Enter your salary or hourly wage to see what you take home each payday in 2026, after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and your state’s income tax. The calculator covers all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and uses the 2026 tax brackets published by the IRS and state revenue departments.
Your take-home pay
| Item | Per paycheck | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Take-home pay |
Estimate for the 2026 tax year, for planning only. Your employer’s withholding and your final tax bill can differ. See what this calculator includes below.
How your take-home pay is calculated
Your take-home pay is your gross pay minus taxes and any deductions you choose, such as 401(k) contributions or health insurance. The calculator works out each item for the full year, then divides by the number of paychecks you get.
- Pre-tax deductions come out first. 401(k) and 403(b) contributions lower your federal and state taxable income but not your Social Security and Medicare wages. Pre-tax health insurance and other Section 125 deductions lower all three.
- Federal income tax is figured on your income after pre-tax deductions and the 2026 standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly), using the 2026 brackets below. The Child Tax Credit of up to $2,200 per child under 17 is then subtracted.
- Social Security takes 6.2% of wages up to $184,500 in 2026. Medicare takes 1.45% of all wages, plus 0.9% on wages above $200,000 ($250,000 for married couples filing jointly).
- State income tax uses your state’s 2026 brackets, standard deduction and personal exemptions. Nine states do not tax wages at all.
- Local income tax is added only if you enter a rate, because it depends on the city or county where you live or work.
2026 federal income tax brackets
These rates apply to taxable income, which is your income after pre-tax deductions and the standard deduction. Each rate applies only to the income inside its bracket.
| Rate | Single | Married filing jointly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 to $12,400 | $0 to $24,800 |
| 12% | $12,401 to $50,400 | $24,801 to $100,800 |
| 22% | $50,401 to $105,700 | $100,801 to $211,400 |
| 24% | $105,701 to $201,775 | $211,401 to $403,550 |
| 32% | $201,776 to $256,225 | $403,551 to $512,450 |
| 35% | $256,226 to $640,600 | $512,451 to $768,700 |
| 37% | Over $640,600 | Over $768,700 |
Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, as reported by the Journal of Accountancy.
2026 payroll taxes (FICA)
| Tax | Employee rate | Wage limit |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security | 6.2% | First $184,500 of wages (maximum $11,439) |
| Medicare | 1.45% | No limit |
| Additional Medicare | 0.9% | Wages above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly) |
Source: Social Security Administration 2026 figures, as reported by The Tax Adviser.
States with no income tax on wages
Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming do not tax wages. Washington taxes only certain capital gains, and New Hampshire has repealed its tax on interest and dividends. In these states your paycheck is reduced only by federal taxes and any deductions you choose. See how all states compare in our guide to income tax by state.
What this calculator includes and leaves out
The calculator estimates your 2026 tax liability and spreads it evenly across your paychecks. Your employer’s withholding follows your Form W-4 and IRS withholding tables, so your actual paychecks can differ somewhat.
Included:
- 2026 federal brackets, standard deduction and Child Tax Credit (with its phase-out above $200,000 single or $400,000 joint)
- Social Security, Medicare and Additional Medicare tax
- 2026 income tax brackets, standard deductions and personal exemptions for all 50 states and D.C.
- State rules that noticeably change the result for typical earners: Wisconsin’s standard deduction phase-out, Connecticut’s and Maryland’s exemption phase-outs, Ohio’s income-based exemption, Utah’s taxpayer credit, Vermont’s minimum tax on high incomes, and the federal income tax deductions allowed in Alabama, Missouri and Oregon
- California State Disability Insurance (SDI) at 1.3% of wages
- Pennsylvania’s rule that 401(k) contributions are not deductible from state income
Not included:
- Head of household and married filing separately status
- Itemized deductions, tax credits other than the Child Tax Credit, and other income such as interest or self-employment income
- Paid family leave and disability payroll contributions in states other than California (for example New York, New Jersey, Washington and Massachusetts)
- Connecticut’s personal tax credit and high-income phase-outs, and the “tax benefit recapture” that New York and Connecticut apply to higher earners
- Local income taxes, unless you enter a rate
- Bonuses and supplemental pay, which employers may withhold at a flat rate
Frequently asked questions
How much of my paycheck goes to taxes?
For a single worker earning $60,000 in a state with no income tax, federal income tax and FICA take about $9,610 a year, or 16% of gross pay. In a state with an income tax, add roughly 2% to 5% more. Use the calculator above for your own figures.
Do 401(k) contributions lower my taxes?
Yes, for income tax. Traditional 401(k) and 403(b) contributions reduce your federal taxable income and, in every state except Pennsylvania, your state taxable income. They do not reduce Social Security or Medicare tax.
Why is my actual paycheck different from this estimate?
Employers withhold using your Form W-4 and the IRS withholding tables, which approximate your annual tax rather than match it exactly. Benefits, wage garnishments, local taxes and state payroll programs can also change your net pay.
Does the calculator save my information?
No. The figures you enter are calculated in your browser and are not stored or sent to our servers.
Last updated: November 5, 2026. Figures apply to the 2026 tax year.
Sources
- Journal of Accountancy: 2026 inflation adjustments (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32)
- The Tax Adviser: 2026 Social Security wage base
- Kiplinger: 2026 Child Tax Credit
- Tax Foundation: State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026
- Alabama Department of Revenue: standard deduction chart
- Utah State Tax Commission: taxpayer tax credit
- Missouri Revised Statutes § 143.171: federal income tax deduction
- Oregon 2026 federal tax subtraction limits (withholding tables)
- CalChamber: 2026 California SDI rate