Paycheck Calculator
Estimate net take-home pay after federal, state, FICA, and insurance taxes.
A paycheck calculator - or annual income calculator, when used to project a full year - estimates your net take-home pay by subtracting federal income tax, FICA payroll taxes, state withholding, and any pre-tax deductions from your gross pay. This take-home pay calculator works for both salaried and hourly employees and supports weekly, biweekly, and monthly pay frequencies, doubling as a yearly salary calculator when you multiply the result across pay periods.
Enter your gross salary or hourly rate, pay frequency, state, and any deductions like 401(k) contributions or health insurance premiums to calculate my paycheck amount after taxes.
Worked Calculation Examples
| Scenario | Result | Calculation Step |
|---|---|---|
| $75,000 Annual Salary in Texas (Bi-weekly) | $2,314.50 / check | Estimated net bi-weekly check after $568 in taxes and withholding. |
What Comes Out of Your Gross Pay
Every paycheck in the U.S. is reduced by FICA payroll taxes - a flat 6.2% for Social Security (up to an annual wage cap) and 1.45% for Medicare, totaling 7.65% for most employees. On top of FICA, federal income tax is withheld based on your filing status and the information on your W-4 form, and most states add their own income tax withholding (a handful of states, including Texas, Florida, and Nevada, have no state income tax at all). Pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions and health insurance premiums are subtracted before taxes are calculated, which lowers your taxable income and, in turn, your tax withholding.
Salaried vs. Hourly Paychecks
A salaried employee's gross pay per period is fixed - annual salary divided by the number of pay periods in the year. An hourly employee's gross pay depends on hours actually worked, including overtime, which is typically paid at 1.5 times the regular rate for hours beyond 40 in a week under federal law. This calculator handles both: salaried employees enter their annual salary, while hourly employees enter their rate and expected hours.
Why Your Actual Paycheck May Differ From This Estimate
This paycheck calculator provides a close estimate but can't account for every variable: your specific W-4 elections (allowances, additional withholding), local city or county income taxes in some jurisdictions, wage garnishments, or employer-specific benefit deductions like union dues. Your actual pay stub is the authoritative source - use this tool for planning and comparison, and confirm exact figures with your payroll department.
How to Use the Paycheck Calculator
- Open the Paycheck Calculator and enter the values requested in the input fields.
- Check the units, percentages, dates, or time periods before reading the answer.
- Review the instant result and adjust any value to compare another scenario.
- Use the formula, example, and FAQs below to understand how the paycheck calculator works.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is FICA tax?
FICA is the combination of Social Security tax (6.2% of wages, up to an annual cap) and Medicare tax (1.45% of all wages), totaling 7.65% for most employees, matched by an equal contribution from your employer.
Why is my paycheck lower than my hourly rate times hours worked?
Because your gross pay (hours x rate) is reduced by federal income tax, FICA taxes, state withholding (if applicable), and any pre-tax deductions like health insurance or 401(k) contributions before you receive your net pay.
Do all states have state income tax?
No. States including Texas, Florida, Nevada, Washington, Wyoming, South Dakota, Alaska, and Tennessee have no state income tax on wages, which generally results in a higher take-home percentage than states with income tax.
How do pre-tax 401(k) contributions affect my paycheck?
Pre-tax 401(k) contributions are subtracted from your gross pay before federal (and most state) income tax is calculated, which lowers your taxable income and slightly softens the paycheck impact of the contribution compared to its full dollar amount.
What's the difference between gross pay and net pay?
Gross pay is your total earnings before any deductions. Net pay (take-home pay) is what remains after taxes and deductions are subtracted - the amount actually deposited into your bank account.
Is overtime taxed at a higher rate?
No. Overtime pay is taxed the same as regular wages; it can push more of your income into a higher marginal tax bracket for that pay period, which sometimes makes withholding look higher, but the tax rate itself isn't different for overtime dollars.
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Last updated: September 29, 2026.