Everyday numbers, solved

Paycheck Calculator

Estimate your take-home pay per paycheck after 2026 federal income tax and FICA from gross salary, pay frequency, and filing status.

Results update instantly.Change any value and the estimate recalculates on the spot.

Money

Paycheck Calculator

See your take-home pay per paycheck after federal income tax and FICA, from any salary and pay schedule.

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Take-home pay per paycheck

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  • Annual take-home-
  • Federal income tax (annual)-
  • FICA - Social Security + Medicare (annual)-

Federal income tax and FICA only. No state or local tax is modeled. Estimates use the 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction. Not tax advice.

How to use this calculator

1. Enter your annual gross pay. 2. Pick your pay frequency. 3. Choose your filing status. 4. Add pre-tax deductions per paycheck, like 401(k) or HSA contributions. 5. Read your take-home pay per paycheck and the annual breakdown.

Worked example

A $75,000 salary paid biweekly with single filing and no pre-tax deductions: taxable income is $58,900 after the $16,100 standard deduction. Federal tax is $7,670 and FICA is $5,738, so annual take-home is $61,593 - about $2,369 per paycheck.

What this means and what to do next

If the take-home number surprises you, the biggest levers are pre-tax contributions and your W-4 withholding. This is federal only: subtract your state and local taxes for a fuller picture.

Next steps

When you are ready to act: review your pay stub against this estimate, adjust your W-4 or 401(k) contributions if needed, and re-run the numbers after a raise or job change.

How the math works

Taxable income is gross pay minus pre-tax deductions times paychecks minus the standard deduction for your filing status. The 2026 federal brackets apply progressively to that amount. Then 6.2% Social Security on wages up to the $184,500 wage base and 1.45% Medicare on all wages are subtracted. Annual take-home divided by your number of paychecks gives per-paycheck pay. No state or local tax is modeled, and the extra 0.9% Medicare tax on wages over $200,000 is not included.

How is take-home pay calculated?
Taxable income is your gross pay minus pre-tax deductions and the standard deduction. The 2026 federal brackets apply to that amount, then Social Security and Medicare taxes are subtracted. The result is divided by your number of paychecks.
Why does my actual paycheck differ?
Withholding depends on your W-4 elections, and real pay stubs include state and local taxes plus benefits like 401(k) and health insurance, which this calculator does not model.
What is FICA?
FICA is Social Security tax (6.2% on wages up to the $184,500 wage base for 2026) plus Medicare tax (1.45% on all wages). Your employer matches these amounts separately.
Does this include the extra 0.9% Medicare tax?
No. The additional 0.9% Medicare tax on wages over $200,000 ($250,000 for joint filers) is not modeled, nor is any state or local tax.
What are pre-tax deductions?
Amounts taken from your paycheck before income tax, like 401(k) or HSA contributions. They lower taxable income here; other benefits are not modeled.

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How it works

How the Paycheck Calculator works

Quick answer: A single filer earning $75,000 a year, paid biweekly, takes home about $2,369 per paycheck after 2026 federal income tax and FICA.

Formula

Federal tax = 2026 brackets applied to (gross − pre-tax deductions − standard deduction)
FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to $184,500) + 1.45% Medicare
Take-home = gross − federal tax − FICA

Per-paycheck amounts divide the annual figure by 52, 26, 24, or 12 pay periods.

Worked example

$75,000, single, biweekly, no pre-tax deductions. Federal income tax: $7,670 a year. FICA: $5,738. Annual take-home: $61,593, or $2,369 per paycheck.

Single filer, biweekly

Annual salaryPer paycheckAnnual take-home
$40,000$1,320$34,320Open
$60,000$1,938$50,390Open
$75,000$2,369$61,593Open
$100,000$3,045$79,180Open
$150,000$4,377$113,791Open

Assumptions and limits

  • State and local income taxes are not included.
  • The 0.9% additional Medicare tax on high earners and actual W-4 withholding choices are not modeled.

Frequently asked questions

How is take-home pay calculated?

Taxable income is your gross pay minus pre-tax deductions and the standard deduction. The 2026 federal brackets apply to that amount, then Social Security and Medicare taxes are subtracted. The result is divided by your number of paychecks.

Why does my actual paycheck differ?

Withholding depends on your W-4 elections, and real pay stubs include state and local taxes plus benefits like 401(k) and health insurance, which this calculator does not model.

What is FICA?

FICA is Social Security tax (6.2% on wages up to the $184,500 wage base for 2026) plus Medicare tax (1.45% on all wages). Your employer matches these amounts separately.

Does this include the extra 0.9% Medicare tax?

No. The additional 0.9% Medicare tax on wages over $200,000 ($250,000 for joint filers) is not modeled, nor is any state or local tax.

What are pre-tax deductions?

Amounts taken from your paycheck before income tax, like 401(k) or HSA contributions. They lower taxable income here; other benefits are not modeled.

Why is my actual paycheck different?

State tax, health insurance, retirement contributions, and your W-4 settings all change withholding.

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