Calculate your take-home pay after taxes and deductions. Get a complete breakdown of your paycheck including federal, state, FICA taxes, and optional deductions like 401(k) and health insurance.
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💵Income Details
Your total yearly income before taxes
How often you get paid
⏰Income Details
Your hourly pay rate
Total weeks worked per year
How often you get paid
🏛️Tax Rates
Your estimated federal income tax rate (e.g., 22%)
Your state income tax rate (0% if no state tax)
7.65% fixed (6.2% Social Security + 1.45% Medicare)
📋Optional Deductions
Percentage of gross pay contributed to retirement
Monthly health insurance premium per paycheck
Flexible Spending Account per paycheck
Gross Pay (per period)
$0.00
Before taxes and deductions
Total Deductions
$0.00
Taxes + retirement + insurance + FSA
Net Pay (Take-Home)
$0.00
Per pay period
🏛️ Tax Breakdown
Federal Income Tax$0.00
State Income Tax$0.00
FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%)$0.00
401(k) / Retirement$0.00
Health Insurance$0.00
FSA / HSA$0.00
Total Deductions$0.00
Net Pay (Take-Home)$0.00
📊 Salary Breakdown by Pay Period
Period
Gross Pay
Total Deductions
Net Pay
Annual
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Monthly
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Bi-Weekly
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Weekly
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
📝 Step-by-Step Calculation
Real-World Net Pay Examples
💼 Software Engineer: $95,000/year
A software engineer earns $95,000 annually, paid semi-monthly. They have a 22% federal tax rate, 5% state tax rate, contribute 6% to their 401(k), and pay $150 per paycheck for health insurance.
Per Paycheck (semi-monthly): $52,782.50 ÷ 24 = $2,199.27
This example shows how taxes and benefits reduce gross pay to actual take-home amount.
🏥 Registered Nurse: $75,000/year
A nurse earns $75,000 annually, paid bi-weekly. They have a 17% effective federal tax rate, 4% state tax, no retirement contribution, and $200 per paycheck for health insurance.
Per Paycheck (bi-weekly): $48,312.50 ÷ 26 = $1,858.17
Even without retirement contributions, health insurance costs significantly reduce take-home pay.
🎓 Freelance Graphic Designer: $45/hour
A freelance graphic designer earns $45/hour, works 30 hours per week, 48 weeks per year. They live in a no-state-tax state (0%), set aside 25% for federal taxes, and contribute 15% to a SEP IRA.
Annual Gross: $45 × 30 × 48 = $64,800.00
Federal Tax: $64,800 × 25% = $16,200.00
State Tax: $0 (no state income tax)
FICA (Self-Employment): $64,800 × 7.65% = $4,957.20
Freelancers and self-employed individuals must account for the full FICA burden and often set aside a higher percentage for taxes.
Understanding Your Net Pay
Your net pay — also called take-home pay — is the amount you actually receive after all taxes and deductions are subtracted from your gross salary. Understanding the difference between gross and net pay is essential for budgeting, financial planning, and evaluating job offers.
The Formula
Net Pay = Gross Pay − Total Deductions
Where deductions include federal tax, state tax, FICA, retirement, insurance, and FSA
Total Deductions = Federal Tax + State Tax + FICA + 401(k) + Insurance + FSA
Each deduction is calculated as a percentage of gross pay or a fixed amount
What's Included in Your Paycheck
1
Federal Income Tax: Based on your effective federal tax rate. This varies by income bracket and filing status. The calculator uses your estimated effective rate.
2
State Income Tax: Varies by state. Some states (Texas, Florida, Nevada, etc.) have no state income tax. Others range from ~1% to ~13%.
3
FICA (Social Security & Medicare): A fixed 7.65% combined rate — 6.2% for Social Security and 1.45% for Medicare. This is mandatory for all W-2 employees.
4
401(k) / Retirement: Optional pre-tax contributions to your retirement account. These reduce your taxable income and grow tax-deferred.
5
Health Insurance: Employer-sponsored health insurance premiums deducted from your paycheck, typically pre-tax.
6
FSA / HSA: Flexible Spending Accounts or Health Savings Accounts — pre-tax contributions used for qualified medical expenses.
Why Knowing Your Net Pay Matters
💰 Budgeting
Your net pay is what you actually have to spend. Budgeting based on gross income leads to overspending. Always use your take-home pay for monthly budgets.
💼 Job Offers
A higher salary doesn't always mean more take-home pay — benefits, retirement matches, and tax differences can change the picture. Compare net pay, not gross.
📊 Tax Planning
Understanding your effective tax rate helps with tax planning. Adjusting 401(k) contributions or FSA amounts can reduce your taxable income.
🏖️ Lifestyle Decisions
Relocating to a state with no income tax could significantly increase your net pay. A $100K salary in Texas vs. California can mean thousands in take-home difference.
Common Effective Tax Rates (2026 Estimates)
Income Range
Effective Federal Rate
FICA (Fixed)
Typical State Rate
$30,000 – $50,000
10% – 12%
7.65%
0% – 6%
$50,000 – $85,000
12% – 22%
7.65%
0% – 7%
$85,000 – $150,000
22% – 24%
7.65%
0% – 9%
$150,000 – $250,000
24% – 32%
7.65%
0% – 10%
💵
Salary & Hourly Support
Enter your income as an annual salary or hourly wage — whichever works best for your situation. Both modes calculate the same detailed tax breakdown.
