Estimate your net take-home pay per paycheck after federal tax, FICA, and an estimated flat state tax rate.
Your gross pay first has federal income tax withheld (based on simplified annual brackets), then FICA (7.65% for Social Security + Medicare), then your state's tax if applicable. What's left is divided by your pay frequency to estimate take-home pay per paycheck.
Illustrative estimate only, using simplified/rounded 2026 figures — not tax advice. Actual federal, state, and payroll tax rules are more detailed. Always confirm with the IRS or a licensed tax professional.
Gross pay goes through several deductions before it becomes the number that lands in a bank account. Federal income tax withholding (based on the W-4 filed with an employer) comes off first, followed by FICA payroll taxes — 6.2% for Social Security up to the annual wage base and 1.45% for Medicare with no cap. State and, in some cities, local income tax withholding may apply next, and pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions or health insurance premiums are subtracted before taxable wages are even calculated, which is why increasing a 401(k) contribution rate lowers the tax bite as well as raising take-home savings.
Withholding is an estimate, not the final tax bill — it is reconciled against actual liability when a return is filed, which is why a paycheck-level estimate and an annual return can land differently. Bonuses and overtime are often withheld at a flat supplemental rate rather than the regular schedule, which can make a bonus check feel more heavily taxed than it ultimately is once the annual return catches up.
Because tax withholding and payroll deductions are subtracted before the money is paid out. Federal tax, FICA, state tax where applicable, and any pre-tax benefit deductions are all removed before the net figure hits your account.
By submitting a new W-4 to your employer's payroll department. It lets you claim dependents, additional withholding, or adjustments for multiple jobs — changes usually take effect within a pay cycle or two.
It can be adjusted for it, but state rules vary enormously — nine states have no income tax at all, and the rest range from flat rates to multi-bracket systems. Check the State Income Tax Calculator for state-specific figures.
Net pay is what is deposited after taxes and payroll deductions. Disposable income usually also nets out fixed post-tax obligations like loan payments, giving a clearer picture of what is actually free to spend or save.