Calculator · Tax year 2026
Take-home pay calculator
Enter a gross salary to see federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and state tax — then what actually lands in your account each pay period.
Your pay
2026 ratesInputs stay in your browser. The link updates as you type so you can bookmark or share a scenario.
Take-home pay
$0 per biweekly paycheck
Annual take-home: $0
- Take-home
- Federal
- FICA
- State
- 401(k)
Federal income tax, FICA and a state estimate. 401(k) is pre-tax, so it lowers income tax but not FICA.
Updated for tax year 2026
Deduction breakdown
| Line item | Amount |
|---|
How this calculator works
The calculator applies the 2026 federal marginal rates to your taxable income, not your gross salary. Taxable income is gross pay minus any pre-tax 401(k) contribution, minus the standard deduction for your filing status. Each slice of income is then taxed at its own rate, which is why your effective rate is always lower than your top bracket.
On top of income tax, payroll taxes are withheld at fixed rates. Social Security is 6.2% of wages up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500; Medicare is 1.45% of all wages, with an additional 0.9% above $200,000 for single filers ($250,000 married filing jointly, $125,000 married filing separately).
2026 standard deduction
| Filing status | Standard deduction |
|---|---|
| Single / married filing separately | $16,100 |
| Married filing jointly | $32,200 |
| Head of household | $24,150 |
2026 federal brackets, single filer
| Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $12,400 | 10% |
| $12,400 – $50,400 | 12% |
| $50,400 – $105,700 | 22% |
| $105,700 – $201,775 | 24% |
| $201,775 – $256,225 | 32% |
| $256,225 – $640,600 | 35% |
| Over $640,600 | 37% |
2026 federal brackets, married filing jointly
| Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $24,800 | 10% |
| $24,800 – $100,800 | 12% |
| $100,800 – $211,400 | 22% |
| $211,400 – $403,550 | 24% |
| $403,550 – $512,450 | 32% |
| $512,450 – $768,700 | 35% |
| Over $768,700 | 37% |
What this estimate leaves out
- State brackets. California, New York and Texas use their published 2026 schedules, including California SDI and the small New York disability and paid-leave premiums. The other 48 jurisdictions use a single editable effective rate, which runs low for steeply progressive states like Minnesota, Oregon and New Jersey. The full list is in the state rate reference.
- Itemized deductions. Only the standard deduction is applied. If you itemize, taxable income will be lower.
- Credits. Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit and education credits are not modeled.
- New 2026 deductions. Deductions for qualified tips, qualified overtime and the senior deduction are handled through an updated Form W-4 and are not included here.
- Other pre-tax items. Health premiums, HSA contributions and dependent-care accounts reduce taxable wages in practice.
Treat the output as a planning estimate. Your employer's withholding depends on your Form W-4 and can differ meaningfully from the annual figure shown here.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my take-home lower than gross minus income tax?
Because payroll taxes are withheld separately from income tax. Social Security and Medicare together add 7.65% on most wages before any income tax applies, and state withholding sits on top of that.
Does a raise ever reduce my take-home pay?
No. The United States uses marginal brackets, so a raise only pushes the additional dollars into a higher rate. Crossing into the 24% bracket never re-taxes your earlier income at 24%.
Which states have no wage income tax?
Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming do not tax wage income. New Hampshire's tax applied only to interest and dividends and has been phased out.
Is the 401(k) contribution taken out before tax?
Traditional 401(k) contributions are pre-tax: they reduce federal and most state taxable income, but they do not reduce Social Security or Medicare tax. Roth contributions are made after tax and are not modeled here.
Why does the result change when I switch pay frequency?
It shouldn't — switching frequency only divides the same annual result by 12, 24, 26 or 52. If the per-check number looks different from a previous employer's pay stub, the gap is usually a different state rate, a local tax, or additional pre-tax benefits.
Sources
- IRS Publication 15 (2026), Circular E — Employer's Tax Guide
- IRS, Working Families Tax Cuts: 2026 inflation adjustments
- Social Security Administration, Contribution and Benefit Base (2026)
- IRS Topic no. 751 — Social Security and Medicare withholding rates
- Congressional Research Service RL34498 — Federal tax brackets 1988–2026
This page is educational and is not tax, legal or financial advice. Verify figures with the IRS or a qualified tax professional before making decisions.
Not sure why the number is what it is? The bracket guide walks through one salary line by line. Read the guide