US paycheck calculator
Paycheck Calculator
Estimate your take-home pay after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, estimated state income tax, retirement contributions and common payroll deductions. This free paycheck calculator is designed for educational planning and quick paycheck comparisons.
Estimate your paycheck before you make a money decision
A salary offer, raise or new job can look different after payroll taxes and deductions. Use this calculator to compare gross pay, estimated net pay, monthly take-home pay and common payroll items in one place.
Enter your annual salary, filing status, pay frequency, estimated state tax rate, retirement contribution and deductions. The result shows an educational estimate of what may be left per paycheck and per year.
Paycheck estimate breakdown
This breakdown shows how the calculator moves from gross salary to estimated take-home pay using your current inputs. The numbers are simplified and should be treated as planning estimates.
| Item | Estimated annual amount | Estimated per paycheck |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $75,000.00 | $2,884.62 |
| Federal income tax estimate | $5,987.00 | $230.27 |
| Social Security estimate | $4,650.00 | $178.85 |
| Medicare estimate | $1,087.50 | $41.83 |
| State income tax estimate | $2,694.00 | $103.62 |
| Retirement contribution | $3,750.00 | $144.23 |
| Pre-tax deductions | $3,900.00 | $150.00 |
| Post-tax deductions | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Additional withholding | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Estimated take-home pay | $52,931.50 | $2,035.83 |
How this paycheck calculator works
This calculator starts with your annual gross salary and divides it by the selected pay frequency to estimate gross pay per paycheck. It then subtracts simplified estimates for payroll taxes, retirement contributions and deductions.
What the calculator includes
- Estimated federal income tax using simplified assumptions
- Social Security employee tax estimate
- Medicare employee tax estimate
- Estimated state income tax based on the percentage you enter
- 401(k) or retirement contribution percentage
- Pre-tax deductions entered per paycheck
- Post-tax deductions entered per paycheck
- Additional withholding entered per paycheck
What the calculator does not fully include
Real payroll can be more detailed than a simplified calculator. This tool does not fully model every IRS withholding table, W-4 choice, tax credit, local payroll tax, benefit rule, employer-specific deduction, bonus calculation or state-specific payroll rule.
Example paycheck estimate
Suppose someone earns $75,000 per year, is paid biweekly, contributes 5% to retirement, has $150 in pre-tax deductions per paycheck and enters a 4% estimated state income tax rate. The calculator estimates gross pay per paycheck, subtracts simplified federal, payroll and state taxes, then shows an estimated net paycheck and annual take-home pay.
Why pay frequency matters
A $75,000 salary has the same annual gross pay whether paid weekly, biweekly, semimonthly or monthly. But each paycheck amount changes because the salary is divided across a different number of pay periods.
Why pre-tax and post-tax deductions are different
Pre-tax deductions may reduce taxable income before some taxes are estimated. Post-tax deductions are subtracted after tax estimates. This is why two workers with the same salary can have different take-home pay.
Social Security and Medicare assumptions
The calculator estimates employee Social Security at 6.2% up to the 2026 wage base and Medicare at 1.45% of wages. It does not model every possible additional Medicare tax scenario or employer-side tax.
Important note
This calculator provides a simplified educational estimate. Actual payroll results may vary depending on federal tax brackets, standard deductions, credits, local taxes, W-4 settings, benefit deductions, retirement plans, wage limits and other payroll details.
Frequently asked questions
Is this paycheck calculator exact?
No. It is an educational estimate. Your employer, payroll provider or tax professional may calculate a different number based on your actual withholding, benefits, deductions and tax situation.
Why does my real paycheck differ from the calculator?
Your real paycheck may include health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, HSA or FSA contributions, local taxes, garnishments, union dues, bonuses, overtime, reimbursements, commissions or other payroll items not fully modeled here.
Should I use gross pay or net pay for budgeting?
For monthly budgeting, net pay is usually more useful because it is closer to the amount actually deposited into your bank account. Gross pay is still useful for comparing job offers, salaries and tax-related assumptions.
Does this calculator replace tax advice?
No. It is not tax, legal, payroll, financial or investment advice. For important decisions, verify your numbers with a qualified professional or official source.