Take-home pay calculator (federal estimate)
Quick federal-only estimate — income tax brackets + FICA + Medicare. For state-specific accuracy use the state paycheck calculators.
Enter the numbers
Estimate uses 2026 federal brackets + standard deduction. Excludes state income tax, local tax, health-insurance premiums, and other deductions. Actual take-home will be lower if your state has income tax.
How take-home pay is calculated
Take-home = gross − pre-tax deductions (401(k), HSA, pre-tax health premiums) − federal income tax (on taxable income after standard deduction) − Social Security (6.2% up to wage base limit) − Medicare (1.45% on all wages, +0.9% Additional Medicare over $200k). State income tax, local tax, and post-tax deductions further reduce the result; this calculator skips them so the federal-only number is a clean upper bound.
Why state matters so much
Nine states have no income tax (Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming). California's top marginal rate runs over 13%. The difference between living in Texas vs California on a $100k salary is often 8-10% of gross pay in net take-home. Use the state-specific paycheck calculator for accurate per-state numbers.
Pre-tax deductions reduce federal tax too
401(k) and HSA contributions come out of gross BEFORE federal income tax is calculated. So a $6,000 401(k) contribution lowers your federal tax bill by your marginal rate × $6,000 — roughly $1,320 in tax savings at the 22% bracket. That's why most personal finance advice says max out the employer 401(k) match: you keep more of your gross pay because Uncle Sam takes less.
FAQ
What does this calculator NOT include?
State income tax, local income tax, health insurance premiums (unless you list them as pre-tax), retirement contributions beyond the 401(k)/HSA field, garnishments, and any post-tax deductions. For accurate take-home including state taxes, use our state-specific paycheck calculator.
Why does my actual paycheck show less?
Most likely: state income tax (this calculator skips it), health insurance premium deduction, or higher 401(k) contribution than entered. Add those into the picture and the numbers should reconcile.
Is FICA the same for everyone?
Social Security (6.2%) stops at the annual wage base limit — once your YTD wages cross it, no more Social Security tax for the year. Medicare (1.45%) has no cap, plus an Additional 0.9% on wages over $200k. The calculator handles the SS wage base correctly.