Paycheck Calculator

Gross → net per pay period · state-by-state withholding
$
Bi-weekly → 26 checks/year
$
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Net take-home per paycheck
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Gross per paycheck
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Federal income tax
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State income tax
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Social Security (6.2%)
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Medicare (1.45%)
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Effective total tax rate

Raise your W-4 if the refund is too big

A large tax refund is an interest-free loan to the IRS. Refining your W-4 puts that money in your paycheck all year — where it can earn return instead.

Related tools

What's pulled from your paycheck, in order

  1. Pre-tax deferrals come out first: 401(k) plan contribution, then HSA/FSA, then pre-tax insurance premiums. These shrink taxes below.
  2. Social Security — 6.2% on wages up to the $176,100 wage base (2025). Over-the-base? No SS from that dollar on.
  3. Medicare — 1.45% on all earnings, plus 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax on earnings over $200k single / $250k married.
  4. Federal income tax computed with 2025 progressive brackets and the $15,000 single / $30,000 married standard deduction, minus child/dependent tax credits at $2,000 each.
  5. State income tax using each state's progressive system (or flat rate where they have one). Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire*, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming have no wage income tax. (* NH taxes interest/dividends only.)
This is an estimate for a W-2 employee withholding scenario only — self-employment taxes, local city/county taxes (Detroit, Philadelphia, NYC, more than a dozen CO municipalities), FICA on equity comp, supplemental wage withholding and one-off bonus checks all move the number in real life. Your actual paystub is the source of truth.

Frequently asked questions