US Paycheck Calculator: 2026 Take-Home Pay Estimator

Estimate your W-2 net take-home salary after federal income tax withholdings, standard FICA deductions, and retirement contributions for the 2026 tax year.

Income & Tax Settings

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Pre-Tax Deductions

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Post-Tax Deductions

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Estimated Net Take-Home Pay
$0.00
Net Pay
Federal Tax
FICA Tax
Deductions
Paycheck Item Amount
Gross Pay $0.00
Federal Income Tax $0.00
FICA (Social Security + Medicare) $0.00
Pre-Tax Deductions $0.00
Post-Tax Deductions $0.00
Net Take-Home Pay $0.00

Select Your Specific US State Paycheck Calculator

To rank #1 on Google for high-converting keywords and get localized state-specific payroll calculations, navigate to your respective state below. State-level brackets differ drastically from state to state: California features multiple highly progressive brackets, New York requires NYC and Yonkers city-level taxes, and Texas has no state personal income tax at all.

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California
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New York
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Texas

How 2026 Paycheck Deductions Work in the US

Every US employee's paycheck undergoes a standard gross-to-net waterfall calculation. The employer first computes the gross pay based on either an annual salary or hourly wages multiplied by the actual hours worked. Next, pre-tax deductions (such as standard retirement 401k savings, Health Savings Account contributions, or employer-sponsored medical insurance plans) are deducted, lowering the taxable gross base.

Once taxable income is calculated, federal income taxes are applied based on your filing status (Single, Married Filing Jointly, or Head of Household) and W-4 withholding entries. Concurrently, mandatory FICA taxes (comprising a flat 6.2% Social Security tax and a 1.45% Medicare tax) are computed on standard pre-tax earnings before any state-specific tax rates or post-tax allocations are executed.

US Payroll Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between net pay and gross pay?
Gross pay refers to the total amount of money you earn before any deductions are made. Net pay is the actual amount that is deposited into your bank account on payday, calculated by subtracting all federal taxes, state taxes, FICA withholdings, and retirement or health deductions from your gross pay.
What are FICA taxes on a paycheck?
FICA stands for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It consists of a mandatory 6.2% Social Security tax up to an annual limit, and a flat 1.45% Medicare tax. W-2 employees pay these shares directly from their paycheck, while their employers pay an equal matching amount.
How does a W-4 form affect my paycheck calculations?
The Form W-4 is completed by employees to inform their employers how much federal income tax to withhold. By indicating your filing status, dependents, or choosing to withhold an extra fixed amount, you alter the progressive calculation tax bracket applied to your periodic earnings, directly changing your final take-home pay.