Paycheck Calculator

What do you actually take home after tax? Put in your pay, pick your state, and this paycheck calculator works it out for 2026 — federal withholding, Social Security, Medicare, state tax, your 401(k) and health cover, all shown line by line.

Example filled in: $60,000 a year, single, in Texas. Change any number below to run your own pay.

Your pay

Pay type Choose whether you are paid a yearly salary or an hourly wage. Annual salary ($) Annual salary, in dollars ($) — your pay before tax. Hourly wage ($) Hourly wage, in dollars ($) per hour — only used if you picked hourly wage above. Hours per week Hours you work each week — usually 40.

Tax details

Filing status How you file your federal tax — it sets your standard deduction. State The state where you work — it sets your state tax. Pay frequency How often you get paid — it sets how many paychecks a year you get.

Deductions

401(k) % Percent (%) of each paycheck that goes to your 401(k). Health premium per pay period ($) Health premium, in dollars ($) per pay period — taken out before tax.

How to use this calculator

Enter your gross pay.
Choose filing status, state, and pay frequency.
Add pre-tax deductions (401(k) and health).
The take home pay calculator subtracts federal withholding, FICA, and state tax, then shows take-home pay per period and per year.

Formula

Taxable income = gross pay − 401(k) − health premiums − standard deduction ($16,100 single / $32,200 married filing jointly in 2026). Federal tax is calculated from simplified 2026 brackets. FICA = 6.2% Social Security on wages up to $184,500 + 1.45% Medicare (+0.9% over $200,000). Health premiums are exempt from FICA; 401(k) contributions are not.

Worked example — $60,000 in Texas

$60,000 salary, single, biweekly, 5% 401(k), $120 health per period, Texas (no state income tax): gross $2,307.69 − federal $164.83 − FICA $167.36 − 401(k) $115.38 − health $120.00 = $1,740.12 take-home per pay period ($45,243.12 per year). Verified in this net pay calculator.

Want the same check for California? The California numbers are $1,657.66 a period, after $52.46 of estimated CA state tax and $30.00 of CA disability insurance (SDI). Open this paycheck calculator with California picked and you will see it.

Frequently asked questions

Is this exact?

No — it is an estimate using simplified 2026 tables. Your employer uses IRS Publication 15-T and your W-4, so your real paycheck can be a little different.

Why is Texas take-home higher?

Texas has no state income tax, so state tax is $0 in this example. In California, the same $60,000 costs $52.46 a period in state tax plus $30.00 in disability insurance (SDI), using the 2026 FTB brackets.

Does 401(k) lower my tax?

Yes, for federal income tax. It does not lower Social Security or Medicare tax.

How much will I take home on $60,000?

It depends on your state. On $60,000 a year, single, paid every two weeks, with 5% going to a 401(k) and $120 a paycheck for health cover, take-home pay is $1,740.12 a paycheck in Texas, where there is no state income tax, and $1,657.66 in California. Put in your own state above to see your number.

How do I calculate my paycheck after tax?

Enter your gross pay, filing status, state and pay frequency above, then add your 401(k) and health cover. The calculator does the rest — federal withholding, FICA and state tax — and shows your take-home pay. That is the simplest way to calculate my paycheck after tax.

Sources and 2026 figures. IRS Publication 15-T; IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32. Standard deduction 2026: $16,100 single / $32,200 married filing jointly. Social Security wage base 2026: $184,500. Social Security 6.2%, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% over $200,000). Results are estimates, not tax advice.

Estimate, not tax advice. This calculator uses simplified 2026 tables for illustration. Verify your withholding with IRS Publication 15-T and a tax professional.