🏛️
Complete Tax Breakdown
See exactly how much goes to federal tax, state tax, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare). Understand every dollar deducted from your paycheck.
📊
Multi-Period View
View your gross pay, deductions, and net pay across annual, monthly, bi-weekly, and weekly periods in one convenient table.
📋
Optional Deductions
Account for 401(k) retirement contributions, health insurance premiums, and FSA/HSA accounts to get the most accurate take-home pay estimate.
📝
Step-by-Step Math
Every calculation is broken down with clear formulas showing how each tax and deduction amount is derived from your gross pay.
🔄
Pay Frequency
Choose your pay frequency — monthly, semi-monthly, bi-weekly, or weekly — to see exactly how much you'll receive in each paycheck.
Net pay — commonly known as take-home pay — is the amount of money you actually receive after all deductions are subtracted from your gross salary. While your gross salary is the number you negotiate and see on your offer letter, your net pay is what lands in your bank account on payday. The difference between these two numbers can be substantial, often ranging from 20% to 40% depending on your tax situation, benefits selections, and location.
Understanding your net pay is crucial for effective financial planning. Your mortgage lender, landlord, and budget all care about your net pay — not your gross salary. This calculator helps bridge that gap by showing you exactly how much you'll take home based on your specific tax situation and benefit elections.
Key Components That Affect Your Net Pay
🏛️ Income Taxes
Federal income tax is the largest deduction for most workers, with effective rates ranging from 10% to 37% depending on income. State taxes vary from 0% (no-income-tax states) to over 13% in high-tax states like California.
🛡️ FICA (Payroll Tax)
FICA is a flat 7.65% combined rate — 6.2% for Social Security and 1.45% for Medicare. Unlike income tax, this rate is fixed and applies to every dollar of earned income up to the Social Security wage base.
🏦 Retirement Contributions
401(k) and other retirement plan contributions are typically deducted pre-tax, which lowers your taxable income. This means you save on taxes today while saving for retirement — a powerful double benefit.
🏥 Benefits & Insurance
Health, dental, vision insurance premiums, along with FSA and HSA contributions, are deducted from your paycheck. These are often pre-tax deductions, reducing your overall tax burden.
How to Use This Calculator
Using the Net Pay Calculator is straightforward. Start by choosing your income input method — salary-based or hourly-based — using the toggle at the top of the calculator.
Enter your income: Either an annual salary or hourly wage with your typical work schedule.
Set tax rates: Enter your estimated effective federal tax rate, state tax rate, and note the fixed 7.65% FICA rate.
Add optional deductions: Include 401(k) contribution percentage, health insurance per paycheck, and FSA/HSA contributions if applicable.
Choose pay frequency: Select how often you get paid — monthly, semi-monthly, bi-weekly, or weekly.
Click calculate: See your gross pay, deductions, net pay, tax breakdown, and salary breakdown across all pay periods.
All results update dynamically, and the step-by-step section shows you exactly how each number was calculated so you can verify the math.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between gross pay and net pay?
Gross pay is your total earnings before any deductions — the number on your job offer or salary agreement. Net pay (take-home pay) is what's left after subtracting federal and state taxes, FICA (Social Security and Medicare), retirement contributions, health insurance premiums, and other deductions. Most people's net pay is 20–35% less than their gross pay. For example, a $75,000 salary might result in roughly $55,000–$60,000 in annual take-home pay, depending on your specific situation.
What is FICA and why is it 7.65%?
FICA stands for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It funds two programs: Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%), totaling 7.65%. Social Security tax applies to wages up to the annual wage base limit ($176,100 in 2026), while Medicare tax applies to all wages. If you're self-employed, you pay both the employee and employer portions, totaling 15.3%.
How do I know my effective federal tax rate?
Your effective tax rate is the average rate you actually pay, not your marginal tax bracket. For example, if you're in the 22% marginal bracket, your effective rate is typically lower — around 12–18% — because of the progressive tax system where lower income tiers are taxed at lower rates. You can find your effective rate by dividing your total federal tax paid last year by your total taxable income. As a rough guide: $40K income → ~10% effective, $75K → ~15%, $100K → ~17%, $150K → ~20%, $200K+ → ~24%.
Should I contribute to a 401(k) before or after tax?
Pre-tax 401(k) contributions reduce your current taxable income, lowering your tax bill today. You pay taxes when you withdraw the money in retirement. Roth 401(k) contributions are made with after-tax dollars — no immediate tax break, but withdrawals in retirement are tax-free. The right choice depends on whether you expect to be in a higher or lower tax bracket in retirement. Many financial advisors recommend a mix of both. Most employers offer pre-tax as the default option.
What states have no income tax?
As of 2026, nine states have no state income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire (no tax on wages, but taxes interest and dividends), South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Additionally, New Hampshire doesn't tax wages but does tax interest and dividends. Living in one of these states can significantly increase your net pay — a $100,000 salary in Texas might net $5,000–$10,000 more per year than in a high-tax state like California or New York.
Does this calculator account for tax brackets or just effective rates?
This calculator uses your estimated effective tax rate rather than progressive tax brackets. This approach is simpler and more practical because your effective rate accounts for the blended result of all tax brackets you fall into. For the most accurate results, use your actual effective tax rate from your most recent tax return or consult a tax professional. You can estimate it by dividing your total tax paid by your taxable income from your last return.