paycheckafter what your paycheck is really worth

See your real paycheck, after every tax.

Enter your pay and deductions. We stack federal, FICA, state and local taxes exactly the way payroll does — updated for the 2026 tax year.

Your pay

The reliable test: your pay stub shows no Social Security tax withheld. This turns off the 6.2% Social Security tax; Medicare (1.45%) usually still applies. Enter your pension contribution in the 401(k)/pension field below.

Deductions

Pre-tax ›

Taken out before taxes — lowers what you owe. Enter the amount per year.

After-tax ›

Taken from your net pay — doesn't change your taxes. Per year.

Custom line items ›

Local / city tax

Most areas are 0%. Not sure? NYC ≈ 3.1–3.9%, Philadelphia ≈ 3.75%, many Ohio & Michigan cities ≈ 1–2.5%.

Paycheck withholding · optional

By default this tool shows what you'll actually owe for the year. Turn this on to instead estimate what your employer withholds each paycheck — which is usually higher — using your W-4.

Annual take-home
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—kept

If you lived elsewhere

Same gross & deductions, different state income tax.

Paycheck calculators by state

Take-home pay by salary

Take-home pay by hourly wage

How your paycheck is taxed

Your gross pay is reduced by several taxes before it reaches your bank account: federal income tax, Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%), any state income tax, and local taxes where they apply. Pre-tax deductions like a 401(k) or health premium lower your taxable income, while after-tax items like union dues come out of what's left. This calculator stacks all of them the way payroll does, using current 2026 figures, so you can see your true take-home pay.

Frequently asked questions

What taxes come out of my paycheck?

Every U.S. paycheck is reduced by federal income tax, Social Security (6.2%), and Medicare (1.45%). Most states also withhold a state income tax, and some cities add a local tax. This tool accounts for all of them.

What's the difference between gross pay and take-home pay?

Gross pay is your salary before any deductions. Take-home (net) pay is what actually lands in your account after federal, state, FICA, and local taxes plus any payroll deductions. The gap is commonly 20–35% of gross.

Is this calculator up to date for 2026?

Yes. It uses the 2026 federal tax brackets, the 2026 Social Security wage base, and each state's latest official rates. It estimates the tax you'll actually owe, and an optional withholding mode estimates what your employer takes out of each paycheck.