Paycheck Calculator
Calculate your exact paycheck after federal income tax, state tax, Social Security, Medicare, 401(k), health insurance, and all other deductions. All 50 states, 2026 tax brackets.
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How it works
Calculation methodology
How Your Paycheck Is Calculated
Your paycheck goes through a specific deduction sequence every pay period. Understanding the order matters — pre-tax deductions reduce your taxable income before any tax is applied, which is why a traditional 401(k) contribution is worth more than its face value.
Deduction Order: Pre-Tax First
| Priority | Deduction | Tax Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Traditional 401(k) / 403(b) | Reduces federal + state taxable income |
| 2 | Health Insurance (employer plan) | Pre-tax under Section 125 |
| 3 | HSA Contributions | Triple tax-free |
| 4 | FSA Contributions | Reduces FICA and income tax |
| 5 | Federal Income Tax | Applied to reduced taxable income |
| 6 | State Income Tax | Applied after federal adjustments |
| 7 | Social Security (6.2%) | Applied to gross, not reduced income |
| 8 | Medicare (1.45%) | Applied to gross |
| 9 | Roth 401(k) / Post-tax items | No upfront tax benefit |
2026 FICA Details
Social Security tax applies to the first $184,500 of wages (2026 wage base). Medicare applies to all wages at 1.45%, plus an additional 0.9% on wages above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married). Your employer pays a matching amount — the total FICA cost is 15.3% of your wages up to the SS wage base.
States With No Income Tax
Nine states have no state income tax in 2026: Texas, Florida, Nevada, Washington, Wyoming, South Dakota, Alaska, Tennessee, and New Hampshire. Moving from California (top rate 13.3%) to Texas on a $150,000 salary saves roughly $15,000–$18,000 per year in state income tax alone — before accounting for cost of living differences.
For a complete breakdown of annual take-home pay by state, use our Take-Home Pay Calculator.
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