Salary & Payroll Inputs
Total pay before any deductions (base salary, bonuses included)
How often you receive a paycheck from your employer
Standard deduction and brackets follow your IRS filing status
Percent of gross salary deferred into your 401(k) β lowers taxable wages
Your share of medical/dental premiums deducted pre-tax; set 0 if none
Your Paycheck & Annual Take-Home
How this paycheck is calculated
Pre-tax deductions = Annual salary × 401(k)% + health premium; these reduce taxable wages but not FICA wages.
Federal taxable income = Gross − 401(k) − health − standard deduction (2026: Single $16,100 / Married Filing Jointly $32,200).
Federal tax uses the 2026 IRS projected progressive brackets (10%–37%).
FICA = Social Security 6.2% on wages up to the $176,100 wage base + Medicare 1.45% on all wages + 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax on wages above $200,000 (Single) or $250,000 (MFJ).
Net take-home = Gross − pre-tax deductions − federal tax − FICA, shown per year and divided by paychecks per year.
All amounts are computed in whole cents (integer arithmetic) to avoid floating-point errors.
Federal Tax Breakdown by Bracket
| Rate | Taxable Income Bracket | Amount in Bracket | Tax in Bracket |
|---|
Notes & Disclaimer
Estimate only. Your actual withholding depends on the W-4 form you give your employer, and state and local income taxes are not included β most states add 0%–13% on top of federal tax. This calculator uses 2026 IRS projected brackets and standard deductions; final official figures are published by the IRS in late 2025. Pre-tax 401(k) and health premiums reduce federal taxable wages, but 401(k) deferrals remain subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes. Consult the IRS or a tax professional for authoritative figures.
β Payroll & Take-Home Pay FAQ
How is my paycheck calculated?
Your employer starts with gross pay, subtracts pre-tax deductions (traditional 401(k), health premiums), then withholds federal income tax on the remaining taxable wages using your W-4 and the annual brackets. FICA is calculated separately: 6.2% Social Security up to the wage base plus 1.45% Medicare on all wages. Whatever is left β after any state tax and post-tax deductions β is your net take-home pay, divided evenly across your paychecks.
What is the FICA Social Security wage base for 2026?
The 2026 Social Security taxable wage base is $176,100. You pay 6.2% Social Security tax on wages up to that amount (maximum $10,918.20 per year, matched by your employer); wages above $176,100 are exempt from Social Security tax. Medicare has no wage cap: 1.45% on all wages, plus a 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax on wages above $200,000 for Single filers or $250,000 for Married Filing Jointly.
What is the standard deduction for 2026?
The projected 2026 standard deduction is $16,100 for Single filers and $32,200 for Married Filing Jointly. It is subtracted from your taxable wages before federal brackets apply, which is why a $75,000 salary with no pre-tax deductions pays tax on roughly $58,900 as a Single filer. Itemizing (mortgage interest, charitable gifts) only helps if your itemized total exceeds the standard deduction.
Why are pre-tax deductions like 401(k) beneficial?
Every dollar you defer into a traditional 401(k) (or pay in pre-tax health premiums) is removed from your federal taxable income, so you avoid income tax at your marginal rate today β 22% on a $75,000 salary, for example β and only pay ordinary income tax when you withdraw in retirement, often at a lower rate. You also keep more money working and growing tax-deferred. Note: 401(k) deferrals are still subject to Social Security and Medicare (FICA) taxes.
Why is my take-home pay 25%–30% less than my gross salary?
A typical US paycheck loses money to three layers: federal income tax (10%–37% progressive), FICA payroll taxes (7.65% on most wages), and state income tax (0%–13% depending on your state). Add a 5% 401(k) contribution and health premiums, and a mid-range salary can easily see 25%–30% of gross disappear before it reaches your bank account. Try different 401(k) percentages above to see the trade-off between today's paycheck and retirement savings.