Take-Home Pay Calculator

Estimate your 2026 US paycheck after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state tax and 401(k) contributions.

$
% of salary
$

Health insurance premiums, HSA, FSA — these also skip Social Security and Medicare.

%

A flat estimate. Use 0 for states without income tax.

%
Take-home pay per paycheck
$2,356.73

Estimate for tax year 2026 using the standard deduction — not tax advice. Your actual withholding depends on your W-4.

Where your gross pay goes
Take-home pay: $61,275 (72.1%)Federal income tax: $8,935 (10.5%)Social Security: $5,270 (6.2%)Medicare: $1,233 (1.5%)State & local tax: $4,038 (4.8%)401(k): $4,250 (5%)72%take-home
  • Take-home pay$61,27572.1%
  • Federal income tax$8,93510.5%
  • Social Security$5,2706.2%
  • Medicare$1,2331.5%
  • State & local tax$4,0384.8%
  • 401(k)$4,2505%
Take-home pay per year
$61,275.00
Federal income tax (year)
$8,935.00
Social Security (year)
$5,270.00
Medicare (year)
$1,232.50
State & local tax (year)
$4,037.50
401(k) contribution (year)
$4,250.00
Total tax rate
22.91%
Federal marginal rate
22%
Federal tax by bracket
$0$1,000$2,000$3,000$4,000$5,00010% — Tax: $1,24010%12% — Tax: $4,56012%22% — Tax: $3,13522%
Show the working
  1. Federal taxable income = $85,000 − $4,250 401(k) − $0 other − $16,100 standard deduction = $64,650
  2. Federal tax (2026 brackets) = $8,935.00
  3. Social Security = 6.2% × $85,000 = $5,270.00; Medicare = $1,232.50
  4. State & local = $80,750 × 5% = $4,037.50
  5. Take-home = $61,275.00 a year ÷ 26 = $2,356.73 per paycheck

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Formula

Take-home = gross − pre-tax deductions − federal tax − Social Security − Medicare − state taxFederal taxable income = gross − 401(k) − other pre-tax − standard deductionSocial Security = 6.2% of wages up to $184,500; Medicare = 1.45% (+0.9% above $200k single / $250k joint)

How it works

This calculator estimates your take-home pay for tax year 2026 using the IRS's 2026 federal brackets and standard deductions ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, $24,150 head of household). It is an estimate, not tax advice, and it works out your annual tax liability rather than copying your employer's withholding tables.

Payroll taxes are separate from income tax. Social Security takes 6.2% of wages up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500, and Medicare takes 1.45% of all wages, plus an extra 0.9% on wages above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly, combined).

Traditional 401(k) contributions lower your federal and most state income tax, but not Social Security or Medicare. Health insurance premiums, HSA and FSA contributions taken through a cafeteria plan lower all of them, which is why they are entered separately.

State tax is modeled as one flat rate on wages after pre-tax deductions. Most states have their own brackets and deductions, so use your state's effective rate for a closer estimate. Credits (such as the child tax credit), itemized deductions and the newer deductions for tips, overtime or seniors are not included.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my real paycheck different?

Employers withhold using IRS tables and your W-4 choices, which spread tax evenly across paychecks and may not match your final liability exactly. Benefits deductions, local taxes, and state-specific rules also change the number.

What is my marginal tax rate?

It is the federal rate on your next dollar of taxable income. Only income inside each bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate, so a raise never lowers your take-home pay.

Does contributing to a 401(k) reduce my paycheck by the full amount?

No. Because traditional contributions are made before income tax, each $100 contributed reduces take-home pay by only about $100 minus your combined federal and state marginal rate — around $70 for many people.

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