How to use the take-home paycheck calculator
- Enter your gross pay and choose whether it is per year or per paycheck.
- Choose your pay frequency and filing status.
- Enter your 401(k) contribution as a percentage of pay, and your age so the right 2026 limit applies.
- Enter other pre-tax deductions per paycheck, such as health insurance premiums or HSA contributions through your employer.
- Enter your state and local income tax rate as a single flat percentage, or 0 if you have none.
- Read your take-home pay per paycheck and per year, and the breakdown.
How take-home pay is calculated
A traditional 401(k) contribution lowers your income tax but not your Social Security and Medicare tax. Health, dental and vision premiums and HSA contributions taken through a cafeteria plan lower both. The calculator works out a full year and divides by your number of paychecks.
2026 figures used
| Item | 2026 amount |
|---|---|
| Social Security tax (employee share) | 6.2% of wages up to $184,500 |
| Medicare tax (employee share) | 1.45% of all wages |
| Additional Medicare tax | 0.9% withheld on wages over $200,000 |
| Standard deduction | $16,100 single or separate, $32,200 joint, $24,150 head of household |
| 401(k) deferral limit | $24,500; $32,500 at 50+; $35,750 at ages 60–63 |
Sources: IRS Topic 751 for Social Security and Medicare, IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 for brackets and the standard deduction, and IRS Notice 2025-67 for 401(k) limits. SSA has announced a $192,300 wage base for 2027.
Worked example
The defaults are $75,000 a year, paid every 2 weeks, filing single, with 5% to a 401(k), $100 of other pre-tax deductions per paycheck and a 4% state tax.
- 401(k): $75,000 × 5% = $3,750; other pre-tax: $100 × 26 = $2,600
- Federal taxable wages: $75,000 − $3,750 − $2,600 = $68,650
- Taxable income: $68,650 − $16,100 = $52,550, so federal tax = $5,800 + 22% × $2,150 = $6,273.00
- Social Security and Medicare wages: $75,000 − $2,600 = $72,400; Social Security $4,488.80, Medicare $1,049.80
- State tax: 4% × $68,650 = $2,746.00
- Take-home: $75,000 − $3,750 − $2,600 − $6,273 − $4,488.80 − $1,049.80 − $2,746 = $54,092.40 a year
- Per paycheck: $54,092.40 ÷ 26 = $2,080.48
Of each $2,884.62 paycheck, $241.27 goes to federal income tax and $213.02 to Social Security and Medicare.
Why your real paycheck may differ
Employers withhold federal tax with the IRS percentage method and the answers on your Form W-4, which can differ a little from your actual tax for the year, especially if you have two jobs, a working spouse, credits such as the child tax credit, or other income. Most states have their own brackets and deductions rather than a flat rate, some cities add a local tax, and a few states also charge disability or family-leave insurance. Use the income tax calculator to check your full-year federal tax, including credits.
Frequently asked questions
How much is taken out of a $75,000 salary?
With the defaults above, $14,557.60 a year goes to federal, state and payroll taxes and $6,350 to pre-tax savings and benefits, leaving $54,092.40 a year, or $2,080.48 every two weeks. Your own amount depends on your state, benefits and filing status.
Does a 401(k) contribution lower Social Security tax?
No. Traditional 401(k) deferrals are excluded from federal income tax but still count as wages for Social Security and Medicare, so those taxes are worked out on your full pay minus only cafeteria-plan deductions.
Why does the Social Security deduction stop late in the year for high earners?
Social Security tax applies only to the first $184,500 of wages in 2026. Once your pay for the year passes that amount, the 6.2% stops until January, while Medicare continues on all wages.
What filing status should I choose?
Use the status you will file under for 2026. Married couples filing jointly get wider brackets and a larger standard deduction, which raises take-home pay compared with single status at the same salary.
Related calculators
- Income Tax Calculator — Estimate your 2026 US federal income tax, tax bracket and effective rate for any filing status.
- Salary Calculator — Convert pay between hourly, daily, weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly, monthly and annual, with or without days off.
- 401(k) Calculator — Project your 401(k) balance with your employer match, salary raises and the 2026 IRS contribution limits.
- Marriage Tax Calculator — Find out whether getting married raises or lowers your federal income tax, using the 2026 brackets.
Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial, tax or legal advice. See our disclaimer.