Paycheck Take-Home Calculator
Estimate your 2026 take-home pay per paycheck from a salary or hourly wage after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state and local tax, 401(k) and benefit deductions — with all filing statuses, child credits and the new overtime, tips and senior deductions.
How it works
Taxable = gross − 401(k) − pre-tax benefits − standard (or itemized) deduction − overtime/tips/senior deductions · Federal = 2026 brackets − child credits · FICA = 6.2% to $184,500 + 1.45% (+0.9% over $200,000) · State/local = flat % · Take-home = gross − deductions − taxes
Take-home pay is what remains after taxes and deductions come out of your gross wages. Your pay is first reduced by pre-tax deductions: a traditional 401(k) lowers income tax only, while cafeteria-plan benefits such as health insurance, an HSA or an FSA also escape Social Security and Medicare. Federal income tax uses the 2026 brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 after the standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, $24,150 head of household) or your itemized deductions if larger. The 2025 tax law adds deductions for the overtime premium (the extra half of time-and-a-half), qualified tips and people 65 or older, and the child tax credit ($2,200 per child under 17) and $500 credit for other dependents reduce the tax. FICA is 6.2% Social Security on wages up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500 plus 1.45% Medicare on all wages, with an extra 0.9% withheld above $200,000. State and local income taxes are modeled as flat rates on taxable wages. After-tax deductions such as Roth 401(k) contributions and any extra withholding come out last. The yearly total is divided by your number of paychecks.
Worked example
On a $75,000 single salary paid biweekly with a 5% flat state rate and no deductions: taxable income is 75,000 − 16,100 = $58,900, so federal tax is $1,240 + $4,560 + $1,870 = $7,670. FICA is $5,737.50 and state tax $3,750. Take-home is $57,842.50 a year, or about $2,224.71 per paycheck across 26 pay periods. Putting 6% ($4,500) into a traditional 401(k) cuts federal tax by $990 and state tax by $225, so take-home falls by only $3,285 even though $4,500 was saved.
Sources: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 — 2026 brackets, standard deduction, child tax credit · SSA — 2026 Social Security wage base ($184,500) · IRS — 401(k) limit increases to $24,500 for 2026 · IRS — One, Big, Beautiful Bill (Working Families Tax Cuts) provisions for workers · IRS Publication 15-T (2026) — Federal income tax withholding methods
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is this take-home estimate?
It is close for a steady paycheck, because it uses the 2026 federal brackets, standard deduction, credits and FICA limits. It spreads your yearly tax evenly. Your employer’s withholding follows IRS Publication 15-T and your W-4, so individual paychecks can differ slightly. State tax is a single flat rate, so check your state’s own brackets for precision.
What is FICA and is it separate from income tax?
FICA is the payroll tax for Social Security (6.2% on wages up to $184,500 in 2026) and Medicare (1.45% on all wages, plus 0.9% on wages over $200,000). It is withheld on top of income tax and is not reduced by the standard deduction or by 401(k) contributions, though cafeteria-plan health and HSA deductions do lower it.
Do pre-tax deductions increase my take-home?
No, but they cost less than they look. Money routed to a traditional 401(k) or HSA lowers your taxable income, so your paycheck drops by less than the amount you save. In the example, a $4,500 401(k) contribution lowers yearly take-home by about $3,285.
How does overtime affect my paycheck in 2026?
Choose Hourly and enter your overtime hours. They are paid at 1.5 times your rate. For 2025–2028, the extra half-time part, up to $12,500 a year ($25,000 joint), is deductible from federal income tax. FICA and state tax still apply to it. Your employer withholds less only if you claim the deduction on your W-4; otherwise it comes back at tax time.
Why does my paycheck get bigger late in the year?
If you earn more than $184,500, Social Security tax stops once your wages for the year pass that 2026 wage base. Your remaining paychecks skip the 6.2%. Medicare has no cap.
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Educational estimate using 2026 US federal figures — not tax or payroll advice. State and local taxes are flat estimates, and your employer’s withholding follows your W-4 and IRS Publication 15-T; consult a tax professional or the IRS for your actual liability.