US Paycheck Calculator
Use this free paycheck calculator to estimate your take-home pay per paycheck after federal and state taxes. It works for salary, hourly, and 1099 pay in all 50 states, using 2026 tax rules.
✓ 2026 IRS & state rules ✓ All 50 states + DC ✓ Free, no sign-up
Paycheck Calculators by State
Choose your state to estimate your take-home pay after taxes and deductions. Each state page opens with your state already selected and includes worked examples that show how the numbers add up.
Texas Paycheck Calculator
No state income tax
How two 80-hour schedules can produce different paychecks
How to Calculate Your Paycheck
You don’t need to know tax rules to use this calculator. Just grab your job offer or a recent pay stub. If you do gig work, use your earnings records instead.
In Salary, choose per year for your annual salary or per paycheck for the gross pay on your stub. In Hourly, enter your rate and weekly hours. In Gig / 1099, enter your total earnings before expenses, then fill in Business expenses per year separately.
For employee pay, match your employer’s schedule. Every two weeks usually means 26 checks a year. Twice a month means 24, so each check is larger on the same annual salary.
For a job, open Fine-tune my estimate to add your W-4 settings and paycheck deductions. Use the defaults for a quick estimate.
Review your take-home pay and tax breakdown. If the estimate differs from your pay stub, check what might explain the difference.
How Your Take-Home Pay Is Calculated
Your take-home pay is your gross pay minus taxes and other paycheck deductions. The calculator shows each line separately so you can see how your gross pay becomes your net paycheck.
| Line item | What it means |
|---|---|
| Gross pay | What you earn for the pay period before taxes and deductions |
| Pre-tax deductions | Traditional 401(k) contributions, eligible health premiums, and eligible HSA contributions can lower the wages used to calculate some taxes |
| Federal income tax | Withheld based on your wages, pay schedule, and Form W-4 |
| Social Security and Medicare | Federal payroll taxes withheld from your wages |
| State income tax | Income tax withheld for your state. Some states have none |
| State payroll programs | Employee contributions for programs like disability insurance or paid leave in some states |
| After-tax deductions | Amounts like Roth 401(k) contributions or union dues that come out after taxes are calculated |
| Take-home pay | What you receive after taxes and deductions |
Example: From Gross Pay to Take-Home Pay
Say you earn $52,000 a year in Illinois and get paid every two weeks. That’s $2,000 gross per check. It’s the same annual pay as $25 an hour at 40 hours a week for 52 paid weeks.
This example uses 2026 rules for a single employee who puts 5% into a traditional 401(k). It assumes no federal W-4 adjustments, zero allowances on both Illinois W-4 allowance lines, and no extra Illinois withholding. The 401(k) is the only paycheck deduction besides taxes.
| Paycheck line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,000.00 |
| Traditional 401(k) contribution (5%) | −$100.00 |
| Federal income tax withheld | −$144.15 |
| Social Security | −$124.00 |
| Medicare | −$29.00 |
| Illinois income tax withheld | −$94.05 |
| Estimated take-home pay | $1,508.80 |
Load this example in the calculator →
Putting $100 into your 401(k) lowers your take-home pay by $83.05 compared with making no contribution. Federal withholding drops by $12 and Illinois withholding by $4.95. Social Security and Medicare still apply to the full $2,000 in this example.
With one allowance on Line 1 of your Illinois W-4, estimated take-home pay rises to $1,514.37 with the other inputs unchanged.
Taxes Taken Out of Your Paycheck
Three federal taxes can come out of your paycheck, and most states also have an income tax. The paycheck tax calculator shows each estimated tax on its own line.
Federal Income Tax
The 2026 federal income tax brackets range from 10% to 37%. When you move into a higher bracket, the higher rate applies only to taxable income within that bracket. Your employer uses IRS withholding rules, your wages, pay schedule, and Form W-4 to figure what comes out each payday.
The 2026 standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married couples filing jointly, and $24,150 for heads of household.
Social Security and Medicare
Your employer pays a matching share of the base Social Security and Medicare taxes from its own funds.
State Income Tax
Some states use a flat rate. Others use brackets that rise with income. Nine states have no state income tax on wages in 2026. They are Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.
The calculator uses the selected state’s 2026 withholding rules. Payroll deductions such as paid leave can still apply in states without an income tax.
Local Taxes
Some cities and counties add income or payroll taxes. The calculator assumes a 3.3% Maryland local tax rate. Your actual Maryland rate depends on where you live. Other local taxes are excluded. If one applies to you, your actual take-home pay could be lower than the estimate.
| State | Examples of places with local taxes |
|---|---|
| New York | New York City and Yonkers |
| Ohio | Cities and some school districts |
| Michigan | Detroit and other cities |
| Pennsylvania | Many municipalities |
| Kentucky | Many cities and counties |
| Indiana | Counties |
| Missouri | Kansas City and St. Louis |
| Alabama | Birmingham and other cities |
| Delaware | Wilmington |
| Oregon | Portland area |
| Colorado | Denver’s Occupational Privilege Tax |
Why Your Actual Paycheck May Be Different
If your real check doesn’t match, the cause is usually your W-4, a deduction, or pay outside your regular wages. Compare your pay stub with the settings in the paycheck withholding calculator.
Match your filing status, Step 2 for multiple jobs, and Step 3 credits. The 2026 form lists $2,200 per qualifying child under 17, subject to income limits. Check Step 4(b) for deductions, including qualified tips or overtime, and Step 4(c) for extra withholding. If your state uses withholding allowances, those can change your check too.
Check for a new benefit deduction, union dues, or a wage garnishment on that check.
Use the YTD gross from your previous pay stub in Gross pay before this paycheck under Fine-tune my estimate. This matters most when your wages approach the Social Security or Additional Medicare thresholds.
Bonuses, commissions, and back pay can change withholding. Employers can use a flat 22% federal withholding rate for eligible bonus payments.
Withholding comes out on payday. Your final income tax is calculated when you file. Use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator if you want to update your W-4.
Paycheck Calculator FAQs
How We Verify the Calculator
This calculator uses 2026 tax rules. Last verified November 2026. We compare our results with major payroll software in every state that taxes wages, plus DC. Our checks cover W-4 settings, 401(k) contributions, health deductions, overtime, and bonuses.
For regular pay, we follow IRS Publication 15-T and state tax agency guidance. We use IRS and Social Security Administration guidance for Social Security and Medicare. Bonus withholding depends on how your employer pays the bonus.
Gig / 1099 estimates federal income tax, state income tax where applicable, and self-employment tax based on earnings after business expenses.
Our methodology explains what the calculator covers and how we check results. Our disclaimer explains how to use these estimates.
Sources