Paycheck Calculator (USA)
Estimate your US take-home pay for a single paycheck — pull your gross income, pay period, filing status and state to see estimated federal income tax, FICA and net pay.
What is a paycheck calculator?
A paycheck calculator (also called a take-home pay or salary calculator) estimates how much of your gross pay you actually keep after taxes and payroll deductions. In the US, your employer holds back federal income tax based on your Form W-4, plus FICA (Social Security and Medicare) and, in most states, a state income tax. Enter your gross pay per period, how often you are paid, your filing status, your state and your W-4 allowances, and it walks through those deductions to give an estimated net pay per paycheck and per year.
Because it runs entirely in your browser, results are instant and nothing is uploaded — a quick planning tool that shows how withholding, pay frequency and state move your bottom line.
How to use
- Enter your gross pay for one pay period.
- Pick how often you are paid (weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, monthly or annually).
- Choose single or married filing jointly.
- Select your state, or leave it on no state tax.
- Enter your W-4 allowances (default 0) and click Calculate Paycheck.
How take-home pay is estimated
Net pay = Gross − Federal income tax − Social Security − Medicare − State tax FICA = 6.2% (Social Security) + 1.45% (Medicare)
Federal income tax uses a simplified progressive bracket applied to income after the standard deduction. Social Security and Medicare are calculated on annual gross, and a flat illustrative rate is used for the selected state. This is an estimate that approximates the math your payroll does, not a replacement for your actual W-4 withholding.
Example
With the defaults — $5,000 gross per semi-monthly period, single, no state tax and 0 allowances — you have $120,000 of annual gross. The estimate shows roughly $92,500 of annual take-home pay, or about $3,853 per pay period. Federal income tax is the largest deduction, with Social Security and Medicare smaller. Switch to married or to bi-weekly to see how the math shifts.
Common use cases
- Pre-tax planning: gauge real take-home before accepting an offer.
- Compare states: compare net pay across a no-tax state like Texas or one like California.
- Budgeting: plan spending around per-paycheck net income.
Pro tips
- This is an estimate: actual withholding depends on your W-4, pre-tax benefits and payroll frequency.
- Too many allowances can leave you owing tax at filing time.
- FICA is capped: Social Security tax stops at the annual wage base; Medicare has no cap.
- State rates vary: the flat rate here is illustrative; check your state's brackets.
FAQ
How is take-home pay calculated?
Take-home pay is gross income minus federal income tax, Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%) and state income tax where applicable.
What does FICA stand for?
FICA is the Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It funds Social Security and Medicare and currently totals 7.65% — 6.2% for Social Security and 1.45% for Medicare.
How do I get the exact amount withheld?
Use your actual W-4, your payroll provider's withholding tables, and your employer's pay schedule. This calculator is an illustrative estimate only.
Does your filing status change the estimate?
Yes. Married filing jointly gets a larger standard deduction and wider tax brackets than single, which lowers estimated federal income tax.
Is Social Security taxed on all income?
No. Social Security tax applies only up to the annual wage base (about $168,600 for 2024). Medicare tax has no wage cap.
What is the standard deduction?
The standard deduction is a fixed amount you subtract from income before tax is computed. For 2024 it is about $14,600 for single filers and $29,200 for married filing jointly.
Do allowances affect withholding?
Yes. W-4 allowances reduce the amount of federal income tax withheld per paycheck, so more allowances can raise your take-home pay.
Is state tax included?
A simplified state estimate is included for the states listed. States with no income tax (like Texas and Florida) contribute zero.
Why does my actual paycheck differ from this estimate?
Actual paychecks depend on your W-4 elections, pre-tax benefits like 401k and health insurance, payroll frequency and exact state rules.
Is this paycheck calculator free?
Yes. It runs entirely in your browser and no data is uploaded anywhere.
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