Take-Home Pay Calculator
Convert your gross salary or hourly wage into accurate net take-home paycheck earnings after federal taxes, FICA, state withholdings, and 401(k) deductions.
How Your Net Paycheck is Calculated
Calculating take-home pay requires a multi-tiered sequence of statutory tax reductions and pre-tax benefit subtractions from your gross wage:
For deeper analysis and related planning, you can also explore our EMI Calculator and Simple Interest Calculator.
Total Taxes = Federal Income Tax + FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%) + State Tax
Net Take-Home Pay = Gross Salary - Pre-Tax Deductions - Total Taxes
Standard US Federal Income Tax Brackets (Single Filer)
| Marginal Rate | Taxable Bracket (Single) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $0 to $11,600 |
| 12% | $11,601 to $47,150 |
| 22% | $47,151 to $100,525 |
| 24% | $100,526 to $191,950 |
| 32% | $191,951 to $243,725 |
| 35% | $243,726 to $609,350 |
| 37% | Over $609,350 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between gross pay and net take-home pay?
Gross pay is the total compensation agreed upon with your employer before any withholdings. Net take-home pay is the actual dollar amount deposited into your bank account after mandatory taxes (Federal, State, FICA) and voluntary pre-tax deductions (401k, health insurance).
What are FICA taxes on a paycheck?
FICA comprises Social Security (6.2% on wages up to the annual statutory wage base cap) and Medicare (1.45% on all earnings, plus an additional 0.9% for high earners over $200,000).
How does 401(k) contribution lower my taxes?
Traditional 401(k) contributions are pre-tax dollars subtracted from your gross salary before income taxes are calculated. If you earn $75,000 and contribute 5% ($3,750), your federal and state taxable income drops to $71,250, directly lowering your immediate tax bill.
Why are my first paychecks of the year smaller than late-year paychecks?
Social Security tax (6.2%) only applies up to the statutory wage cap ($168,600). High-income earners stop having Social Security tax withheld once their cumulative year-to-date earnings exceed this cap, resulting in higher net take-home pay later in the year.