How this paycheck calculator works
We start with your gross pay — salary or hourly — then subtract each layer the government takes: federal income tax using the official 2026 IRS brackets, Social Security at 6.2% up to the $184,500 wage cap, Medicare at 1.45% plus the extra 0.9% surtax on high earners, and your state's income tax if it has one. Pre-tax deductions like a traditional 401(k) or health premiums come out before income taxes are applied, so contributing more to your 401(k) genuinely lowers your taxable income.
Compare take-home pay between two states
Deciding between a job in Austin and one in Denver? Pick both states above and we'll show you the exact annual difference in take-home pay at your salary — taxes included, not just cost-of-living hand-waving. A $75,000 offer nets roughly $61,600 in Texas but about $57,900 in California: same money, $3,700 apart.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my take-home pay from my salary?
Subtract pre-tax deductions from gross pay, apply the standard deduction, run what's left through federal brackets, then deduct FICA (6.2% Social Security + 1.45% Medicare) and any state income tax. Or just use the calculator above — it does every step instantly.
Do all states have income tax?
No. Nine states levy no wage income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Moving a $75K salary from California to one of these is worth roughly $3,700/year.
Does getting paid bi-weekly change how much tax I owe?
No — annual tax liability stays identical. Only the size of each check changes. Bi-weekly workers get 26 checks a year, meaning two months out of the year contain three paydays.
Is this calculator accurate?
It uses official 2026 federal brackets and standard deductions ($16,100 single / $32,200 married / $24,150 head of household). State figures are exact where marked; some states show estimates pending full bracket data. Your actual paycheck may differ slightly due to local taxes, W-4 elections beyond filing status, and employer-specific deductions.