How this take home pay calculator works
PaycheckClear is a fast, free paycheck calculator that shows your salary after taxes for the 2026 tax year. Type in your wage, pick how often you get paid, choose your filing status and state, and the page instantly works out your net pay per paycheck, per month, and per year. If you have ever wondered "how much will I take home" from a job offer or a raise, this tool answers that in seconds.
Gross pay vs net pay
Gross pay is the headline number on your offer letter. Net pay, or take-home pay, is what is left after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare (together known as FICA), state income tax where applicable, and any pre-tax deductions like a 401(k) contribution or health insurance premium. A good paycheck calculator turns gross into net using the same rules the IRS and your state revenue agency use.
Federal income tax
The federal income tax in the United States is progressive: it has seven marginal brackets, and only the income that falls inside each bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate. PaycheckClear uses the official 2026 brackets and the standard deduction for your filing status, then applies the marginal math correctly instead of just multiplying by one flat rate. That is why our salary after taxes number lines up with what your employer actually withholds.
Social Security and Medicare
FICA is a flat payroll tax made up of two pieces. Social Security is 6.2% of your wages up to the annual wage base ($184,500 for 2026). Medicare is 1.45% of all your wages with no cap, plus an extra 0.9% on wages above $200,000 for single filers and $250,000 for couples filing jointly. Unlike federal income tax, FICA does not get reduced by a 401(k) contribution.
States with no income tax
Nine US states do not tax wage income: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. If you live and work in one of these states, your net pay on the same gross salary is usually noticeably higher than for a neighbor in, say, California or New York. Other states use a flat rate, and some use progressive brackets just like the federal government. That is why the same paycheck calculator answer differs dramatically by state.
How pre-tax deductions help
Pre-tax deductions lower the wages on which your income tax is calculated, so they can meaningfully grow your take-home pay relative to your tax bill. Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce both federal and state taxable wages but not FICA wages. Health insurance and HSA premiums taken through a Section 125 plan typically reduce federal, state, and FICA wages — that is why the calculator handles them separately.
Why your withholding may differ slightly
Your employer withholds taxes based on your W-4 elections and IRS withholding tables, which approximate but do not exactly match the year-end tax calculation. This is normal — small differences get reconciled when you file your annual return. PaycheckClear gives you an accurate estimate of what your real paycheck after taxes should look like across a full year.
Frequently asked questions
›How much of my paycheck goes to taxes?
For most US workers, federal income tax, Social Security (6.2%), and Medicare (1.45%) together take roughly 15% to 30% of gross pay, depending on income and filing status. State income tax can add anywhere from 0% to over 10% on top. The calculator on this page shows your exact breakdown.
›Which states have no income tax?
Nine states do not tax wage income: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. If you live and work in one of these states, your state income tax line on this calculator will be zero.
›What is the difference between gross and net pay?
Gross pay is the total you earn before anything is taken out. Net pay, also called take-home pay, is what actually lands in your bank account after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state and local taxes, and any pre-tax deductions like a 401(k) or health insurance.
›How is take-home pay calculated?
Start with annual gross pay, subtract pre-tax deductions like 401(k) and health premiums to get taxable wages, apply federal marginal tax brackets after the standard deduction, add Social Security and Medicare (FICA), then subtract any state income tax. What is left is your annual take-home pay, which is then divided across your pay periods.
›What is FICA?
FICA stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It is the combined 7.65% payroll tax that funds Social Security (6.2%, up to an annual wage base) and Medicare (1.45%, no cap, with an extra 0.9% on high earners).
›Does a 401(k) really lower my taxes?
Yes. Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce the wages used to calculate federal and state income tax, so contributing more lowers your income tax bill today. They do not reduce Social Security or Medicare wages, so FICA still applies to the full amount.
›Are these numbers exact?
Federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare on this calculator use the official 2026 IRS brackets, rates, and wage base, with proper marginal bracket math. State income tax is estimated for all 50 states and DC using 2026 state brackets and the standard deduction, and does not include local or city income taxes or every state credit. Actual paycheck withholding can differ slightly based on W-4 elections, local taxes, and employer specifics.
›How much will I take home on a $75,000 salary?
It depends on your filing status and state. For a single filer in a no-income-tax state with no pre-tax deductions, take-home is roughly $60,000 a year, or about $5,000 a month. Enter your numbers above to see your own exact figure.