How accurate is the state tax estimate?

It is a simplified flat/top-rate approximation per state, not a full progressive bracket calculation — treat it as a reasonable estimate, not a payroll-exact figure.

Which states have no income tax?

Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming show zero state tax.

Does 401(k) reduce my FICA wages too?

No. Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce federal taxable income but are still subject to Social Security and Medicare tax, matching real IRS rules.

What is Additional Medicare Tax?

An extra 0.9% Medicare tax on wages above $200,000 (single/HOH) or $250,000 (married filing jointly) — a fixed statutory threshold, not inflation-adjusted.

Does health insurance reduce my taxable income?

Yes, this tool assumes pre-tax (cafeteria plan) health insurance, which reduces both federal taxable income and FICA wages.

Can I model a semimonthly pay schedule?

Yes. Weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, monthly, and annual are all supported.

Does this include local city or county taxes?

No. Only federal, a simplified state estimate, and FICA are included — local wage taxes (e.g. NYC, Philadelphia) are not modeled.

Why does my net pay differ from my actual paycheck?

Real paychecks may include additional factors like union dues, garnishments, or employer-specific benefit deductions not modeled here.

Free Paycheck & Take-Home Pay Calculator

Tax Year: 2026

Gross Pay (per period)Pay FrequencyFiling StatusState401(k) Contribution %Health Insurance (per period)

Gross / Period

2500.00

Net / Period

1599.67

Net Annual

41591.45

State tax is a simplified flat-rate estimate, not a full progressive bracket calculation. Federal tax uses 2026 IRS brackets. Not a substitute for professional payroll advice.

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About Paycheck / Take-Home Pay Calculator

Paycheck Calculator estimates your net take-home pay per pay period after federal income tax, a state tax approximation, and FICA payroll taxes. Enter your gross pay, pay frequency, filing status, state, retirement contribution percentage, and health insurance premium to see exactly where your paycheck goes. The federal tax portion reuses the same 2026 IRS bracket engine as the Federal Tax Bracket Calculator, so the two tools always agree. State tax uses a simplified flat-rate approximation per state (clearly disclosed, since real state tax is often progressive-bracketed) — nine states with no income tax show zero automatically. FICA covers Social Security up to the 2026 wage base and Medicare, including the Additional Medicare Tax above the statutory income threshold.

Key Features

Full Gross-to-Net Breakdown
Shows every deduction — federal tax, state tax, Social Security, Medicare, 401(k), and health insurance — line by line.
Five Pay Frequencies
Supports weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, monthly, and annual pay schedules.
Pre-Tax Deduction Modeling
401(k) percentage and health insurance premiums reduce taxable income before federal tax is calculated.
All 50 States Plus DC
State dropdown covers every state, with the nine no-income-tax states automatically returning zero.
2026 FICA Rates
Social Security capped at the 2026 wage base, plus Medicare and Additional Medicare Tax above the income threshold.
Shared Federal Tax Engine
Uses the same bracket math as the Federal Tax Bracket Calculator for consistent results across both tools.

How to Use

1
Enter gross pay and frequency
Input your gross pay for one pay period and select how often you get paid.
2
Set filing status and state
Choose your federal filing status and the state you pay income tax in.
3
Add pre-tax deductions
Enter your 401(k) contribution percentage and per-period health insurance premium.
4
Review your take-home pay
Check gross and net pay per period in the summary cards.
5
Open the full breakdown
Expand the detail view to see exactly how much goes to each tax and deduction.

Real-World Use Cases

Job Offer Comparison

A candidate compares take-home pay for job offers in two different states before negotiating.

Budget Planning

A new hire estimates net pay per paycheck to set up a monthly budget before their first payday.

401(k) Contribution Tradeoff

An employee tests how raising their 401(k) percentage changes take-home pay versus long-term savings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Free Tools

Explore these tools that work great alongside Paycheck / Take-Home Pay Calculator:

Federal Income Tax Bracket Calculator

Calculate US federal income tax by bracket, filing status, and taxable income.

401(k) / Retirement Growth Calculator

Project 401(k) balance at retirement including employer match and salary growth.

Self-Employment Tax Calculator

Calculate SE tax on freelance income plus your suggested quarterly estimated payment.