Take-Home Pay Calculator
Calculate your exact paycheck after federal income tax, state income tax, Social Security, and Medicare for all 50 states. Uses 2026 IRS tax brackets. Free, instant.
Calculator
Example result
Example take-home pay on a $75,000 salary
For a single filer in Texas earning $75,000 with a 6% traditional 401(k) contribution, the calculator estimates annual take-home pay of $58,083.
| Annual salary | $75,000 |
|---|---|
| 401(k) contribution | $4,500 |
| Federal income tax | $6,680 |
| Social Security and Medicare | $5,738 |
| Texas income tax | $0 |
| Estimated annual take-home pay | $58,083 |
| Estimated monthly take-home pay | $4,840 |
This example mirrors the calculator defaults: single filer, Texas, no other pre-tax deductions, and 2026 rules used by this tool.
Key Takeaways
What You Should Know
- Your take-home pay reflects federal income tax, payroll taxes, state income tax, and the pre-tax deductions you enter.
- A traditional 401(k) contribution lowers the federal taxable income used in this estimate.
- State rules, local taxes, benefits, and withholding choices can change your actual paycheck.
How it works
Calculation methodology
How Your Paycheck Gets Reduced
Every W-2 paycheck is reduced by four mandatory taxes before you see a dollar: federal income tax, state income tax (in most states), Social Security, and Medicare. Understanding each helps you plan around them.
2026 Federal Tax Brackets (Single Filer)
The US uses a progressive bracket system — you do not pay your top rate on all income. For a single filer in 2026, taxable income is taxed at 10% up to $12,400, 12% from $12,400 to $50,400, and 22% from $50,400 to $105,700. The standard deduction and entered pre-tax deductions are applied before this estimate determines taxable income.
FICA Taxes Are Flat and Unavoidable
Social Security is 6.2% on wages up to $184,500 (2026 wage base). Medicare is 1.45% on all wages. These are flat rates — everyone pays the same percentage regardless of income (until the wage base cap for Social Security). Your employer matches both, meaning the full payroll tax cost to your employer is 15.3% of your wages.
The Value of Pre-Tax Deductions
Traditional 401(k) contributions, HSA contributions, and employer health insurance premiums are all deducted before taxes. This directly reduces your taxable income and your tax bill. Maxing your 401(k) ($24,500 in 2026) at a 22% federal rate saves $5,390 in federal taxes alone — the government is essentially contributing 22 cents for every dollar you save. See how that compounds over time with our Retirement Calculator.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Assumptions
What this example assumes
- W-2 wages, 2026 federal rules, and the selected filing status.
- Traditional 401(k) and other entered pre-tax deductions reduce taxable income in this estimate.
- The estimate excludes local income taxes, credits, itemized deductions, and employer-specific withholding rules.
Sources
Data sources
These sources support the inputs and assumptions used by this calculator. They are not personalized financial advice.
- IRS Publication 15-T
2026 federal income-tax brackets and standard deductions used for the income-tax estimate.
- Social Security contribution and benefit base
Annual Social Security wage base used for payroll tax calculations.
- State tax agencies
Official directory for the state authorities that set and administer income-tax rules.