Paycheck Calculator
Calculate your exact take-home pay after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state tax, 401k contributions, and health insurance deductions — for any pay frequency.
Income & Filing
Pre-Tax Deductions
Post-Tax Deductions
How to Use the Paycheck Calculator
- 1
Enter your annual salary and select your pay frequency. Most salaried employees are paid biweekly (every 2 weeks, 26 paychecks per year) or semi-monthly (twice per month, 24 paychecks per year).
- 2
Select your filing status and state. Your state significantly impacts take-home pay — Texas, Florida, and Nevada have no state income tax while California, New York, and Oregon have rates above 9%.
- 3
Enter your pre-tax deductions including 401k contribution percentage and monthly health insurance premium. Pre-tax deductions reduce your federal and state taxable income which lowers your tax bill.
- 4
Click Calculate to see your exact take-home pay per paycheck, all deductions broken down, and a comparison across all pay frequencies. Download the free PDF to keep as a reference or share with your HR department.
Example Paycheck Calculation
Scenario: Annual Salary $75,000 | Biweekly | Single | Texas | 401k 5% | Health Insurance $200/month
- Gross Per Paycheck: $2,884.62
- Federal Income Tax: $260.04
- Social Security (6.2%): $178.85
- Medicare (1.45%): $41.83
- 401k Contribution (5%): $144.23
- Health Insurance: $92.31
- Net Take-Home Pay: $2,167.37
- Monthly Net Total: $4,695.96
"In this example, every paycheck includes $717 in total deductions. By maximizing pre-tax 401k contributions, the user lowers their federal tax taxable income, effectively keeping more of their earned wealth."
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between gross pay and net pay?
Gross pay is your total salary before any deductions. Net pay also called take-home pay is what you actually receive after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state income tax, and any pre-tax deductions like 401k and health insurance are subtracted.
What are pre-tax deductions?
Pre-tax deductions are amounts taken from your paycheck before income taxes are calculated. Common examples are 401k contributions, health insurance premiums, FSA and HSA contributions. Because they reduce your taxable income, they lower your overall tax bill.
How does my state affect my take-home pay?
State income tax varies enormously across the US. Nine states have no income tax at all including Texas, Florida, Nevada, Washington, and Wyoming. California has the highest rate at up to 13.3%. This can cause a multi-thousand dollar difference in annual take-home pay.
What is FICA tax?
FICA stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It includes Social Security tax at 6.2% of your wages up to the wage base of $168,600 in 2026 and Medicare tax at 1.45% on all wages. Unlike income tax, these rates are fixed and do not depend on your filing status.
Disclaimer: This report is generated for informational purposes only. TheCalcTool is not a licensed financial legal or tax advisor. Paycheck calculations are estimates based on 2026 US federal and state tax brackets. Actual withholding depends on your W-4 elections, additional income, tax credits, and employer-specific deductions. State tax rates used are approximate effective rates and may differ from actual withholding. Please consult a qualified tax professional or your HR department for precise paycheck calculations.