Paycheck Calculator
Free US paycheck calculator. Estimate take-home pay after federal tax, state tax, Social Security and Medicare for every US state.
This calculator uses 2025 tax-year data. It is not a current-year payroll quote. Verify the relevant tax year before using an estimate.
Your details
Take-home pay (bi-weekly)
$2,368.94
$61,593 / year · effective tax rate 17.9%
| Item | Per period | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,884.62 | $75,000 |
| Federal income tax | −$295.00 | −$7,670 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | −$178.85 | −$4,650 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | −$41.83 | −$1,088 |
| Texas state tax | −$0.00 | −$0 |
| Take-home pay | $2,368.94 | $61,593 |
Estimate based on 2026 federal tax brackets, the standard deduction, and an approximate state income tax rate. Local taxes, 401(k), health insurance and other deductions are not included. For exact figures consult a tax professional.
The salary in your offer letter is a gross figure. What actually reaches your bank account is that number minus federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and — in most states — state income tax. For a typical US worker the gap is 20% to 35%, which is the difference between a budget that works and one that does not.
This calculator estimates your take-home pay for all 50 states and Washington DC using 2025 federal brackets and the standard deduction, and shows the result yearly, monthly, bi-weekly or weekly.
How to use the Paycheck Calculator
Enter your gross annual salary
Use the full pre-tax figure from your offer letter or contract, before any deductions.
Choose your filing status
Single or married filing jointly. Joint filers get double the standard deduction and wider brackets, which usually lowers the effective rate.
Select your state
This matters a great deal — nine states levy no income tax at all, while California and Oregon reach into the high single digits.
Pick a pay frequency
Bi-weekly (26 cheques a year) is the most common US schedule. Semi-monthly, at 24 cheques, produces a slightly larger but less frequent payment.
Review the breakdown
The table shows every deduction line by line, per pay period and annually, along with your effective tax rate.
What comes out of a US paycheck
| Deduction | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | 10%–37% | Progressive brackets applied to income after the standard deduction |
| Social Security | 6.2% | Only on the first $176,100 of wages (2025 cap) |
| Medicare | 1.45% | No cap; an extra 0.9% applies above $200,000 single / $250,000 joint |
| State income tax | 0%–13.3% | Nine states charge nothing at all |
| Local tax | 0%–4% | Some cities — New York City, Philadelphia — add their own |
Social Security and Medicare together are called FICA. Your employer pays a matching 7.65% that never appears on your payslip.
2025 federal income tax brackets
The United States uses a marginal system, which is the single most misunderstood part of tax. Moving into a higher bracket does not tax all your income at that rate — only the dollars above the threshold. A raise can never reduce your take-home pay.
| Rate | Single filers | Married filing jointly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $11,925 | $0 – $23,850 |
| 12% | $11,925 – $48,475 | $23,850 – $96,950 |
| 22% | $48,475 – $103,350 | $96,950 – $206,700 |
| 24% | $103,350 – $197,300 | $206,700 – $394,600 |
| 32% | $197,300 – $250,525 | $394,600 – $501,050 |
| 35% | $250,525 – $626,350 | $501,050 – $751,600 |
| 37% | Over $626,350 | Over $751,600 |
2025 standard deduction: $15,750 single, $30,000 married filing jointly. Brackets apply to income after that deduction.
States with no income tax
Nine states levy no tax on wage income: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. On a $100,000 salary that is roughly $4,000–$8,000 a year kept versus a high-tax state.
The saving is real but rarely as large as it first appears. States without income tax raise revenue elsewhere — Texas has some of the highest property tax rates in the country, Washington has a high sales tax, and Tennessee taxes groceries. Compare total tax burden and cost of living, not one line.
Pre-tax deductions your employer may take
This calculator estimates taxes on your full salary. In practice, several deductions come out before tax is calculated, which lowers your taxable income and therefore your tax bill:
- 401(k) or 403(b) contributions — up to $23,500 in 2025, plus a $7,500 catch-up at 50 and over. Every dollar contributed reduces taxable income now.
- Health, dental and vision premiums — normally pre-tax under a Section 125 plan.
- HSA contributions — $4,300 individual / $8,550 family in 2025. Uniquely, these are untaxed going in, growing and coming out for medical costs.
- FSA contributions — $3,300 in 2025, but largely use-it-or-lose-it within the plan year.
- Commuter benefits — $325 a month for transit and parking.
If you contribute to any of these, subtract the annual amount from your salary before entering it here for a closer estimate.
Why your first paycheck often looks wrong
- A partial pay period. Starting mid-cycle means fewer days paid, but withholding is calculated as though the amount were your normal cheque.
- Benefits not yet active. Health premiums often begin in month two, so later cheques are smaller than the first.
- Form W-4 defaults. If you have not filed a W-4, your employer withholds at the highest default rate.
- Bonuses are withheld at a flat 22% as supplemental wages, which is why a bonus often feels heavily taxed. Any over-withholding comes back at filing.
How to increase your take-home pay
- Check your W-4 withholding. A large refund means you lent the government money interest-free all year. The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator will tell you what to change.
- Maximise pre-tax accounts. A $500 monthly 401(k) contribution in the 22% bracket costs about $390 of take-home pay.
- Claim the credits you are owed — the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit reduce tax dollar for dollar, not just taxable income.
- Reconsider your state if you work remotely, but check the rules first: some states tax non-residents working for in-state employers.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is this paycheck calculator?
Federal tax, Social Security and Medicare are calculated precisely from 2025 IRS figures. State tax uses an approximate effective rate per state rather than each state’s full bracket structure, so treat the state line as an estimate. Local city taxes, 401(k) contributions and insurance premiums are not included.
What is the difference between gross and net pay?
Gross pay is your salary before anything is taken out — the number in your offer letter. Net pay, or take-home pay, is what lands in your bank account after taxes and deductions. The difference is usually 20%–35%.
Why is so much taken out of my paycheck?
For most workers the largest deduction is federal income tax, followed by the 7.65% FICA combination of Social Security and Medicare. If your withholding looks unusually high, check your W-4 — an outdated one, or one filed at default settings, over-withholds.
Do I pay Social Security tax on my whole salary?
No. Social Security is charged at 6.2% only on the first $176,100 of wages in 2025. Above that the deduction stops, which is why high earners see their take-home pay rise late in the year. Medicare has no cap.
How does bi-weekly pay differ from semi-monthly?
Bi-weekly means every two weeks — 26 paycheques a year, with two months containing three. Semi-monthly means twice a month — 24 slightly larger cheques on fixed dates. The annual total is identical.
Which state has the lowest taxes?
For wage income, the nine states with no income tax. But total burden matters more: Texas and New Hampshire have high property taxes, Washington and Tennessee high sales taxes. Compare the whole picture before moving.
Does a raise into a higher bracket reduce my take-home pay?
No — this is the most common misconception about US tax. Only the income above each threshold is taxed at the higher rate. A raise always increases your net pay.
Is my salary information stored?
No. The calculation runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you enter is transmitted or saved anywhere.
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