Paycheck Calculator
Calculate your net take-home pay after federal taxes, Social Security, Medicare, and state taxes. Supports salary and hourly. Free paycheck calculator.
Reviewed for accuracy by Marcus Webb and the Blueprint Dynamics editorial team (last updated July 2026). Our calculators use primary-source formulas and are cross-checked against IRS publications, Fannie Mae guidelines, and Federal Reserve data. Learn more about our methodology.
Paycheck Calculator
See your take-home pay per paycheck after federal tax, state tax, FICA, and pre-tax deductions.
26 paychecks/year · Annual gross: $91,000
401k, HSA, health ins
Additional federal amount
Take-Home Pay
$2,459.29
per bi-weekly paycheck
Annual Summary
State tax rates are approximate flat effective rates for illustration. Local income taxes, additional Medicare surtax on high earners, and deduction-based withholding adjustments are not modeled. For precise payroll calculations, consult your HR department or a payroll professional.
What comes out of every paycheck
Your gross pay is not your take-home pay. Three federal deductions come off every paycheck automatically: federal income tax withholding (based on your W-4 elections and tax bracket), Social Security tax (6.2% of wages up to $176,100 in 2025), and Medicare tax (1.45% with no income cap — plus an additional 0.9% on wages above $200,000). Most states add their own income tax on top.
Pre-tax deductions — 401(k) contributions, HSA contributions, health insurance premiums — reduce your taxable wages before these calculations run. This is why a $500/month 401(k) contribution doesn't cost $500 out of your pocket. In the 22% federal bracket with 5% state tax, that $500 contribution reduces your taxes by about $135, so the real out-of-pocket cost is only $365.
How federal income tax withholding works
Your employer withholds federal income tax based on your W-4 form. The W-4 asks about filing status (single, married, head of household) and additional withholding adjustments. Getting this right matters: over-withholding gives you a large tax refund — essentially an interest-free loan to the government. Under-withholding means you owe at filing, potentially with underpayment penalties if the shortfall exceeds $1,000.
If you've had a major life change — marriage, divorce, new child, second job, significant raise — update your W-4. The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator helps you verify you're withholding the right amount for your actual annual liability.
2025 federal income tax brackets
The 2025 standard deduction is $15,000 for single filers and $30,000 for married filing jointly. Federal brackets for single filers: 10% on income up to $11,925; 12% on $11,925–$48,475; 22% on $48,475–$103,350; 24% on $103,350–$197,300; 32% on $197,300–$250,525; 35% on $250,525–$626,350; 37% above $626,350. These are marginal rates — only dollars within each band are taxed at that rate.
Salary vs. hourly — how take-home differs
Salaried employees receive the same gross amount each pay period regardless of hours worked. Hourly employees' gross pay varies with hours worked, making take-home less predictable week-to-week. Overtime pay (time and a half for hours over 40/week under federal law) is taxed at your regular marginal rate — not a higher rate, despite the common misconception. Only the additional income from overtime pushes you into a higher bracket if it crosses a threshold.
Worked example
Annual salary: $75,000. Biweekly pay period: $2,884.62 gross. Federal withholding (single, standard W-4): approximately $390. Social Security: $178.85. Medicare: $41.83. State tax (5% example): $144.23. Health insurance: $120. 401(k) at 6%: $173.08. Total deductions: approximately $1,048. Net take-home per paycheck: approximately $1,837 — or $47,762 annually.
Maximizing take-home pay legally
Contribute enough to your 401(k) to capture any employer match — this is an immediate 50–100% return on those dollars. If eligible, contribute to an HSA ($4,300 individual / $8,550 family in 2025) for triple tax savings: contributions are pre-tax, growth is tax-free, and qualified withdrawals are tax-free. Review your W-4 annually to avoid systematic over-withholding. Consider a Dependent Care FSA if you pay for childcare — up to $5,000 in pre-tax contributions per year.