What is gross pay vs net pay?
Gross pay is your total earnings before any deductions — your salary, or your hourly wage multiplied by hours worked. Net pay (take-home pay) is what actually reaches your bank account after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state income tax, and pre-tax deductions are removed. The gap between the two typically runs 20–30% of your paycheck.
How to calculate gross to net pay in 4 steps
- Start with gross pay — your salary, or hourly wage × hours × 52 weeks.
- Subtract pre-tax deductions — traditional 401(k) and health premiums reduce taxable wages.
- Apply the standard deduction and federal brackets — 2026 standard deduction is $16,100 (single), $32,200 (married), $24,150 (head of household).
- Deduct FICA and state tax — 6.2% Social Security (up to $184,500 in wages), 1.45% Medicare, plus your state's income tax.
2026 federal income tax brackets
| Tax Rate | Single | Married Filing Jointly | Head of Household |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $12,400 | $0 – $24,800 | $0 – $17,700 |
| 12% | $12,401 – $50,400 | $24,801 – $100,800 | $17,701 – $67,450 |
| 22% | $50,401 – $105,700 | $100,801 – $211,400 | $67,451 – $105,700 |
| 24% | $105,701 – $201,775 | $211,401 – $403,550 | $105,701 – $201,775 |
| 32% | $201,776 – $256,225 | $403,551 – $512,450 | $201,776 – $256,200 |
| 35% | $256,226 – $640,600 | $512,451 – $768,700 | $256,201 – $640,600 |
| 37% | $640,601+ | $768,701+ | $640,601+ |
Source: IRS tax year 2026 inflation adjustments (Rev. Proc. published October 2025).
2026 standard deduction & FICA rates
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Standard deduction — Single | $16,100 |
| Standard deduction — Married Filing Jointly | $32,200 |
| Standard deduction — Head of Household | $24,150 |
| Social Security (employee) | 6.2% up to $184,500 of wages |
| Medicare (employee) | 1.45% on all wages, +0.9% above $200K |
Take-home pay by state — most searched
Run your salary through any state instantly: California · Texas · New York · Florida · Washington · Ohio · Pennsylvania · Illinois
Compare take-home pay between two states
Deciding between a job in Austin and one in Denver? Pick both states above and see the exact annual difference in take-home pay at your salary. A $75,000 offer nets roughly $61,600 in Texas but about $57,900 in California — same salary, $3,700 apart.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between gross pay and net pay?
Gross pay is your total earnings before deductions. Net pay is what remains after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state income tax, and pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions. Gross is the offer letter number; net is the bank deposit number.
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.
How much is taken out of my paycheck for taxes?
Typical total withholding runs 20–30% of gross pay: federal income tax by bracket, 6.2% Social Security up to the $184,500 wage cap, 1.45% Medicare, plus state income tax where applicable. Nine states take no wage income tax at all.
What are the 2026 federal tax brackets?
Seven rates from 10% to 37%, shown in the table above. The top 37% rate applies above $640,600 (single) or $768,700 (married filing jointly).
What is the 2026 standard deduction?
$16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married filing jointly, $24,150 for head of household — per the IRS tax year 2026 inflation adjustments.
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 contain three paydays.
Is this calculator accurate? Is it really free?
It uses official 2026 federal brackets and standard deductions, with exact state rates where marked. Completely free, no signup, nothing stored — the math runs entirely in your browser. See our methodology page for full detail.