PaycheckPro
Menu
Free — all 50 states

Paycheck &
take-home pay

Enter your salary and state to estimate take-home pay after federal and state tax, Social Security, Medicare and pre-tax deductions.

No data stored2026 tax tables50 states + DC

How your paycheck is calculated

  1. Pre-tax deductions (401(k), HSA/FSA) come off your gross first.
  2. The standard deduction for your filing status is subtracted to get federal taxable income.
  3. Federal income tax is the sum of each bracket's rate applied to the income that falls in it.
  4. State income tax: a flat-rate state applies its single rate; a graduated state uses its real 2026 brackets after subtracting the state standard deduction.
  5. Social Security is 6.2% up to the annual wage base; Medicare is 1.45% on all wages, plus 0.9% above the high-earner threshold. 401(k) does not reduce these.
  6. Take-home = gross − pre-tax deductions − all taxes.

The 2026 federal figures (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and per-state rates and brackets (Tax Foundation, 2026) are verified — see the site's data notes. The estimate still uses the single-filer schedule for everyone and omits dependents, credits and local income taxes, so it is a close estimate rather than an exact return.

More pay tools

Frequently asked questions

What does this calculator include?
Federal income tax (using the standard deduction and the current brackets), state income tax, Social Security (6.2% up to the wage base), Medicare (1.45% plus 0.9% above the high-earner threshold), and any pre-tax 401(k) or other deductions you enter.
Why might it differ from my actual paycheck?
Real withholding is driven by your W-4 entries, employer benefit elections, local (city or county) taxes, and mid-year changes. This is an annualised estimate using the standard deduction, not a W-4 withholding calculation.
How is state tax calculated here?
For the 15 flat-tax states, the state's single rate is applied to your income after pre-tax deductions. For the 27 graduated states and DC, the calculator uses that state's real 2026 single-filer tax brackets, after subtracting the state's standard deduction. It uses the single-filer schedule for all filing statuses, and does not model personal exemptions, state tax credits, or local (city/county) income taxes such as NYC's — so treat the figure as a close estimate, not an exact return.
Does a 401(k) contribution lower my taxes?
A traditional 401(k) contribution reduces your taxable income for federal and state income tax, so it lowers those. It does not reduce Social Security or Medicare tax, which are calculated on your full gross wages.
Does it account for dependents or the Child Tax Credit?
Not yet. It applies the standard deduction and the tax brackets for your filing status, but does not subtract the Child Tax Credit ($2,000 per qualifying child) or the credit for other dependents ($500). If you claim dependents, your real take-home pay will be higher than shown.
Can I compare take-home pay between two states?
Run the calculator once per state and compare the state income tax line and the effective tax rate. The nine no-income-tax states (Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming) show $0 on that line.