Want to know how much of your salary you actually take home? Our Take-Home Pay Calculator estimates your paycheck after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and estimated state or local taxes.
Enter your annual salary, filing status, pay frequency, and optional deductions such as a 401(k) contribution or HSA contribution. The calculator shows your estimated annual, monthly, and per-paycheck take-home pay so you can get a clearer picture of your actual income.
This calculator is designed for U.S. employees and uses 2026 federal tax rules. Because state taxes, benefits, tax credits, and individual W-4 elections can vary, your actual paycheck may be different.
Take-Home Pay Breakdown
The figures below show how your estimated gross salary is divided between pre-tax deductions, federal income tax, payroll taxes, state/local tax, and your estimated take-home pay.
About This Calculation
This calculator estimates 2026 U.S. employee take-home pay using federal income tax brackets, the applicable standard deduction, Social Security, Medicare, and an optional state/local tax rate. It assumes the entered 401(k), HSA, and other deductions are eligible pre-tax payroll deductions. Actual payroll withholding can differ because of your Form W-4 elections, tax credits, benefits, local taxes, pay-period withholding methods, and other individual circumstances.
How to Calculate Take-Home Pay
Your take-home pay is the amount left from your gross salary after taxes and other deductions are taken out.
A simple way to understand the calculation is:
Take-Home Pay = Gross Pay − Pre-Tax Deductions − Taxes − Other Withholding
The main deductions considered in this calculator are federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, estimated state or local income tax, and optional payroll deductions.
Federal Income Tax
Federal income tax is calculated using tax brackets. Your entire salary is not taxed at one single rate. Different portions of taxable income are taxed at different rates.
For 2026, federal income tax rates range from 10% to 37%, depending on taxable income and filing status.
Social Security and Medicare
Most employees pay Social Security and Medicare taxes through payroll.
For 2026, the employee Social Security tax rate is 6.2% on wages up to the $184,500 Social Security wage base. Medicare tax is 1.45% on covered wages, with no wage base limit. An additional 0.9% Medicare tax can apply above certain income thresholds.
401(k) and HSA Contributions
Traditional 401(k) contributions can reduce the amount of income subject to federal income tax, although they generally remain subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes.
Eligible HSA contributions made through payroll can also affect taxable wages. Your actual treatment can depend on how your employer’s benefit plan is set up.
State and Local Taxes
State and local income taxes vary considerably across the United States. Some states do not have a broad individual income tax, while others use graduated or flat rates.
Because state rules are different, this calculator lets you enter an estimated state/local tax rate rather than assuming that every state follows the same tax formula.
Why Is My Take-Home Pay Different From My Salary?
Your salary is your gross income. Your take-home pay is what remains after taxes, retirement contributions, health-related deductions, and other payroll deductions.
For example, someone earning $75,000 per year will generally receive less than $75,000 in actual cash wages because several deductions can be taken from their paychecks.
Your actual paycheck can also differ from an online estimate because of your Form W-4 elections, tax credits, employer benefits, insurance premiums, retirement contributions, bonuses, overtime, and state or local tax rules.
Take-Home Pay Examples
Example 1: $50,000 Salary
Suppose you earn $50,000 per year, file as Single, receive 26 biweekly paychecks, and do not have a 401(k), HSA, or state income tax deduction.
Your annual take-home pay will be lower than your $50,000 gross salary because federal income tax and payroll taxes are deducted from your earnings.
To estimate your paycheck, divide your estimated annual take-home pay by 26.
Example 2: $75,000 Salary
Suppose you earn $75,000 per year, file as Single, contribute 5% to a traditional 401(k), and receive 26 biweekly paychecks.
Your 401(k) contribution is $3,750 per year. The calculator then estimates federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and any state/local tax you enter before calculating your estimated paycheck.
Example 3: $100,000 Salary
If you earn $100,000 per year, your take-home pay will depend on factors such as filing status, retirement contributions, HSA contributions, state taxes, and pay frequency.
For example, a person earning $100,000 with a 401(k) contribution can have a different paycheck from someone with the same salary who does not contribute to a retirement plan.
This is why salary alone does not determine your actual take-home pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is take-home pay?
Take-home pay is the amount of money you receive after taxes, retirement contributions, insurance deductions, and other payroll deductions have been taken from your gross pay.
How is take-home pay calculated?
Take-home pay is generally calculated by starting with gross wages and subtracting applicable taxes and employee deductions. Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state taxes, retirement contributions, and benefits can all affect your final paycheck.
What is the difference between gross pay and take-home pay?
Gross pay is your earnings before deductions. Take-home pay is the amount you actually receive after taxes and other deductions.
How much is $50,000 a year per paycheck?
The answer depends on your filing status, pay frequency, taxes, retirement contributions, benefits, and where you live. For example, someone paid biweekly receives 26 paychecks per year, while someone paid monthly receives 12.
How much is $75,000 a year after taxes?
Your take-home pay on a $75,000 salary depends on your filing status, state, deductions, retirement contributions, and other payroll elections. Use the calculator above to estimate your annual, monthly, and per-paycheck income.
Does a 401(k) reduce take-home pay?
Yes. A 401(k) contribution reduces the amount of money deposited into your paycheck, but a traditional 401(k) contribution can also reduce the amount of income subject to federal income tax.
Does Social Security tax have a limit?
Yes. For 2026, Social Security tax applies to wages up to $184,500. Medicare tax does not have the same wage base limit.
What is the Additional Medicare Tax?
The Additional Medicare Tax is an extra 0.9% Medicare tax that can apply to wages above certain thresholds. The thresholds are $200,000 for Single and Head of Household filers, $250,000 for Married Filing Jointly, and $125,000 for Married Filing Separately.
Does the calculator include state income tax?
Yes. The calculator includes an estimated state/local tax field. Because state and local tax systems differ, you should enter an appropriate estimated rate for your situation.
Is this calculator the same as my actual paycheck?
Not necessarily. This is an estimate. Actual payroll withholding can be affected by your Form W-4, tax credits, employer benefits, insurance premiums, retirement plans, bonuses, overtime, state rules, and other factors.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides an estimate for informational purposes only. Actual take-home pay and payroll withholding can vary based on your W-4, benefits, deductions, tax credits, state and local tax rules, and other circumstances. It is not tax or financial advice.
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