Take-Home Pay Calculator (US, 2026)
See estimated federal, state, FICA, and pre-tax impacts on every paycheck, using 2026 parameters, with live charts and full transparency in your browser.
100% client-side. Your inputs stay in this browser.
Adjust gross pay, deductions, and filing status, see estimated taxes and take-home per pay period and annually.
US-only in v1, UK/PK and other regions will be separate calculators, not a mode switch here.
Annual gross salary
Before any deductions
Pay frequency
Federal filing status
State (US)
Income tax estimate, CA modeled in detail
401(k) deferral
Traditional pre-tax
HSA / FSA (annual)
Pre-tax; capped to IRS limits
Health insurance premium (per pay)
Pre-tax
Other pre-tax (per pay)
Commuter, etc.
Qualifying children (CTC)
Rough child tax credit offset
Local city tax preset
Net per pay (26/yr)
$2,360
Gross per pay
$3,077
Annual net (est.)
$61,366
Pre-tax / yr
$4,800
Per pay period vs annual
| Item | Per pay | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross | $3,077 | $80,000 |
| Pre-tax deductions | $185 | $4,800 |
| Federal income tax | $297 | $7,714 |
| Social Security | $191 | $4,960 |
| Medicare | $44.62 | $1,160 |
| Add'l Medicare | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| State income tax | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Local / city | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Net pay | $2,360 | $61,366 |
Where each dollar of gross goes (annual view)
Adjust inputs to see charts.
How this tool works
Enter your gross salary, pay frequency, filing status, state, and pre-tax deductions. Pre-tax deductions (401(k), HSA, health premiums) come off first and reduce the amount subject to federal income tax. Federal income tax is then calculated on taxable wages using 2026 brackets and your filing status. FICA taxes apply to full gross wages: Social Security at 6.2% up to the 2026 wage base of $176,100, and Medicare at 1.45% on all wages plus an additional 0.9% on wages above $200,000. State income tax applies based on your selected state; nine states (AK, FL, NV, NH, SD, TN, TX, WA, WY) have no income tax. Take-home pay is gross minus all of the above. All calculations run locally in your browser.
Worked example
Annual gross: $80,000. Filing status: single. State: no state income tax. 401(k): 6% ($4,800 per year). Health insurance premium: $200 per pay period (bi-weekly). Bi-weekly gross: $3,077. Deductions per pay period: 401(k) $185, health premium $200, federal income tax approximately $364, Social Security $191 (6.2% of full gross), Medicare $45. Estimated bi-weekly take-home: approximately $2,092, or roughly $54,400 annualized. About 68% of gross pay reaches your bank account; the remaining 32% splits across federal tax (about 14%), FICA (about 9%), 401(k) (6%), and health insurance (about 3%).
Official sources
Federal brackets, deductions, FICA wage limits, and withholding rules come from U.S. government publications, not third-party summaries.
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments (PDF)(https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-25-32.pdf)
- Social Security Administration: OASDI contribution & benefit base(https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/cbb.html)
- IRS Publication 15-T: federal income tax withholding(https://www.irs.gov/publications/p15t)
Frequently asked questions
Why does my W-2 show different numbers than this calculator?
Several factors can cause a difference: mid-year salary changes, bonus payments taxed at supplemental rates, year-to-date Social Security wage base crossings, or employer withholding elections on your W-4 that differ from the tool's defaults. The calculator models a steady full-year salary with standard withholding.
What is the 2026 Social Security wage base?
$176,100. Social Security tax (6.2%) stops once your cumulative wages for the year reach that threshold. Medicare tax has no cap and continues at 1.45% on all wages. An additional 0.9% Medicare tax applies to wages above $200,000. Use a range of inputs rather than a single figure to understand the sensitivity of your outcome to this variable.
Why might my state tax look lower than expected?
Most states allow deductions or credits that this tool does not model (standard deductions, dependent credits, retirement income exclusions). The calculator shows a close estimate based on marginal rates, not a precise state liability. Use it for comparisons and job offer evaluations, not for filing.
How does filing status change my tax?
Married filing jointly has wider tax brackets than single filers. At $80,000 gross, a single filer pays roughly $2,000 more in federal tax per year than a married-filing-jointly filer with the same income. Select your filing status in the tool to see the difference for your salary. Model both optimistic and conservative scenarios to understand the range of possible outcomes before committing.
What is the Additional Medicare Tax?
Employees earning above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly) pay an extra 0.9% Medicare tax on wages above those thresholds. The employer does not match this additional amount. The calculator applies it automatically when your gross salary exceeds the threshold. Use a range of inputs rather than a single figure to understand the sensitivity of your outcome to this variable.
How do I use this to compare two job offers?
Enter each offer's gross salary, expected 401(k) match, and the state where you would work. Compare the Annual take-home line for each. A $90,000 offer in Texas (no state tax) often nets more than a $95,000 offer in California after state income tax. Model both optimistic and conservative scenarios to understand the range of possible outcomes before committing.