts as a pre-tax deduction
Pre-tax deductions reduce your taxable income before tax is calculated. Common examples include traditional 401(k) contributions, health insurance premiums and health savings account (HSA) contributions. Post-tax deductions, like Roth 401(k) contributions or wage garnishments, don't reduce taxable income, so they're entered separately.
Getting this distinction right matters for accuracy. Entering a post-tax deduction as pre-tax would understate your taxable income and your estimated tax, which throws off the take-home figure. For a federal-only estimate on a known taxable income, use the Tax Calculator.
Worked example with the calculator defaults
The calculator opens on an $85,000 salary paid bi-weekly (26 paychecks), with a 4% state income tax rate. Pre-tax deductions are a 6% traditional 401(k), $120 of health insurance, $75 for an HSA and $30 of commuter benefits per paycheck.
- Gross pay per paycheck: $85,000 ÷ 26 = $3,269.23.
- Pre-tax deductions: $196.15 + $120.00 + $75.00 + $30.00 = $421.15, leaving $2,848.08 of taxable federal and state wages.
- Federal income tax withholding: $286.96. State income tax at 4%: $113.92.
- Social Security (6.2%): $188.74. Medicare (1.45%): $44.14.
- Net take-home pay: $2,214.31 per paycheck (67.7% of gross), or $57,572.02 a year.
Key takeaways
- This 2026 paycheck calculator estimates take-home pay per paycheck after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state tax and your deductions.
- Pre-tax deductions such as a traditional 401(k), health insurance and an HSA reduce your taxable wages. Post-tax items such as a Roth 401(k) do not.
- On the defaults, an $85,000 salary paid bi-weekly nets $2,214.31 per paycheck, or about $57,572 a year.
- It is an estimate. Real employer withholding follows IRS Publication 15-T, so a paycheck can differ by a few dollars.
Frequently asked questions
Which tax figures does this calculator use?
2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, the 2026 Social Security wage base of $184,500, and Medicare at 1.45% plus 0.9% on wages above $200,000. State income tax uses a flat rate you choose, since state rules vary widely.
Where can I find my actual effective tax rate?
Divide the total tax withheld on a recent pay stub or tax return by your gross income for that period — that gives a reasonably accurate personal effective rate to use here.
How much is the take-home pay on an $85,000 salary in 2026?
On the calculator defaults (paid bi-weekly, a 4% state tax rate and $421.15 of pre-tax deductions per paycheck), net pay is $2,214.31 per paycheck. That is about $57,572 a year, or 67.7% of gross pay.
How is federal withholding on a paycheck estimated?
The calculator annualizes your pay. It subtracts pre-tax deductions and the 2026 standard deduction for your filing status, applies the 2026 IRS tax brackets, subtracts any Form W-4 Step 3 credits, then divides by the number of paychecks.
What are the Social Security and Medicare rates in 2026?
For 2026, Social Security is 6.2% on wages up to $184,500. Medicare is 1.45% on all wages, plus 0.9% above $200,000. Both apply to wages after Section 125 deductions.
Why is my real paycheck different from this estimate?
Real employer withholding follows IRS Publication 15-T, so individual paychecks can differ by a few dollars. State rules, other income types and benefits not modeled here can also change the amount.
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