US Paycheck / Take-Home Pay Calculator
This paycheck calculator turns gross salary and filing status into US take-home pay after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and optional state tax.
What it does
The US Paycheck Calculator estimates your annual take-home pay after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and an optional state income tax, starting from your gross salary and filing status.
Data sources & parameters
The figures below drive this calculator. We keep them aligned with the latest official guidance, and each result recalculates automatically whenever a value changes.
| Parameter | Value | Source | Last updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard deduction (single) | 16,100 | irs.gov | Effective 2026-01-01 |
| Standard deduction (married joint) | 32,200 | irs.gov | Effective 2026-01-01 |
| Standard deduction (married separate) | 16,100 | irs.gov | Effective 2026-01-01 |
| Standard deduction (head of household) | 24,150 | irs.gov | Effective 2026-01-01 |
| Federal brackets (single) | Rate schedule | irs.gov | Effective 2026-01-01 |
| Federal brackets (married joint) | Rate schedule | irs.gov | Effective 2026-01-01 |
| Federal brackets (married separate) | Rate schedule | irs.gov | Effective 2026-01-01 |
| Federal brackets (head of household) | Rate schedule | irs.gov | Effective 2026-01-0124%/32% boundary corrected from 201,775 (the single-filer figure) to 201,750 for head of household; other bands unchanged. Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 sec. 3.01 Table 2. audit 2026-09-23 |
| Social Security (OASDI) rate | 0.062 | irs.gov | Effective 2026-01-01Made open-ended (was valid to 2026-12-31): the 6.2% OASDI rate is fixed by statute (IRC 3101(a)/3111(a)); unchanged for 2027. audit 2026-09-23 |
| Social Security (OASDI) contribution and benefit base, 2026 | 184,500 | federalregister.gov, ssa.gov | Effective 2026-01-01Auto-update: replaced dead source link |
| Medicare rate | 0.0145 | irs.gov | Effective 2026-01-01Made open-ended (was valid to 2026-12-31): the 1.45% HI rate is fixed by statute (IRC 3101(b)(1)/3111(b)); unchanged for 2027. audit 2026-09-23 |
| Additional Medicare rate | 0.009 | irs.gov | Effective 2026-01-01Made open-ended (was valid to 2026-12-31): the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax rate is fixed by statute (IRC 3101(b)(2)); unchanged for 2027. audit 2026-09-23 |
| Additional Medicare threshold | 200,000 | irs.gov | Effective 2026-01-01Made open-ended (was valid to 2026-12-31): the 200,000 threshold is fixed by statute and not indexed (IRC 3101(b)(2)); unchanged for 2027. audit 2026-09-23 |
We always strive to use the latest data for every variable so our results and reports are as accurate as possible. Even so, errors are possible — you should not rely on this tool or its report alone, and we accept no liability for any decision made based on it.
The formula
Take-home = gross − federal tax − Social Security − Medicare − state tax
How it works
Federal tax is applied to your income after the standard deduction and any pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA). Social Security is 6.2% on wages up to $184,500, and Medicare is 1.45% on all wages plus an extra 0.9% above $200,000.
Where it is used
- Seeing your real paycheck after all withholding
- Comparing job offers across states
- Working out how 401k or HSA contributions change your net pay
Worked example
On $80,000 as a single filer with no state tax, take-home pay is about … after … federal tax, … Social Security and … Medicare.
What the Paycheck Calculator does
The US Paycheck Calculator estimates your annual take-home pay from your gross salary and filing status, after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and an optional state income tax. Enter your salary, filing status, whether to include state tax, and any pre-tax deductions.
Gross pay versus take-home pay
Your salary is a gross figure. Between it and your bank account sit federal income tax on a progressive bracket system, Social Security on wages up to an annual limit, Medicare on all wages (with an additional amount for higher earners), state income tax where your state has one, and pre-tax deductions such as retirement or health contributions. What remains is your take-home pay.
How the calculator works
The calculator applies the standard deduction and the federal tax brackets to your income, adds Social Security and Medicare, includes state tax if you select it, and subtracts everything from your gross pay to give your estimated annual take-home pay.
Federal tax and the standard deduction
Federal income tax is progressive: income is taxed in brackets at rising rates, and only the income within each bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate. The standard deduction reduces your taxable income before the brackets apply, and pre-tax deductions reduce it further. Your effective tax rate, the share of total income paid in federal tax, is therefore lower than your top bracket.
Filing status changes both the standard deduction and where the brackets fall, so the same salary can produce a different tax bill for a single filer than for a married couple. Choose the status that matches your situation.
Social Security and Medicare
Social Security is charged on wages up to an annual cap; earnings above it are not taxed for Social Security. Medicare applies to all wages, with an additional amount above a higher threshold for high earners. Both are separate from income tax and apply whatever your filing status.
Pre-tax deductions
Contributions to a workplace retirement plan or a health savings account are often pre-tax, so they reduce your taxable income and your take-home pay falls by less than the amount you contribute. That money is not available to spend now, though, and some of it may be hard to reach before a certain age or for other purposes. Seeing how a contribution changes your net pay helps you pick a level you can live with month to month.
Comparing job offers
A higher salary in a state with income tax can leave you with less than a slightly lower salary in a state without one. Comparing take-home pay puts offers on equal terms, and running a few scenarios shows how much location and pre-tax choices affect what you keep.
Things to keep in mind
A real paycheck can differ because of local or city taxes, extra voluntary withholding, benefits and post-tax deductions, and your own credits and circumstances. The elections on your withholding paperwork also shape how much tax comes out of each paycheck, so two people with the same pay can see different withholding. Brackets, deductions and payroll thresholds are reviewed periodically, and the figures here are kept current. For your exact paycheck, check your pay stub or ask your employer's payroll team.
This is general information to help you plan, not financial advice. Confirm figures with your payroll or a tax professional before relying on them.
About This Paycheck Calculator
Use this paycheck calculator to get an instant, accurate estimate. The figures follow official IRS guidance and every rate and threshold is kept up to date for 2026. Adjust the inputs above to match your situation, or browse all our calculators to plan your next step.
Tax year 2026
Frequently asked questions
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