How your take-home pay is calculated
This calculator starts with your gross pay and subtracts each thing that comes out before the money reaches your bank account, using the 2026 federal tax rules:
- 401(k) contribution. Traditional 401(k) savings come out first, before income tax.
- Federal income tax. Your pay minus 401(k) and the standard deduction is taxed in brackets from 10% to 37%.
- Social Security. 6.2% of wages up to $184,500 in 2026.
- Medicare. 1.45% of all wages, plus 0.9% on wages above $200,000 ($250,000 for married couples filing jointly).
- State income tax. Your state's 2026 brackets, standard deduction, exemptions and credits, plus any state payroll tax such as California's SDI. Choose "Other" to enter a flat rate instead.
- Local income tax. If your city or county charges one, enter its rate.
2026 federal income tax brackets
| Rate | Single | Married filing jointly | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $12,400 | $0 – $24,800 | $0 – $17,700 |
| 12% | $12,400 – $50,400 | $24,800 – $100,800 | $17,700 – $67,450 |
| 22% | $50,400 – $105,700 | $100,800 – $211,400 | $67,450 – $105,700 |
| 24% | $105,700 – $201,775 | $211,400 – $403,550 | $105,700 – $201,750 |
| 32% | $201,775 – $256,225 | $403,550 – $512,450 | $201,750 – $256,200 |
| 35% | $256,225 – $640,600 | $512,450 – $768,700 | $256,200 – $640,600 |
| 37% | Over $640,600 | Over $768,700 | Over $640,600 |
The brackets apply to taxable income, after the standard deduction of $16,100 (single), $32,200 (married filing jointly) or $24,150 (head of household).
Moving into a higher bracket doesn't shrink your paycheck
Only the income inside each bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate. A raise that pushes you from the 12% into the 22% bracket means the extra dollars are taxed at 22%; everything below stays taxed as before. That's why your effective tax rate (total tax ÷ pay) is always well below your bracket.
Example
A single person earning $75,000 who saves 5% in a 401(k) and lives in a state with a 4% income tax takes home about $2,147 every two weeks, or roughly $55,800 a year. Federal income tax is about $6,845, Social Security and Medicare together about $5,740, and state tax about $2,850.
What's not included
Tax credits (such as the Child Tax Credit), dependents, itemized deductions, and other payroll deductions like health insurance or HSA contributions aren't included. State estimates use each state's main rules; some phase-outs for high earners and smaller paid-leave payroll deductions are simplified. Your actual withholding also depends on the W-4 you gave your employer.
Salary after tax by state
Pick your state for its tax brackets, a take-home table at common salaries, and notes on local taxes.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming