Estimates only, not tax advice
Know exactly what lands in your paycheck.
Gross in, net out. No guesswork, no spreadsheet.
Your details
Estimated take-home
per biweekly pay · $59,319 / yr
Breakdown
Effective tax rate 20.4% of gross
Calculate by state
Open a state page for its 2026 rates, examples, and answers.
How the paycheck calculator works
Five steps, using published 2026 federal and state figures.
- 1Enter your gross pay and pay frequency — we annualize it to a yearly figure.
- 2Pre-tax deductions come off first: 401(k) contributions and Section 125 health premiums.
- 3Federal income tax is applied using the 2026 standard deduction and brackets (10% to 37%).
- 4Social Security (6.2% up to $184,500) and Medicare (1.45%) are withheld on wages.
- 5Your state's 2026 rules are applied, and what's left is your estimated take-home pay.
What's taken out of your paycheck
The line items between your gross pay and what lands in your account.
Federal income tax
Withheld on wages after your standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 joint) using the 2026 brackets, which run from 10% to 37%.
Social Security
6.2% of wages, up to the $184,500 wage base for 2026. Earnings above that base are not subject to Social Security.
Medicare
1.45% of all wages, with no cap, plus an additional 0.9% on wages above $200,000 for single filers.
State income tax
Anywhere from nothing to over 10%, depending on where you work. 9 states levy no income tax at all.
Pre-tax deductions
401(k) contributions lower federal taxable income but not Social Security or Medicare. Section 125 health premiums are exempt from both.
Frequently asked questions
Common paycheck and withholding questions for 2026.
How much is taken out of my paycheck?
Most workers see 20% to 35% of gross pay withheld. Federal income tax depends on your bracket, Social Security takes 6.2% of wages up to $184,500, Medicare takes 1.45%, and state income tax ranges from nothing at all to over 10%.
How do I calculate take-home pay?
Start with gross pay, subtract pre-tax deductions such as 401(k) contributions and health premiums, then subtract federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and any state income tax. The calculator above does all of this for the 2026 tax year as you type.
What's the difference between gross and net pay?
Gross pay is your full earnings before anything is withheld. Net pay — your take-home pay — is what actually reaches your bank account after taxes and deductions.
Are 401(k) contributions taxed?
Traditional 401(k) contributions are exempt from federal income tax, so they lower your taxable income. They are still subject to Social Security and Medicare, and a small number of states tax them at the state level.
Which states have no income tax?
9 states levy no individual income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. Paychecks there still have federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare withheld.
How accurate is this calculator?
It is a close estimate of withholding built on published 2026 federal and state figures, last verified 2026-10-20. It does not model credits, dependents, itemized deductions, or local taxes, so your actual paycheck can differ. See the methodology page for full details.
Keep exploring
Paid by the hour? Use the hourly calculator. Or read the full method, or jump straight to a popular state.
Hourly paycheck calculator — convert an hourly rate, weekly hours, and overtime into take-home pay.