Paycheck Calculator

About this calculator

A free U.S. take-home-pay calculator for the 2026 tax year. It turns gross pay into an estimated net paycheck by applying 2026 federal income tax brackets, the 6.2% Social Security tax up to the $184,500 wage base, the 1.45% Medicare tax (plus the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax over the threshold), and optional state income tax. Every rate is sourced from the IRS and SSA and dated. This is an estimate, not tax advice, and it runs entirely in your browser.

What the calculator includes

Starting from your gross pay, the calculator applies the 2026 federal income tax brackets to your income after the federal standard deduction, for either the single or married-filing-jointly status. On top of that it adds the two federal payroll taxes: Social Security at 6.2% up to the $184,500 wage base, and Medicare at 1.45% on all wages plus the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax once earnings pass the threshold.

Where a state is supported, an optional state income tax line is layered on as well. The result is an estimated net paycheck — gross pay minus federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and any state tax — framed as a 2026 estimate to help you plan, not as tax advice.

Why it can differ from your actual paycheck

This is a deliberately simplified model. It uses the federal standard deduction and does not account for itemized deductions, tax credits, dependents, local city or county taxes, or pre-tax health premiums — any of which can move your real withholding up or down. Filing statuses beyond single and married-filing-jointly are not modeled either.

One subtlety worth knowing: pre-tax retirement contributions, such as a traditional 401(k), lower the income on which federal income tax is figured, but they do not reduce Social Security and Medicare — those are charged on your full wages. Treat the output as a close estimate of take-home pay, not the exact figure your employer withholds.

Where the numbers come from

Every rate and threshold is sourced and dated so the estimate stays honest. The 2026 federal income tax brackets and the standard deduction come from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32. The Social Security wage base of $184,500, along with the 6.2% and 1.45% payroll rates and the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax, follow the SSA and IRS figures for 2026.

Because tax rules change year to year, these figures are specific to the 2026 tax year. The calculator is an estimate, not tax advice; for a binding figure, check your pay stub or consult a tax professional who can account for your full situation.

By variant

• 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

Questions

Is the paycheck calculator free and private?

Yes. It is free, needs no account, and calculates entirely in your browser — your pay figures are never uploaded or stored.

What does the calculator include?

It estimates 2026 federal income tax (single or married-filing-jointly brackets after the standard deduction), Social Security at 6.2% up to the $184,500 wage base, Medicare at 1.45% plus the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax over the threshold, and state income tax for the supported states.

Why might the estimate differ from my actual paycheck?

The calculator uses the federal standard deduction and does not model itemized deductions, tax credits, dependents, local city taxes, or pre-tax health premiums. Pre-tax retirement contributions reduce income tax but not Social Security and Medicare. Treat the result as a close estimate, not the exact figure your employer withholds.

Which tax year does it use?

The 2026 tax year. Federal brackets and the standard deduction come from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, and the Social Security wage base is the SSA 2026 figure of $184,500.