US Paycheck Calculator

What is the US Paycheck Calculator?

The US Paycheck Calculator is a free, browser-based tool that estimates your annual, monthly, bi-weekly, and weekly take-home pay after all major deductions for the 2026 tax year. It applies the official IRS federal income tax brackets published in Revenue Procedure 2025-32, calculates FICA taxes (Social Security and Medicare) at their 2026 rates, and lets you input your state's income tax rate manually — giving you a realistic picture of what lands in your bank account.

Whether you earn an hourly wage or an annual salary, and whether you're single, married, or filing as head of household, this calculator handles every combination. It also factors in pre-tax 401(k) contributions, which reduce your taxable income and lower your federal tax bill today — a critical feature for workers making retirement decisions.

Unlike generic "paycheck estimators" that use outdated bracket data or oversimplify federal tax as a flat rate, this tool uses a full progressive tax engine: it allocates your taxable income across each bracket tier, calculates the marginal tax on each slice, and sums them correctly. The result is a tax figure that matches what your payroll system computes, not a rough approximation.

How to Use the Calculator

Using the calculator takes under one minute. Follow these steps for an accurate result:

1. Select Income Type: Choose "Annual Salary" if you receive a fixed yearly compensation, or "Hourly Wage" if you're paid by the hour. For hourly workers, enter your hourly rate and average weekly hours (default: 40).
2. Enter Your Income: Type your gross annual salary or hourly rate. This is your income before any deductions.
3. Select Filing Status: Choose Single, Married Filing Jointly, Head of Household, or Married Filing Separately. This determines both your tax brackets and your standard deduction amount.
4. Enter State Tax Rate: Look up your state's marginal income tax rate (see the State Tax Guide section below). If your state has no income tax, enter 0.
5. Enter 401(k) Contribution % (optional): If you contribute to a traditional (pre-tax) 401(k), enter the percentage of your gross salary you contribute. This reduces your taxable income.
6. Read Your Results: The calculator instantly displays your take-home pay broken down annually, monthly, bi-weekly, and weekly, plus a full deduction breakdown showing exactly where each dollar goes.

2026 Federal Income Tax Brackets — Official IRS Data

Federal income tax in the United States is progressive, meaning different portions of your income are taxed at different rates. You do not pay the top rate on your entire income — only on the dollars that fall within that bracket. The 2026 brackets were released by the IRS in Revenue Procedure 2025-32, with income thresholds adjusted upward for inflation.

2026 Tax Brackets — Single Filers

Standard deduction: $16,100

2026 Tax Brackets — Married Filing Jointly

Standard deduction: $32,200

2026 Tax Brackets — Head of Household

Standard deduction: $24,150

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32. These brackets apply to taxable income (gross income minus standard deduction and pre-tax deductions).

FICA Taxes: Social Security & Medicare (2026)

The Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) funds Social Security and Medicare. Unlike federal income tax, FICA is a flat percentage with no brackets — it applies at a fixed rate from your first dollar of earned income.

For 2026, the FICA rates are:

• Social Security (OASDI): 6.2% on the first $184,500 of wages (this is the 2026 Social Security wage base, as announced by SSA.gov). Income above $184,500 is not subject to Social Security tax.
• Medicare (HI): 1.45% on all wages with no upper limit.
• Additional Medicare Tax: High earners — those with wages over $200,000 (single/head of household) or $250,000 (married filing jointly) — owe an additional 0.9% Medicare tax. This is not withheld by employers on amounts below the threshold, so high earners may owe it at filing.

Your employer matches your 6.2% + 1.45%, paying an equal amount from their own funds. This means your total employment tax contribution is 15.3% of FICA wages, split 50/50 between you and your employer. Self-employed individuals pay the full 15.3% themselves (the "self-employment tax"), though they can deduct the employer-equivalent portion on their return.

Standard Deduction & Taxable Income

Federal income tax is not levied on your entire gross income. The IRS allows a standard deduction — a flat amount subtracted from gross income to arrive at your taxable income. For 2026, the standard deductions are:

• Single: $16,100
• Married Filing Jointly: $32,200
• Head of Household: $24,150
• Married Filing Separately: $16,100

For example, a single filer earning $60,000 does not pay income tax on the full $60,000. Their taxable income is $60,000 − $16,100 = $43,900. This matters enormously at lower income levels — workers earning under the standard deduction threshold owe zero federal income tax.

