Know your real take-home pay, issued line by line.
A bracket-exact paycheck calculator for all 50 states + D.C. Salary, hourly, bonus, and time-card — enter your numbers and read the receipt for every dollar. Instant, free, no sign-up.
Add pre-tax deductions (optional)
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How Your Paycheck is Calculated in 2026
Uses progressive brackets from 10% to 37%. You pay the higher rate only on income above each threshold, so your effective rate is always lower than your marginal bracket. See how federal tax is calculated →
Ranges from 0% in 9 states to 13.3% in California. TruePayCalc calculates all 50 states plus D.C. using 2026 rates. State tax rates by state →
Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) are withheld from every paycheck. Social Security stops at $184,500 in wages for 2026. High earners pay an extra 0.9% Medicare above $200,000.
2026 note — One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)
Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (2025–2028), qualifying tips (up to $25,000), the overtime premium (up to $12,500 single / $25,000 joint), and a $6,000 senior deduction (65+) may be deductible on your federal return — with income phaseouts starting at $150k/$300k ($75k/$150k for seniors). These are claimed when you file, not withheld from your paycheck, so the take-home shown here is unaffected; FICA still applies to tips and overtime.
FAQ Frequently Asked Questions
Q1 What is the difference between gross pay and net pay?
Q2 How much federal tax is taken out of my paycheck?
Q3 Which states have no income tax in 2026?
Q4 How does a 401(k) contribution affect my paycheck?
Q5 How is overtime pay taxed?
How to Calculate Your Take-Home Pay in 2026
Your take-home pay — also called net pay — is what remains after your employer subtracts federal income tax, state income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and any pre-tax deductions like a 401(k) or health insurance premium. Understanding each deduction helps you plan your budget accurately and spot errors on your paystub.
Step 1 — Start with Gross Pay
Gross pay is your salary or wages before any deductions. For salaried employees, divide your annual salary by the number of pay periods. For example, a $65,000 salary paid monthly = $5,416.67 gross per paycheck. For hourly workers, multiply your hourly rate by hours worked, then add overtime at 1.5× for hours above 40 per week.
Step 2 — Subtract Pre-Tax Deductions
Pre-tax deductions reduce your taxable income before federal and state taxes are calculated. The most common are 401(k) contributions (up to $24,500 in 2026), HSA contributions ($4,400 single / $8,750 family), and employer-sponsored health insurance premiums. A $500/month 401(k) contribution saves roughly $110–$185/month in taxes depending on your bracket.
Step 3 — Federal Income Tax Withholding
Federal income tax uses seven progressive brackets for 2026. You only pay the higher rate on income above each threshold — not your entire income. Here are the 2026 brackets for single filers and married filing jointly:
| Tax Rate | Single Filers | Married Filing Jointly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $12,400 | $0 – $24,800 |
| 12% | $12,401 – $50,400 | $24,801 – $100,800 |
| 22% | $50,401 – $105,700 | $100,801 – $211,400 |
| 24% | $105,701 – $201,775 | $211,401 – $403,550 |
| 32% | $201,776 – $256,225 | $403,551 – $512,450 |
| 35% | $256,226 – $640,600 | $512,451 – $768,700 |
| 37% | Over $640,600 | Over $768,700 |
Step 4 — FICA Taxes: Social Security & Medicare
FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) taxes are fixed-rate deductions that apply to almost every paycheck. Social Security is 6.2% on wages up to $184,500 in 2026 — once you hit that ceiling, Social Security withholding stops for the rest of the year. Medicare is 1.45% with no wage cap, plus an additional 0.9% for earnings above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married). Your employer matches the 6.2% and 1.45% portions.
Step 5 — State Income Tax
State income tax varies dramatically depending on where you live. Nine states — Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming — have no state income tax at all. California has the highest top rate at 13.3%. Most states use progressive brackets similar to federal, while a few like Illinois (4.95%) and Pennsylvania (3.07%) use a flat rate on all income. TruePayCalc includes 2026 rates for all 50 states.
What Gets Taken Out of Your Paycheck?
For a single filer earning $65,000 in New York, paid monthly, here is what the paycheck looks like (matching this calculator exactly):
| Line Item | Amount | % of Gross |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Pay (monthly) | $5,416.67 | 100% |
| Federal Income Tax | −$468.33 | 8.6% |
| New York State Tax | −$242.75 | 4.5% |
| Social Security (6.2%) | −$335.83 | 6.2% |
| Medicare (1.45%) | −$78.54 | 1.45% |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $4,291.21 | 79.2% |
Paycheck Calculator by Pay Frequency
The same $65,000 annual salary produces different per-paycheck amounts depending on how often you are paid:
| Pay Frequency | Gross/Check | Est. Net |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly (52/yr) | $1,250.00 | $990.28 |
| Bi-Weekly (26/yr) | $2,500.00 | $1,980.56 |
| Semi-Monthly (24/yr) | $2,708.33 | $2,145.60 |
| Monthly (12/yr) | $5,416.67 | $4,291.21 |
Take-Home Pay by Salary Level — 2026
Estimated monthly take-home pay for a single filer in Texas (no state tax) vs. California (9.3% top bracket at these salary levels):
| Annual Salary | Texas Net/mo | California Net/mo |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $2,860 | $2,811 |
| $60,000 | $4,199 | $4,062 |
| $75,000 | $5,133 | $4,900 |
| $100,000 | $6,598 | $6,176 |
| $150,000 | $9,483 | $8,673 |