Paycheck Calculator
Estimate your take-home pay after federal income tax, FICA (Social Security & Medicare), and state tax deductions.Updated 2026-03-16
2026 Federal Income Tax Brackets
| Rate | Single | Married Filing Jointly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $11,925 | $0 – $23,850 |
| 12% | $11,926 – $48,475 | $23,851 – $96,950 |
| 22% | $48,476 – $103,350 | $96,951 – $206,700 |
| 24% | $103,351 – $197,300 | $206,701 – $394,600 |
| 32% | $197,301 – $250,525 | $394,601 – $501,050 |
| 35% | $250,526 – $626,350 | $501,051 – $751,600 |
| 37% | $626,351+ | $751,601+ |
How This Calculator Works
This paycheck calculator estimates your take-home pay by deducting:
- Federal Income Tax — based on 2026 marginal tax brackets after standard deduction
- Social Security — 6.2% on income up to $176,100 (2026 wage base)
- Medicare — 1.45% on all income (+ 0.9% above $200K single / $250K married)
- State Income Tax — flat rate estimate (adjust for your state)
⚠️ This is an estimate. Actual paycheck may vary based on pre-tax deductions (401k, health insurance), local taxes, and W-4 withholding elections.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between gross pay and net pay?
Gross pay is your total earnings before any deductions. Net pay (take-home pay) is what you actually receive after federal tax, state tax, Social Security, Medicare, and any other deductions are subtracted.
What states have no income tax?
Nine states have no state income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire (dividends/interest only), South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Set the state tax rate to 0% for these states.
How is FICA tax calculated?
FICA consists of Social Security tax (6.2% up to the wage base of $176,100 in 2026) and Medicare tax (1.45% on all wages, plus an additional 0.9% on wages above $200,000 for single filers or $250,000 for married filing jointly). Your employer pays a matching amount.
"Paycheck Calculator." GoCalc, go-calc.com, https://go-calc.com/tools/paycheck-calculator/. Accessed 2026-03-16.