ganak.appUS Paycheck Calculator
Free paycheck calculator for all 50 US states. Calculate take-home pay with federal and state taxes, Social Security, Medicare, 401(k), and deductions.
Paycheck Breakdown
Where each dollar of your paycheck goes
Tax Rates
Effective vs. marginal rates for federal, state, and total
Pay Period Projections
Net take-home across different time periods
401(k) Scenario Comparison
See how changing your contribution affects take-home pay
Current (6%)
$2,088.63
per paycheck
At 15%
$1,860.17
per paycheck
How a US Paycheck Works
Understanding the journey from gross pay to net take-home pay
Every US paycheck goes through a series of mandatory and voluntary deductions before reaching your bank account. Your employer acts as a withholding agent for the IRS and your state tax authority, deducting federal income tax, state income tax (in 41 states + DC), Social Security tax, and Medicare tax from each paycheck. These mandatory deductions are collectively known as payroll taxes.
Net Pay Formula:
Net Pay = Gross Pay − Federal Tax − State Tax − Social Security − Medicare − Pre-Tax Deductions − Post-Tax Deductions
Your gross pay is your total earnings before any deductions — either your annual salary divided by the number of pay periods, or your hourly rate multiplied by hours worked. For salaried employees paid bi-weekly, gross pay = annual salary ÷ 26. For semi-monthly pay, it's annual salary ÷ 24.
Pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions, HSA contributions, and health insurance premiums are subtracted before federal taxes are calculated, reducing your federal taxable income. Note: CA and NJ do not allow HSA deductions for state income tax. Post-tax deductions (like Roth 401(k) contributions) come out after taxes are applied.
Worked Example — $75,000 Salary, Bi-Weekly, Single
This calculator provides estimates based on 2026 federal and state tax brackets. Actual paycheck amounts may vary due to local taxes, additional state credits, employer-specific deductions, and W-4 withholding elections. Consult a tax professional for precise calculations.
Federal Income Tax Brackets (2026)
Progressive tax rates apply to taxable income after standard deduction
The US uses a progressive tax system — you pay higher rates only on income above each bracket threshold, not on all your income. A common misconception is that earning more pushes all your income into a higher bracket. In reality, only the income within each bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate.
$16,100
Single
$32,200
Married Filing Jointly
$24,150
Head of Household
2026 standard deductions — subtracted from gross income before brackets apply.
| Rate | Single | Married Filing Jointly | Head of Household |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $12,400 | $0 – $24,800 | $0 – $17,700 |
| 12% | $12,401 – $50,400 | $24,801 – $100,800 | $17,701 – $67,450 |
| 22% | $50,401 – $105,700 | $100,801 – $211,400 | $67,451 – $105,700 |
| 24% | $105,701 – $201,775 | $211,401 – $403,550 | $105,701 – $201,750 |
| 32% | $201,776 – $256,225 | $403,551 – $512,450 | $201,776 – $256,200 |
| 35% | $256,226 – $640,600 | $512,451 – $768,700 | $256,201 – $640,600 |
| 37% | $640,601+ | $768,701+ | $640,601+ |
Example — Single Filer, $75,000 Gross
Taxable income = $75,000 − $16,100 standard deduction = $58,900
Effective rate = $7,670.00 ÷ $75,000 = 10.2% (vs. 22% marginal rate)
FICA Taxes: Social Security & Medicare
Mandatory payroll taxes that fund federal insurance programs
FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) taxes fund Social Security and Medicare. Unlike income tax, FICA applies after Section 125 deductions (health, HSA, FSA) but before 401(k) — HSA and health premiums reduce FICA, while 401(k) does not. Your employer pays a matching amount, bringing the total FICA contribution to 15.3%.
Social Security
6.2% × min(gross, $184,500)
Applies to the first $184,500 of wages in 2026. Maximum annual contribution: $11,439.00. Wages above this cap are exempt from Social Security tax.
