Paycheck calculator (2026)

Where your paycheck goes

Your gross pay shrinks by several items before it reaches your bank account:

• Federal income tax, progressive from 10% to 37% on income above the standard deduction.
• Social Security: 6.2% of wages up to $184,500 in 2026.
• Medicare: 1.45% of all wages, plus 0.9% above $200,000.
• State income tax in most states.
• Pre-tax deductions such as 401(k) contributions and health insurance, which lower your taxable income.

Worked example

A single filer earning $75,000 paid every two weeks, putting 5% into a 401(k), in a state with a 5% rate:

• Gross per paycheck: $2,884.62
• 401(k): $144.23 · Federal tax: $263.27 · Social Security: $178.85 · Medicare: $41.83 · State: $137.02
• Take-home: $2,119.42 per paycheck, about $55,105 a year

Why your real paycheck may differ

Employers withhold using IRS Publication 15-T and your Form W-4, which can include credits, extra withholding or a second job. Your refund or balance due at tax time settles the difference.

The page estimates the full year's federal tax: salary minus 401(k), pre-tax benefits and the 2026 standard deduction, run through the 2026 brackets for your filing status. Social Security and Medicare apply to wages after pre-tax benefits (401(k) contributions are still subject to them), and state tax is your rate on salary minus pre-tax deductions. Each is divided by the number of paychecks in the year.