Take-Home Pay Calculator (2026)
Enter your gross salary to estimate what actually lands in your bank account after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, 401(k) contributions, and state tax.
Tax data: 2026 federal brackets and FICA rates as published by the IRS. Last verified: July 2026.
No state income tax: AK, FL, NV, NH, SD, TN, TX, WA, WY — leave 0. Typical elsewhere: 3–7% (CA up to 13.3%, flat states like CO ~4.4%).
What comes out of a US paycheck
| Deduction | 2026 rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | 10%–37% (7 brackets) | Progressive — only income within each bracket is taxed at that rate |
| Social Security | 6.2% | On wages up to the annual wage-base cap (~$184,500 in 2026) |
| Medicare | 1.45% | +0.9% extra on wages over $200,000 |
| State income tax | 0%–13.3% | Nine states charge none |
| 401(k) / benefits | your choice | Traditional 401(k) reduces federal taxable income (not FICA) |
2026 federal brackets used by this calculator
Standard deduction: $16,100 single / $32,200 married filing jointly (per IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32). Brackets for single filers: 10% to $12,400 · 12% to $50,400 · 22% to $105,700 · 24% to $201,775 · 32% to $256,225 · 35% to $640,600 · 37% above (married thresholds are double). The calculator applies the standard deduction automatically.
Marginal vs. effective rate — the misunderstanding that costs people money
Being "in the 22% bracket" does not mean you pay 22% on everything. A single filer earning $75,000 pays 10% on the first slice, 12% on the next, and 22% only on the top portion — an effective federal rate of about 10%, not 22%. A raise can never leave you with less money because of taxes (only benefit cliffs can do that).
Easy ways to raise your take-home percentage
- Traditional 401(k): contributions skip federal (and usually state) income tax now. If your employer matches, contribute at least to the match — it's an instant 100% return.
- HSA: if you have a high-deductible health plan, HSA money skips federal income tax and FICA — the only account that dodges both.
- Check your W-4: big refunds mean you over-withheld all year — an interest-free loan to the government.
What three salaries actually look like
Abstract percentages are hard to plan around, so here are three worked examples straight out of the calculator above. Single filer, standard deduction, no 401(k) contribution, first in a state with no income tax and then in one charging a flat 5%:
| Gross salary | Take-home (no state tax) | Per month | Take-home (5% state) | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $50,390 (16.0% total tax) | $4,199 | $47,390 (21.0%) | $3,949 |
| $100,000 | $79,180 (20.8%) | $6,598 | $74,180 (25.8%) | $6,182 |
| $150,000 | $113,791 (24.1%) | $9,483 | $106,291 (29.1%) | $8,858 |
Three things worth reading off this table. First, the total tax rate climbs slowly — a two-and-a-half-fold rise in salary moves it from 16% to 24%, nothing like the 22% and 24% bracket labels suggest. Second, state tax is not a rounding error: a flat 5% state costs the $150,000 earner $7,500 a year, which is why the same job pays noticeably differently across state lines. Third, at $100,000 the federal income tax ($13,170) is only about twice the Social Security bill ($6,200) — for most middle incomes, payroll tax is a far bigger line than people expect.
For comparison, that $100,000 earner contributing 10% to a traditional 401(k) takes home $71,380 instead of $79,180. Only $7,800 less in the bank for $10,000 moved into retirement savings, because the contribution came out before federal tax. The remaining $2,200 is tax that was never paid.
How this calculator gets its number
No black box — the method is short enough to state in full, and worth understanding because it is where most online estimates diverge:
- Subtract your 401(k) contribution from gross pay.
- Subtract the standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly for 2026) to reach taxable income.
- Apply the 2026 federal brackets progressively — each slice of income taxed at its own rate, not the whole amount at your top rate.
- Add Social Security at 6.2%, but only on the first $184,500 of gross pay.
- Add Medicare at 1.45% on all gross pay, plus the 0.9% Additional Medicare surtax above $200,000.
- Apply your state rate to gross pay less the 401(k) contribution.
What this deliberately leaves out: itemised deductions, tax credits, local and city income taxes, health insurance premiums, and the various state-level quirks around how 401(k) contributions are treated. Those move the answer, sometimes by thousands. Treat the figure as a solid planning estimate, not a substitute for your actual pay stub.
One consequence of step 4 that surprises people: if you earn well over $184,500, your paycheques get larger partway through the year, because Social Security stops being withheld once you cross the wage base. Nothing changed about your salary — you simply finished paying that particular tax for the year.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is this calculator?
It applies the official 2026 federal brackets, standard deduction, and FICA rates. It simplifies state tax to a flat rate you enter and doesn't model itemized deductions, tax credits (like the child tax credit), pre-tax health premiums, or local city taxes — treat results as a close planning estimate, not a payroll statement.
Why is my actual paycheck different?
Employers withhold based on your W-4, which may not match your true annual liability, and deduct benefits (health insurance, HSA) this calculator doesn't know about. The annual figure is the better guide.
Does the 401(k) percentage reduce all taxes?
Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce federal (and most state) income tax, but not Social Security or Medicare. The calculator handles this correctly.
What percentage of salary is take-home, typically?
For most US earners between $50k and $150k with no state tax it's roughly 75–82% of gross; in higher-tax states, 68–78%.
This tool is for general information only and is not tax advice. For filing decisions, consult a tax professional.
Guides that go deeper
🧾Understanding Your Take-Home Pay
Where your salary actually goes — marginal brackets, FICA, and the 401(k) effect.
🤝Salary Negotiation: The Numbers to Run Before You Say a Word
A raise percentage, a total comp figure, and an hourly rate mean less than they look like. Here's how to run the actual numbers.