Medicare
1.45% + 0.9% above threshold
No wage cap — 1.45% applies to all wages. An additional 0.9% surtax applies to wages above $200,000 for all filers (paycheck withholding threshold).
Example — $75,000 Salary
Employer also pays $5,737.50 — invisible to you, but part of your total compensation cost.
High-Income Example — $300,000 Salary (Single)
State Income Tax Overview
How your state of residence affects your take-home pay
State income taxes are the single biggest variable in take-home pay across the US. A worker earning $100,000 takes home roughly $6,000–$8,000 more per year in Texas (0% state tax) compared to California (9.3% effective rate at that income). This calculator models brackets for all 50 states and DC based on 2026 tax law.
No Income Tax (9 states)
AK, FL, NV, NH, SD, TN, TX, WA, WY
Flat Tax (10 states)
AZ (2.5%), CO (4.25%), IL (4.95%), IN (3.05%), KY (4%), MA (5%), MI (4.25%), NC (4.5%), PA (3.07%), UT (4.55%)
Progressive (~31 states + DC)
CA (1%–13.3%), NY (4%–10.9%), NJ (1.4%–10.75%), HI (1.4%–11%), and others with graduated brackets
Some states impose additional payroll taxes beyond income tax. California charges State Disability Insurance (SDI) at 1.3% of wages. New Jersey has UI, TDI, and FLI payroll deductions. Hawaii has a TDI program (0.5% of wages, capped at $390/year). New York City residents face an additional local income tax of 3.078%–3.876%.
| State | Top Rate | Type | Take-Home on $75K* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 0% | None | ~$61,150 |
| Florida | 0% | None | ~$61,150 |
| Illinois | 4.95% | Flat | ~$57,550 |
| New York | 10.9% | Progressive | ~$57,600 |
| California | 13.3% | Progressive | ~$57,150 |
*Approximate annual take-home for single filer, $75K salary, no pre-tax deductions, 2026 brackets.
Pre-Tax Deductions That Save You Money
How 401(k), HSA, and FSA reduce your tax bill
Pre-tax deductions are subtracted from your gross pay before federal income taxes are calculated. Most states follow federal treatment, but exceptions exist: CA and NJ tax HSA contributions and PA taxes 401(k) contributions. The actual cost to your paycheck is less than the contribution amount because you save on taxes.
Tax Savings Formula:
Tax Saved (401k) = Contribution × (Federal Marginal Rate + State Marginal Rate). HSA/FSA/health premiums also save FICA (up to 7.65%; varies by income level and wage caps)
Note: CA and NJ tax HSA contributions. PA taxes 401(k) contributions. NJ also has UI, TDI, and FLI payroll deductions. Check your state rules.
Example: $100/paycheck to 401(k) at 22% federal + 5% state = $27 in tax savings per paycheck. The $100 contribution only reduces your take-home by $73.
401(k) — up to $24,500/year (2026)
Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce your taxable income dollar-for-dollar. A 6% contribution on a $75,000 salary saves roughly $990–$1,650 in federal taxes alone, depending on your marginal bracket. Note: This calculator caps at the $24,500 under-50 limit. Workers 50+ may defer an additional $8,000; workers 60-63 may defer $11,250.
HSA — up to $4,400 (self) / $8,750 (family). Note: CA and NJ treat HSA as taxable for state income tax; CA also taxes HSA for SDI.
Health Savings Accounts offer a triple tax advantage: contributions are pre-tax for federal purposes (CA and NJ tax HSA contributions at the state level), growth is tax-free, and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are tax-free. Available only with high-deductible health plans (HDHP). After age 65, HSA funds can be withdrawn for any purpose (taxed as income, like a traditional IRA).
FSA — up to $3,400/year (2026)
Flexible Spending Accounts let you set aside pre-tax dollars for medical or dependent care expenses. Unlike HSAs, most FSA funds are use-it-or-lose-it — unspent balances are forfeited at plan year-end (employers may offer a $680 carryover or 2.5-month grace period). Dependent care FSAs allow up to $5,000/year for childcare expenses.
