How is take-home pay calculated?

Take-home pay = Gross pay − Federal income tax − State income tax − Social Security (6.2%) − Medicare (1.45%) − pre-tax deductions like 401(k) and health insurance. Federal tax uses progressive brackets applied to income after the standard deduction.

What is FICA on my paycheck?

FICA is Social Security (6.2% on wages up to the annual wage base) plus Medicare (1.45% on all wages, plus 0.9% additional on wages above $200,000). Your employer pays a matching amount.

Do 401(k) contributions reduce my taxes?

Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce your federal and state taxable income (but not FICA wages). Contributing 10% of a $80,000 salary saves roughly $1,760/year in federal tax at the 22% bracket.

Paycheck Calculator — US Take-Home Pay

Q: Which states have no income tax?

Nine states have no wage income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Employees in these states only pay federal taxes and FICA.

See exactly what lands in your bank account after federal income tax, state tax, Social Security, Medicare, and 401(k) deductions. Covers all 50 states and every pay frequency. Pre-loaded with an example — try it now!

🚀 Quick Start Examples

Annual Gross Salary ($)

Filing Status

State

Pay Frequency

401(k) Contribution (% of salary)

Health Insurance Premium ($/month, pre-tax)

Uses 2025 federal tax brackets, standard deduction, and FICA limits. State taxes use effective flat approximations of each state's schedule — actual withholding may vary slightly.

How Your Paycheck Is Calculated

Your gross salary shrinks through four layers before reaching your bank account:

Pre-tax deductions — traditional 401(k) and most health premiums come out first, lowering your taxable income (but not FICA wages for 401(k)).
Federal income tax — progressive brackets (10% to 37%) applied to income after the standard deduction ($15,000 single / $30,000 married for 2025).
FICA — Social Security at 6.2% (up to the $176,100 wage base) and Medicare at 1.45% (plus 0.9% over $200,000).
State income tax — from 0% in nine states to over 10% top rates in California.

The 22% bracket myth: Being "in the 22% bracket" doesn't mean you pay 22% on everything — only on income above the bracket threshold. Most $75,000 single earners have an effective federal rate near 12%, not 22%.

Boost your take-home legally: Increase 401(k) contributions (cuts federal + state tax), use pre-tax health/FSA/HSA options, and review your W-4 if you get large refunds — a big refund means you gave the IRS an interest-free loan all year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my actual paycheck different from this estimate?

Employer withholding uses IRS Publication 15-T tables and your W-4 entries, which can differ from the annualized calculation here. Local city taxes, disability insurance (CA SDI, NJ), and post-tax deductions also affect the final number.

Which states take the least from my paycheck?

Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming have no wage income tax. Moving from California to Texas saves a $120,000 earner roughly $7,000–8,000 per year in state tax.

How much should I contribute to my 401(k)?

At minimum, contribute enough to get your full employer match — it's an instant 50–100% return. A common target is 10–15% of gross salary including match. Use this calculator to see the real paycheck impact: a 10% contribution usually reduces take-home by only 7–8% thanks to tax savings.

What is the extra Medicare tax?

Wages above $200,000 (single) incur an additional 0.9% Medicare tax on the excess, withheld automatically by employers. There is no wage cap on regular Medicare tax.