US Paycheck Calculator by State (2026 Tax Brackets)
Calculate your net take-home pay after federal income tax, state tax, Social Security, and Medicare deductions.
Interactive US Paycheck & Take-Home Salary Calculator
Calculate your actual net paycheck after Federal Tax, State Tax (all 50 states), FICA, and 401(k) deductions.
What this tool does and who it is for
This paycheck calculator turns an annual salary into an estimated take-home amount per pay period. Pick your pay frequency, state, filing status, 401(k) percentage and monthly health premium, and it subtracts federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and a state estimate.
The state part is where you should be careful. The tool applies one flat estimated percentage per state to your pay after pre-tax deductions; it does not follow each state's real brackets, local taxes or credits. For no-income-tax states like Texas or Florida it is zero, which is straightforward.
It is best used for comparing offers or testing the effect of a bigger 401(k) contribution, not for matching a pay stub to the penny. Your actual W-4 elections, benefits and local taxes will move the result.
Official Formula / Technical Standard
Real-World Worked Scenario
An employee earning $85,000 annually paid bi-weekly ($3,269.23 gross per paycheck) in Texas (0% state income tax) with standard single deduction: FICA Social Security is $202.69, Medicare is $47.40, and Federal withholding is approx $342.10, yielding a net take-home paycheck of $2,677.04.
When people use it
Comparing two job offers in different states
Enter the same salary and change only the state. The gap in take-home pay shows how much state income tax is likely to matter, though cost of living will matter just as much.
Testing a 401(k) increase
Move the contribution slider from 5% to 10% and see how much the paycheck actually drops. Pre-tax contributions shave off taxes too, so the take-home hit is smaller than the contribution.
Budgeting before you start a new job
Pick the pay frequency your employer uses and plan rent and bills around the per-paycheck number rather than the annual salary.
Checking a raise
Run your current salary and the new salary and compare the net amounts. The effective tax rate line makes it clear the raise is taxed at a higher marginal rate, but you still keep most of it.
Notes for US users
- FICA is 6.2% for Social Security up to the annual wage base, plus 1.45% for Medicare, with an additional Medicare tax on high earners. The wage base changes each year, so check the current one with the Social Security Administration.
- Filing status is limited to single or married filing jointly. Head of household and married filing separately are not separate options.
- Cities and a few states levy local income or payroll taxes. Those are not included, nor are state disability or paid family leave deductions in states that have them.
- Because federal withholding depends on your W-4, the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator is the better tool for fixing a stub that looks wrong.
Limits and what to double-check
- •The federal brackets and standard deduction are built in as fixed approximations, and the figures can lag the current tax year. Confirm against IRS publications for the year you care about.
- •State tax is a single flat percentage, so progressive states, local taxes, credits and unusual deductions are not reflected.
- •No additional income, pre-tax items other than 401(k) and health premiums, or dependents are modeled, so child credits and similar items will not change the result.
Expert Best Practices & Common Pitfalls
Recommended Best Practices
- •Maximize pre-tax benefit contributions such as 401(k), Traditional IRA, HSA, or FSA to lower your taxable gross income.
- •Review your IRS W-4 withholdings whenever you experience a major life event, such as marriage, buying a home, or having a child.
- •Compare state income tax rates when considering remote job offers or cross-country relocations.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- •Confusing your marginal tax bracket with your effective tax rate; only dollars above each bracket threshold are taxed at higher percentages.
- •Failing to account for local city or county income taxes (e.g. New York City, Philadelphia, or Ohio municipality taxes).
- •Assuming bonuses and overtime are taxed permanently at higher rates; while they may be withheld at a statutory 22% supplemental rate, final tax liability reconciles on your annual Form 1040.
Features & Security Architecture
- 100% Client-Side: Zero server uploads ensure complete privacy and data confidentiality
- Fast Results: Processing happens on your own device, so there is no upload or server queue to wait for
- No Sign-Up Required: Completely free to use with no daily usage caps or account requirements
- Works on All Devices: Fully responsive across desktop, tablet, and mobile browsers
Frequently Asked Questions
Which US states have no personal state income tax?▼
As of 2026, nine states do not levy a traditional state income tax on earned wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire (phasing out interest/dividend tax), South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington (taxes certain high capital gains), and Wyoming.
What is the FICA tax rate for standard W-2 employees?▼
W-2 employees contribute 6.2% of their gross wages toward Social Security (capped at the annual statutory wage base, $168,600) and 1.45% toward Medicare (uncapped, with an additional 0.9% surtax for wages exceeding $200,000 single / $250,000 married).
Why does my real paycheck differ from this estimate?▼
Employers withhold using your W-4, plus things this tool skips such as dental or vision premiums, FSA or HSA contributions, local taxes and state disability programs. Your first stub may also include partial periods or bonuses. Use the estimate for planning, then compare against a real stub to see which line differs.
Does it work for hourly workers?▼
Only if you convert to an annual figure first. Multiply your hourly rate by the hours you expect to work in a year, or use the hourly to salary tool, then enter that amount. Overtime and irregular schedules make net pay move around more than a salary would.
What does the 401(k) percentage do to my taxes?▼
Traditional 401(k) contributions are taken before federal and state income tax, so your taxable income falls. Social Security and Medicare still apply to those wages in this tool. Roth contributions are taxed up front and would not reduce taxes in the same way.
Can I use it to estimate a tax refund?▼
Not really. A refund depends on your full-year return, credits, other income and how much you had withheld. The tool estimates what comes out of a paycheck, not what you owe at filing time. The IRS withholding estimator is built for that question.