US Paycheck Calculator
Your take-home pay per paycheck after 2026 federal withholding, Social Security, Medicare, your state and local tax rate and your deductions.
We don't have built-in state tax tables. Enter your state's flat rate, or your average (effective) rate. Use 0 if your state has no tax on wages.
Overtime and extra pay
Overtime uses your hourly rate (yearly pay ÷ 52 ÷ your hours a week).
Form W-4
Step 3 amount: $0. We use $2,200 per child and $500 per other dependent (check your W-4).
Before-tax deductions
Lowers federal (and most state) income tax, not Social Security or Medicare. 2026 limit $24,500 (more from age 50; check irs.gov).
These come out before federal tax and before Social Security and Medicare (cafeteria plan, Section 125).
After-tax deductions
More state and local tax
State payroll tax is worked out on the same pay as Social Security, with no wage cap. Some states cap it; check your state's figures.
Bonus or commission check
Over $1,000,000 in a year, 37% must be withheld.
This year so far
Social Security stops once you reach the $184,500 wage base for the year (check ssa.gov).
Federal withholding uses the IRS percentage method for 2020-or-later W-4s with 2026 figures. State and local tax use only the rates you enter: there are no built-in state tables.
Your pay in short
| Line | Paycheck | Month | Year |
|---|
How your paycheck is worked out
Gross pay → minus pre-tax deductions → minus federal, FICA, state and local tax → minus after-tax deductions.
- 1
Gross pay
$75,000 ÷ 26
= $2,884.62 - 2
Pre-tax money
no pre-tax
= $2,884.62
taxed pay - 3
Taxes taken
− $295.00 federal
− $220.68 FICA
= $515.68 - 4
Take-home
no after-tax
= $2,368.94
$5,132.70 a month
Read more: the formula, a worked example, the 2026 withholding figures and what's not included
Each paycheck starts with your gross pay for that pay period. Your employer first takes out before-tax deductions such as a traditional 401(k), HSA and health premiums. Federal income tax is then withheld using the IRS percentage method (Publication 15-T) from the answers on your Form W-4: your pay is turned into a yearly figure, the standard deduction is taken off, the 2026 brackets are applied and the result is split back over your paychecks. Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) come next, then the state and local tax rates you enter, and finally any after-tax deductions such as a Roth 401(k).
The formula
gross = yearly pay ÷ paychecks a year (hourly: rate × hours × 52 ÷ paychecks, overtime at 1.5× or 2×) + extra pay
taxed pay = gross − 401(k) − HSA − health premiums − FSA − other pre-tax
federal = (tax on (taxed pay × paychecks + Step 4a − Step 4b − standard deduction) ÷ paychecks) − Step 3 ÷ paychecks + Step 4c
Step 2 checked: half the standard deduction and brackets half as wide
Social Security = 6.2% × (gross − HSA, premiums, FSA) until the yearly wage base; Medicare = 1.45% (+ 0.9% over $200,000)
state = your rate × (taxed pay − state allowance); local = your local rate × the same
take-home = gross − pre-tax deductions − all taxes − after-tax deductions
bonus (flat) = 22% federal (37% over $1,000,000) + FICA + your state and local rates
Worked example
Single, $75,000 a year, paid every 2 weeks (26 paychecks), no deductions, 0% state tax, W-4 with no other entries.
Gross pay: $75,000 ÷ 26 = $2,884.62 a paycheck.
Federal withholding: $2,884.62 × 26 = $75,000.12 a year. Minus the $16,100 standard deduction = $58,900.12. Tax: 10% × $12,400 = $1,240; 12% × $38,000 = $4,560; 22% × $8,500.12 = $1,870.03; total $7,670.03. Divided by 26 = $295.00.
Social Security: 6.2% × $2,884.62 = $178.85. Medicare: 1.45% × $2,884.62 = $41.83.
Take-home: $2,884.62 − $295.00 − $178.85 − $41.83 = $2,368.94 a paycheck. Over 26 paychecks that's $61,592.44 a year, or $5,132.70 a month.
