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Paycheck Calculator

Gross to net in seconds — federal tax, FICA, and state tax included.

Your gross salary and your actual take-home pay are two very different numbers. The gap between them is FICA taxes (Social Security and Medicare — mandatory and non-negotiable), federal income tax (based on your bracket and filing status), state income tax, and any pre-tax benefits you've elected. This calculator maps exactly where every dollar goes.

Take-home per 2 weeks
$2,072.56
Gross per period
$2,500.00
Federal tax (est.)
$236.19
Social Security
$155.00
Medicare
$36.25
Annual net pay
$53,886.50
Effective tax rate
17.1%
Marginal federal rate
22.0%

Estimate based on 2024 federal brackets and standard deduction. Actual withholding depends on your W-4 and additional deductions. Does not include local taxes, pre-tax health insurance, or other benefits.

How federal income tax withholding actually works

Your employer doesn't just apply a flat percentage — they're required to use IRS withholding tables (or the annualized method) based on what you put on your W-4. The calculator above uses the annualized method: it projects your annual income, subtracts your standard deduction, runs the result through the tax brackets, then divides by your number of pay periods.

The important implication: if you have additional income (freelance, investments, a second job) that isn't withheld for at all year, you may owe at tax time even if your W-4 is correct for just your day job. Use this calculator to estimate that gap and consider requesting additional withholding on your W-4 line 4(c).

FICA: the tax you can't reduce

Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) are taken on gross wages regardless of deductions, filing status, or credits. The Social Security wage base in 2024 is $168,600 — above that threshold, the 6.2% stops. Medicare has no ceiling, and earners above $200k (single) or $250k (married) pay an additional 0.9%.

  • At $50,000 annual salary: ~$3,825/year in FICA (7.65% flat).
  • At $168,600 (SS cap): $10,453 in Social Security + $2,444 in Medicare = $12,897 total FICA.
  • FICA is split 50/50 between employee and employer — you pay 7.65%, your employer matches it. Self-employed pay both halves (15.3%), but can deduct the employer half.
  • Pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA) do NOT reduce FICA — only federal and state income tax.

The real cost of pre-tax vs post-tax deductions

Traditional 401k and pre-tax health insurance premiums reduce your federal and state taxable income, but not FICA. At a 22% marginal rate plus 5% state tax: every $100 in pre-tax 401k contributions costs you roughly $73 out of pocket ($100 minus the tax you don't pay). HSA contributions are even more efficient — they're pre-FICA.

Roth 401k contributions are post-tax: no current savings, but withdrawals in retirement are tax-free. The pre-tax vs Roth decision hinges on whether you expect your tax rate in retirement to be higher or lower than today.

Why your first paycheck of the year looks different

A few reasons your January paycheck is often larger or smaller than expected.

  • Social Security resets at the new wage base. If you hit the SS cap late last year, your first January paycheck re-starts Social Security withholding at 6.2%.
  • Health insurance premiums may change during open enrollment — your January deduction might be different from December.
  • Year-end bonuses are sometimes treated as supplemental wages (22% flat federal withholding) rather than regular wages, temporarily inflating apparent withholding rates.
  • If you owed taxes last April, your first paycheck of a new year is a good time to revise your W-4.

How to calculate your take-home pay

Walk through each input for an accurate estimate.

  1. 1
    Enter your salary or hourly rate
    Use your gross pay — the number before any deductions. If salaried, use your annual number. If hourly, enter your rate and your typical weekly hours.
  2. 2
    Set your pay frequency
    Most US employees are biweekly (26 checks/year). Some are semi-monthly (24/year). Check your pay stubs if unsure — it matters for the per-period breakdown.
  3. 3
    Choose your filing status
    This determines your standard deduction and bracket thresholds. Single = $14,600 standard deduction; married filing jointly = $29,200; head of household = $21,900.
  4. 4
    Add your state tax rate
    Look up your state's marginal income tax rate for your income level. Many states use flat rates (e.g. Illinois 4.95%, Pennsylvania 3.07%). Enter 0 for Texas, Florida, Washington, etc.
  5. 5
    Add pre-tax deductions
    Enter the per-paycheck dollar amount you contribute to a traditional 401k, 403b, or pre-tax health insurance. This reduces your taxable income but not your FICA.

FAQ

How is federal income tax calculated on my paycheck?
Your employer annualizes your paycheck, subtracts your standard deduction (or W-4 adjustments), and applies the IRS tax brackets to the result. The 2024 standard deduction is $14,600 (single), $29,200 (married filing jointly), or $21,900 (head of household). The resulting annual tax is divided by your number of pay periods.
What are FICA taxes?
FICA stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It covers Social Security (6.2% on wages up to $168,600 in 2024) and Medicare (1.45% on all wages, plus an additional 0.9% on wages over $200k single / $250k married). Unlike income tax, FICA doesn't use standard deductions — it's a flat percentage from the first dollar.
What's the difference between gross and net pay?
Gross pay is what you earn before any deductions. Net pay (take-home pay) is what hits your bank account after federal income tax, FICA, state income tax, and any pre-tax benefits (401k, health insurance, FSA) are withheld. For most people, net pay is 65–80% of gross depending on income and filing status.
What is the marginal vs effective tax rate?
Marginal rate is the rate on your last dollar of income — the highest bracket you reach. Effective rate is your total tax divided by total income. They're very different: someone earning $100,000 has a marginal rate of 22% but an effective rate of roughly 13%. Only the dollars above the bracket threshold are taxed at the higher rate.
What states have no income tax?
As of 2024: Texas, Florida, Washington, Nevada, Wyoming, South Dakota, Alaska, and Tennessee (income only). New Hampshire taxes interest and dividends but not wages. If you live in one of these states, enter 0% for state tax rate.
How does a 401k contribution reduce my paycheck taxes?
Traditional 401k contributions are pre-tax: they reduce your federal and state taxable income. A $500/month contribution effectively costs you less than $500 out of pocket — roughly $385 at a 22% marginal rate. Enter your per-period 401k dollar amount in the 'Pre-tax deductions' field to see the tax savings.

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