Some taxpayers choose to itemize deductions instead (mortgage interest, charitable donations, medical expenses above 7.5% of AGI, etc.). If your itemized deductions exceed the standard deduction amount, you should itemize — but for most Americans, taking the standard deduction results in a lower tax bill and far less paperwork.

Worked Numeric Example: $75,000 Salary, Single, 5% State Tax

Let's walk through a complete, verified calculation for a single filer in a typical US state:

• Gross Annual Salary: $75,000
• Filing Status: Single
• State Tax Rate: 5%
• Pre-Tax 401(k): 0%

Step 1 — Taxable Income

Taxable Income = $75,000 − $16,100 (standard deduction) = $58,900

Step 2 — Federal Income Tax (Progressive)

Effective federal tax rate: $7,670 ÷ $75,000 = 10.23% (much lower than the marginal 22% bracket rate).

Step 3 — FICA Taxes

• Social Security: $75,000 × 6.2% = $4,650.00
• Medicare: $75,000 × 1.45% = $1,087.50

Step 4 — State Tax

State Tax: $75,000 × 5% = $3,750.00

Step 5 — Summary

This worker keeps 77.1% of their gross salary. The total tax burden is 22.9% — and much of that is FICA (which, unlike income tax, provides direct retirement and healthcare benefits).

State Income Tax: A Quick Reference Guide

The US has a wide variation in state income tax treatment. Rather than hardcoding rates (which change with legislation), this calculator lets you enter your state's rate manually. Here is a reference guide to the most common scenarios:

Important: State income tax is often progressive too, not flat. These figures are approximate. For precision, look up your state's department of revenue website and use the top bracket rate if your income is in the upper ranges for your state.

How to Legally Reduce Your Paycheck Tax Bill

The US tax code offers numerous legitimate strategies to reduce the taxes withheld from your paycheck. These are not loopholes — they are congressionally-approved incentives designed to encourage specific financial behaviors:

• Maximize Traditional 401(k) Contributions: The 2026 elective deferral limit is $23,500 (with a $7,500 catch-up for those 50+, and $11,250 catch-up for ages 60–63 under SECURE 2.0). Every dollar you contribute pre-tax reduces your taxable income by one dollar, directly lowering your federal and most state tax bills.
• Contribute to an HSA (Health Savings Account): If you're enrolled in a High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP), you can contribute to an HSA tax-free. Contributions, growth, and qualified medical withdrawals are all tax-free — a triple tax advantage. The 2026 contribution limit is $4,300 (self-only) or $8,550 (family).
• Adjust Your W-4 Withholding: If you receive a large refund each year, you're essentially giving the government an interest-free loan. Update your W-4 to claim additional allowances that better match your actual tax liability. Conversely, if you consistently owe money at filing, increase your withholding.
• Dependent Care FSA: Parents can contribute up to $5,000 annually to a Dependent Care FSA through payroll deduction, reducing taxable income for daycare, preschool, and after-school care costs.
• itemize Instead of Taking the Standard Deduction: If your mortgage interest, state and local taxes (SALT, capped at $10,000), and charitable contributions exceed your standard deduction, itemizing reduces your taxable income further.

Important Disclaimers

This calculator provides educational estimates for the 2026 tax year. It uses the official IRS bracket data from Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and applies straightforward progressive tax logic. However, actual paycheck withholding can differ from tax liability estimates for several reasons:

• This tool estimates annual tax liability, not the pay-period withholding formula (which involves annualizing each paycheck, applying brackets, then dividing back).
• It does not account for itemized deductions, tax credits (Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Credit, Child & Dependent Care Credit), or Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT).
• It uses a flat state rate on gross income. Actual state tax may be progressive, have different deductions, or apply to adjusted gross income differently.
• The Additional 0.9% Medicare surtax for high earners is not included in this basic calculator.

For official tax filing, consult a CPA or use IRS-certified software. For payroll purposes, refer to your employer's payroll system or IRS Publication 15-T.