2026 federal brackets used for withholding
Yearly taxed pay after the standard deduction. With the W-4 Step 2 box checked, every figure is halved.
| Rate | Single or married separately | Married filing jointly | Head of household* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | Up to $12,400 | Up to $24,800 | Up to $17,700 |
| 12% | $12,400 – $50,400 | $24,800 – $100,800 | $17,700 – $67,450 |
| 22% | $50,400 – $105,700 | $100,800 – $211,400 | $67,450 – $105,700 |
| 24% | $105,700 – $201,775 | $211,400 – $403,550 | $105,700 – $201,750 |
| 32% | $201,775 – $256,225 | $403,550 – $512,450 | $201,750 – $256,200 |
| 35% | $256,225 – $640,600 | $512,450 – $768,700 | $256,200 – $640,600 |
| 37% | Over $640,600 | Over $768,700 | Over $640,600 |
Standard deduction taken off first: $16,100 single or married filing separately, $32,200 married filing jointly, $24,150 head of household. Single and married-filing-jointly brackets and the standard deductions: IRS 2026 inflation adjustments (irs.gov), checked October 10, 2026. *Head of household brackets are from our own knowledge; check irs.gov.
Other figures used (check irs.gov and ssa.gov)
These come from our own knowledge and were not confirmed on irs.gov or ssa.gov in this build.
| What | Figure used |
|---|---|
| Social Security | 6.2% of pay up to $184,500 a year |
| Medicare | 1.45%, plus 0.9% withheld on pay over $200,000 in the year (whatever your filing status) |
| Bonus (supplemental pay) | Flat 22% federal, 37% on supplemental pay over $1,000,000 in the year (IRS Publication 15) |
| W-4 Step 3 | $2,200 per child under 17, $500 per other dependent |
| 401(k) limit | $24,500 a year (traditional + Roth together), before catch-up |
State and local tax
State income tax rules differ a lot: some states have no tax on wages, some charge one flat rate and others use their own brackets, allowances and credits. Rather than show figures we haven't checked, this calculator uses the rate you enter. For a state with brackets, your average rate (state tax for the year ÷ your pay) gives the closest answer. Your last pay stub or your state's withholding tables are the best place to find it. A few cities and counties also tax wages, and some states charge a payroll tax for disability or paid leave (SDI, PFML).
Paycheck withholding vs the tax you really owe
Withholding is an estimate spread over the year. Your real federal tax is settled on your tax return, so you may get a refund or owe a little. If you're paid the same all year with a simple W-4, the two usually match closely; this page shows an estimate under the result. Bonuses taxed at the flat 22% may be withheld at more or less than your real rate.
For general information, not tax or payroll advice. Employers may round withholding to the dollar and use the wage-bracket tables, so your pay stub can differ by a few cents or dollars. It doesn't cover pre-2020 W-4s (allowances), nonresident alien withholding, tips reported separately, the new tips and overtime deductions (enter them in W-4 Step 4b), state-specific rules, or employer contributions. Federal figures checked on irs.gov on October 10, 2026.
Common questions
How is federal tax withheld from my paycheck?
Your employer uses the IRS percentage method and your Form W-4. Your taxed pay is turned into a yearly figure, the standard deduction comes off, the 2026 brackets are applied and the result is split back over your paychecks. Credits in Step 3 lower it, and extra withholding in Step 4c adds to it.
What is the take-home pay on $75,000 a year?
Single, paid every 2 weeks with no deductions and no state tax, $75,000 a year is $2,884.62 gross a paycheck. About $295.00 goes to federal tax, $178.85 to Social Security and $41.83 to Medicare, leaving $2,368.94 take-home, or about $5,132.70 a month.
How much of my paycheck goes to Social Security and Medicare?
Social Security takes 6.2% of your pay up to the yearly wage base, and Medicare takes 1.45% of all pay. Another 0.9% of Medicare is withheld on pay over $200,000 in the year. Health premiums, HSA and FSA money taken out before tax lower both.
How are bonuses taxed?
Bonuses are often withheld at a flat 22% for federal tax, or 37% on supplemental pay over $1 million in the year, plus Social Security, Medicare and your state and local rates. That flat rate can be more or less than your real tax rate, which is settled when you file your return.
Does a 401(k) lower my take-home pay?
A traditional 401(k) comes out before federal income tax, so your take-home falls by less than the amount you put in, but it doesn't lower Social Security or Medicare. A Roth 401(k) comes out after tax. The 2026 limit used here is $24,500 a year, traditional and Roth together, before catch-up.
Why is my withholding different from the tax I owe?
Withholding is an estimate spread over the year. Your real federal tax is settled on your tax return, so you may get a refund or owe a little. With steady pay and a simple W-4 the two usually match closely, but bonuses and extra jobs can make them differ.
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