Last updated: October 6, 2026 · 2026 tax year figures
Paycheck Calculator 2026
Federal, FICA & state tax on every paycheck — see exactly what lands in your bank account.
Your pay details
2026 federal brackets (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32), standard deduction, and FICA wage base $184,500. 401(k) cuts income tax but not FICA; HSA/FSA via payroll cuts both. State math uses 2026 rates and standard deductions; personal exemptions, credits, and local taxes excluded. Educational estimate — not tax advice.
Take-home per paycheck
$2,256
$2,885 gross
Annual take-home
$58,652
Total tax
$16,348
21.8% effective rate
Where each paycheck goes
- Federal income tax
- $7,670
- $295/paycheck
- Social Security (6.2%)
- $4,650
- $179/paycheck
- Medicare (1.45% + 0.9% over limit)
- $1,088
- $42/paycheck
- California income tax
- $2,941
- $113/paycheck
- Take-home pay
- $58,652
- $2,256/paycheck
Federal taxable income: $58,900 · marginal bracket 22%
California taxable income: $69,460 · marginal 8.00%
How Take-Home Pay Is Calculated in 2026
Take-home pay is gross pay minus federal income tax, FICA payroll tax, and state income tax. For 2026 the federal standard deduction is $16,100 single ($32,200 joint), brackets run 10%–37%, Social Security takes 6.2% to $184,500, and Medicare takes 1.45% on all wages. Your state then adds anything from 0% (Texas, Florida, and six others) to 13.3% (California).
Two details separate an honest estimate from a misleading one. First, 401(k) money escapes income tax but not FICA — a subtlety many calculators miss, modeled correctly above. Second, state taxes need local context: New York City, Maryland counties, and California disability insurance all sit outside state brackets, so residents there should treat the state line as a floor. Job hunting across state lines? Open two state pages below and compare the same salary side by side.
All 51 Jurisdictions
Every state plus DC, with 2026 rates and deductions.
Private Figures
Salaries compute locally — never uploaded or tracked.
FICA-Correct Math
401(k) vs HSA handled the way payroll actually works.
Paycheck Calculator by State
2026 take-home pay with exact state tax math — pick your work state.
No income tax states (9)
Flat-tax states (15)
Graduated-tax states + DC (27)
Frequently Asked Questions
How is take-home pay calculated?
Gross pay minus three layers: (1) federal income tax from 2026 brackets after the $16,100 single / $32,200 joint standard deduction, (2) FICA — 6.2% Social Security to $184,500 plus 1.45% Medicare on all wages (plus 0.9% over $200k single / $250k joint), and (3) your state income tax. Pre-tax 401(k) and HSA contributions come off before income tax is figured.
Why is my first paycheck smaller than the estimate, or bigger?
Withholding tables annualize each paycheck, so bonuses, overtime, or unpaid weeks shift real withholding. Employers also withhold using your W-4 settings, which may differ from actual liability. This calculator estimates true annual liability divided evenly — use it for planning, and check a late-year pay stub against it.
Does 401(k) reduce Social Security and Medicare tax too?
No — and most calculators get this wrong. 401(k) elective deferrals escape federal (and usually state) income tax but are still FICA wages. HSA and FSA money through payroll escapes both. This calculator models that split correctly.
Which states have no income tax in 2026?
Eight states levy no individual income tax at all: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming. Washington taxes capital gains only — paychecks are untouched. Each has a dedicated page linked below with exact take-home examples.
How accurate is this paycheck calculator?
Federal math uses exact 2026 IRS brackets, standard deductions, and FICA rules. State math uses 2026 rates and standard deductions but skips personal exemptions, credits, and local/city taxes (notably in NY, MD, PA, OH, and CA), so treat state lines as close estimates. Always confirm withholding with your payroll department.
Is my salary data private here?
Completely. Every number computes locally in your browser — no salary, state, or filing status is uploaded, stored, or tracked.
Salary or hourly — which should I enter?
Either. Annual salary divides cleanly by pay frequency; hourly multiplies rate × hours × 52 first. Overtime and second jobs are not modeled — add expected overtime to hours or salary for a planning estimate.
What is the difference between marginal and effective tax rate?
Marginal is the rate on your last dollar (e.g. 22% federal for many earners); effective is total tax ÷ total income, always lower. A single filer at $100,000 of taxable income pays about 16.7% effective federal — the results panel shows both so raises and bonuses read correctly.
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