Health Insurance Premiums
Employer-sponsored health insurance premiums are typically deducted pre-tax through a Section 125 cafeteria plan, reducing your federal taxable income. The average employee premium is ~$104/month (individual) or ~$477/month (family) as of 2024 (KFF Employer Health Benefits Survey).
Effective vs. Marginal Tax Rate
Why your actual tax burden is lower than your bracket
Understanding the difference between your marginal tax rate and your effective tax rate is critical for financial planning. Your marginal rate is the percentage applied to your next dollar of income. Your effective rate is the actual percentage of your total income that goes to taxes.
Marginal Rate
The tax rate on your last dollar of taxable income. Determines the tax impact of raises, bonuses, and deductions. A $5,000 raise at a 22% marginal rate costs $1,100 in additional federal tax.
Effective Rate
Total tax paid ÷ total gross income. Always lower than your marginal rate due to progressive brackets. This is the number that tells you what percentage of your paycheck actually goes to taxes.
Common Salary Points (Single, 2026)
| Gross Salary | Marginal | Effective Federal | Total Effective* |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | 12% | ~6.9% | ~14.6% |
| $60,000 | 12% | ~8.6% | ~16.3% |
| $100,000 | 22% | ~13.6% | ~21.3% |
| $150,000 | 24% | ~16.8% | ~24.5% |
| $250,000 | 32% | ~20.9% | ~26.9% |
*Total effective includes federal + FICA (no state tax). State taxes add 0%–13.3% on top.
How Pay Frequency Affects Your Paycheck
Weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, and monthly pay periods explained
Your annual salary is the same regardless of how often you're paid, but the per-paycheck amount varies significantly based on pay frequency. Bi-weekly (26 paychecks/year) is the most common pay schedule in the US, used by about 36.5% of employers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| Frequency | Periods/Year | Gross ($75K) | Common In |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 52 | $1,442.31 | Hourly, construction, retail |
| Bi-weekly | 26 | $2,884.62 | Most common overall |
| Semi-monthly | 24 | $3,125.00 | Salaried, finance, tech |
| Monthly | 12 | $6,250.00 | Government, universities |
Bi-weekly vs. semi-monthly: These are often confused. Bi-weekly = every two weeks (26 paychecks), semi-monthly = twice per month on fixed dates like the 1st and 15th (24 paychecks). With bi-weekly pay, you get two "extra" paychecks per year compared to semi-monthly. This affects how per-paycheck deductions like health insurance are spread across the year.
Tips & Common Mistakes
Avoid these pitfalls when estimating your take-home pay
Max out your employer match
If your employer matches 401(k) contributions up to 6%, contribute at least 6%. A 50% match on $4,500 (6% of $75K) = $2,250/year in free money you're leaving on the table.
Check your W-4 withholding
If you got a large refund last year, your W-4 may be over-withholding. Each extra $100/month in withholding is money you could have invested. Use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator to dial in your W-4.
Don't confuse marginal and effective rates
Being in the "22% bracket" does not mean 22% of your income goes to federal tax. Your effective rate is always lower — often 10–15% for most workers. Don't turn down a raise because of bracket fears.
Bonuses are taxed differently
Employers typically withhold a flat 22% federal rate on bonuses (supplemental wages). Your actual tax may differ — you settle up when you file. This calculator models regular paycheck withholding, not bonus pay.
Use the scenario comparison
Toggle the 401(k) comparison above to see exactly how increasing your contribution affects your paycheck. A $100 increase in 401(k) contribution typically reduces your take-home by only $73–$80 thanks to the tax savings.
Self-employment is different
Self-employed workers pay both the employee and employer FICA shares (15.3% total, with a deduction for the employer half). This calculator models W-2 employee paychecks only — 1099/self-employed income requires different calculations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about paychecks, taxes, and deductions
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Last updated Mar 14, 2026