Take-Home Paycheck Calculator
Estimate net pay after federal, state, and FICA withholdings from gross pay. Uses flat approximations — for exact numbers, consult IRS Pub 15-T or a payroll platform.
Last updated: September 2026
Compare with similar
About this calculator
US take-home pay is gross pay minus federal income tax withholding, state income tax withholding, FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45% = 7.65% total, up to the Social Security wage base), and any voluntary deductions (401(k), health insurance premiums, HSA contributions).
This calculator uses flat percentage rates for the three tax buckets. Real withholding is progressive — the federal tables in IRS Publication 15-T apply increasing rates as income rises within a pay period — so the flat-rate approximation is fine for planning and rough estimates but will disagree with your actual paystub by a small amount.
Typical effective rates for a middle-income single filer: federal 12–18%, state 3–7% (state depends on residence; nine states have no state income tax), FICA 7.65%. That totals 22–33%, matching the commonly-cited 'roughly a quarter to a third comes off the top before you see it'. For higher earners, the Social Security wage base cap ($168 600 in 2024, indexed annually) reduces effective FICA to just 1.45% on the marginal dollar.
How to use
Example — biweekly paycheck. Gross pay = $5000, federal = 15%, state = 5%, FICA = 7.65%. Total withholding = 15 + 5 + 7.65 = 27.65%. Take-home = 5000 × (1 − 0.2765) = 5000 × 0.7235 = $3617.50. That is your net paycheck — before optional deductions like 401(k), health insurance, or HSA. Example — high-tax state. Same $5000 gross in California, federal 20%, state 9%, FICA 7.65%. Total = 36.65%. Take-home = 5000 × 0.6335 = $3167.50. That is $450 less than in a no-state-income-tax state like Texas or Florida. To back into your paycheck-frequency picture, use /en/calculators/payroll/salary-to-hourly-converter/ to relate annual salary to per-paycheck gross.
Frequently asked questions
Are the default rates realistic?
The defaults represent a middle-income single filer in a moderate-tax state (federal 15%, state 5%). Your actual federal rate depends on filing status, dependents, W-4 elections, and where you fall in the bracket structure. FICA is a fixed 7.65% up to the wage base — no estimation needed. For a precise number, use your last paystub's actual withholding rates or run the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator.
Do 401(k) and HSA contributions come out first?
Yes — 401(k) traditional contributions, HSA contributions, and pre-tax health insurance premiums reduce your federal (and usually state) taxable income before withholding is calculated. This calculator doesn't model those; if you contribute pre-tax, reduce your gross pay by the contribution amount before entering it, or run separate scenarios.
What's the difference between marginal and effective rate?
Your marginal rate is what you pay on the next dollar earned; your effective rate is your total tax divided by total income. The federal 2024 marginal brackets for a single filer are 10/12/22/24/32/35/37%; someone earning $100k has a 22% marginal rate but an effective rate around 14–16% because the lower brackets fill first. Withholding tables approximate the effective rate for planning purposes.
Why doesn't my paystub match this?
Real withholding uses progressive tables (IRS Pub 15-T for federal, state equivalents for state), not flat rates. Extras like supplemental income (bonuses) can be withheld at 22% flat, tips are treated differently, and imputed income (group-term life over $50 000) adds tax but not pay. This calculator is a planning approximation; treat it as a ±5% ballpark.