Estimates only. Actual withholding may vary based on your W-4 elections and employer payroll system. Not tax advice.
Paycheck Calculator: How It Works
This calculator converts your gross pay to net pay (take-home pay) for any US state and pay frequency. It accounts for all the deductions that come out of a typical paycheck — federal income tax withholding, state income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and voluntary pre-tax and post-tax benefit deductions like a 401(k), health insurance, HSA, and FSA.
The order of deductions matters
Pre-tax deductions come out first, reducing your taxable wages before income taxes are calculated. This makes them especially valuable — a dollar contributed to a traditional 401(k) or HSA saves you both income tax and, in some cases, FICA taxes. Post-tax deductions like Roth 401(k) come out after all taxes have been withheld.
Pay frequency explained
Weekly means 52 paychecks per year. Bi-weekly (every two weeks) means 26 paychecks. Semi-monthly (twice a month, e.g. 1st and 15th) means 24 paychecks. Monthly means 12 paychecks. The size of each paycheck differs, but your annual gross income stays the same.
Does contributing to a 401(k) really reduce my taxes?
Yes, traditional 401(k) contributions are pre-tax. A 6% contribution on a $2,885 bi-weekly paycheck is $173 — but at a 22% marginal rate, that saves $38 in federal taxes per check, so your net pay only drops by about $135, not $173. The tax saving makes traditional 401(k) contributions highly efficient compared to saving in a regular account.
Which states have no income tax withheld?
Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming have no broad state income tax. Employees in these states see higher net paychecks than equivalent earners in high-tax states like California, New York, or New Jersey at the same gross salary.
What is the Social Security wage base for 2026?
The 2026 Social Security wage base is $176,100. Once your year-to-date earnings exceed that amount, Social Security withholding stops for the rest of the year. Medicare tax of 1.45% has no cap and continues on all wages.