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Estimate annual take-home pay using 2026 federal brackets and the state rate you enter.
Planning estimate only. Credits, itemized deductions, local tax, benefits, and other income are not included.
This planning tool applies 2026 federal brackets and the standard deduction for the selected filing status, estimates employee Social Security and Medicare taxes, and subtracts the state tax percentage you enter.
Net Pay = Gross Income - Federal Taxes - State Taxes - Local Taxes - FICA - DeductionsWhere FICA includes Federal Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) taxes, and deductions represent pre-tax or post-tax retirement and insurance contributions.
Start with your gross salary or hourly pay per pay period.
Deduct estimated federal, state, and local income taxes based on standard tax brackets.
Subtract standard FICA withholdings (6.2% for Social Security and 1.45% for Medicare).
Subtract pre-tax benefits like medical insurance premium shares or contributions to a 401(k) to determine your final Net Check.
The tool applies 2026 federal tax brackets and the standard deduction for single or married-filing-jointly status, then estimates employee Social Security and Medicare taxes and applies the state percentage entered by the user.
It does not account for credits, itemized or special deductions, household members, multiple jobs, local tax, pre-tax benefits, self-employment, or other income. Verify withholding with a recent pay statement and the official IRS estimator or a qualified tax professional.
Reviewed July 28, 2026
Federal income tax estimate: Uses progressive 2026 brackets after a basic standard deduction.
Payroll taxes: Includes estimated employee Social Security and Medicare amounts.
State scenario: Applies the flat percentage you provide; it does not model a state's tax code.
Annual and monthly view: Shows a simple gross-to-net breakdown for budgeting.
FICA stands for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It is a mandatory payroll tax that funds Social Security and Medicare. Currently, employees pay **6.2% for Social Security** (up to a wage cap) and **1.45% for Medicare** on all earnings, which employers match.
Pre-tax deductions (like 401k savings, HSA contributions, or employer health insurance premiums) are taken out before taxes are calculated. This lowers your taxable income base, meaning you pay less total income tax overall.
Gross pay is the total money you earn before any deductions. Net pay (or take-home pay) is the actual cash deposited in your bank account after all mandatory federal/state tax withholdings, social security, Medicare, and optional benefits are deducted.
Withholding depends on Form W-4 elections, credits, deductions, multiple jobs, pay frequency, benefits, local taxes, and other income. Use the result for a rough scenario and confirm it with the IRS estimator, payroll records, or a qualified tax professional.
Now that you know your net paycheck, check how much you should safely allocate for housing with our Rent Affordability Calculator using the standard 30% financial rule.