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RealPaycheckCalculator

Paycheck Calculator 2026

See exactly what lands in your bank account. Enter your pay, W-4 and state, and we'll show every dollar of federal, state and local tax, Social Security, Medicare and deductions — line by line, like a real pay stub.

Updated Checked against IRS Pub 15-T & state tablesAll 50 states + D.C.Salary & hourlyNo tax on tips & overtime
1 · Your pay
Tips, bonus or commission
2 · Your W-4
Other income, deductions & extra withholding
3 · Where you live & work
4 · Benefits & deductions 401(k), health, HSA
5 · New 2026 W-4 deductions New

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act added federal deductions for 2025–2028. Claim them on Step 4(b) of a 2026 W-4 to get the savings in every paycheck instead of waiting for your refund. They don't reduce Social Security, Medicare or (in most states) state tax.

Take-home$1,938.08per paycheck · See breakdown ↓

How to use this paycheck calculator

  1. Enter your pay. Choose salary or hourly, then pick how often you're paid. Hourly workers can add overtime; tipped workers can add reported tips.
  2. Match your W-4. Pick the filing status from Step 1(c) of your Form W-4, add dependents from Step 3, and tick Step 2 if you have a second job or a working spouse.
  3. Pick your state and city. We apply state income tax, mandatory state programs like California SDI or New York PFL, and city or county taxes such as NYC, Philadelphia or Maryland county tax.
  4. Add benefits. Include 401(k), health insurance and HSA contributions to see how pre-tax deductions shrink your tax bill.
  5. Claim the 2026 deductions. If you earn tips or overtime, or you're 65+, check the new W-4 deductions to see the bigger paycheck.

How your paycheck is calculated

Every paycheck follows the same formula:

Net pay = Gross pay − Pre-tax deductions − Federal income tax − Social Security − Medicare − State & local taxes − After-tax deductions

Here is the math for a single filer earning $60,000 a year in Texas, paid bi-weekly (26 paychecks), with a standard 2026 W-4 and no benefits:

LinePer paycheckPer year
Gross pay$2,307.69$60,000.00
Federal income tax ($60,000 − $16,100 standard deduction, taxed at 10% and 12%)−$193.08−$5,020.00
Social Security (6.2%)−$143.08−$3,720.00
Medicare (1.45%)−$33.46−$870.00
Texas state income tax$0.00$0.00
Take-home pay$1,938.08$50,390.00

That worker keeps 84.0% of gross pay. Move the same job to California and state income tax plus 1.3% SDI cut take-home to $1,845.02 per paycheck. In New York it is $1,825.25.

Step 1: Gross pay

Salaried workers divide annual salary by the number of pay periods: 52 weekly, 26 bi-weekly, 24 semi-monthly or 12 monthly. Hourly workers multiply rate × hours, and overtime over 40 hours a week is paid at 1.5× under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Use our salary to hourly calculator to convert between the two.

Step 2: Pre-tax deductions

Traditional 401(k) and 403(b) deferrals come out before federal income tax. Health, dental and vision premiums, HSA and FSA contributions run through a Section 125 cafeteria plan, so they also skip Social Security and Medicare. This is why a $200 pre-tax deduction usually shrinks your paycheck by only $140–$170.

Step 3: Federal income tax withholding

Employers follow IRS Publication 15-T. Your taxable pay is annualized, the $16,100 standard deduction (single) or $32,200 (married filing jointly) is removed, and the rest runs through the 2026 brackets. Then the W-4 credits come off: $2,200 per child under 17 and $500 per other dependent. If you tick Step 2 for two jobs, the brackets and deduction are cut in half so both jobs together withhold enough.

Step 4: FICA (Social Security and Medicare)

Social Security is 6.2% of wages up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500 (a maximum of $11,439). Medicare is 1.45% of all wages, plus a 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax that your employer must withhold on wages above $200,000. Your employer pays a matching 7.65% that never shows on your stub.

Step 5: State and local taxes

Forty-one states and D.C. tax wages. Some use one flat rate (Illinois 4.95%, Pennsylvania 3.07%, North Carolina 3.99%), others use brackets (California tops out at 13.3%). Several states also take mandatory payroll contributions for disability or paid leave, and cities such as New York City, Philadelphia and Detroit add their own income tax. Pick your state below for a breakdown.

2026 federal income tax brackets

These are the brackets for income earned in 2026 (returns filed in 2027). Withholding uses the same rates.

Single

2026 federal brackets, single
RateTaxable income
10%$0 – $12,400
12%$12,400 – $50,400
22%$50,400 – $105,700
24%$105,700 – $201,775
32%$201,775 – $256,225
35%$256,225 – $640,600
37%Over $640,600

Married filing jointly

2026 federal brackets, married filing jointly
RateTaxable income
10%$0 – $24,800
12%$24,800 – $100,800
22%$100,800 – $211,400
24%$211,400 – $403,550
32%$403,550 – $512,450
35%$512,450 – $768,700
37%Over $768,700

See head of household and married filing separately on the full 2026 tax brackets page.

What's new for 2026 paychecks

  • No tax on tips: deduct up to $25,000 of qualified tips (phases out above $150,000 of income, or $300,000 for joint filers). Estimate your savings.
  • No tax on overtime: deduct the premium half of FLSA overtime, up to $12,500 ($25,000 joint). Run the numbers.
  • Senior deduction: an extra $6,000 per person age 65+, phasing out above $75,000 ($150,000 joint).
  • Car loan interest: deduct up to $10,000 of interest on a new U.S.-assembled vehicle.
  • Bigger standard deduction: $16,100 single, $32,200 joint and $24,150 head of household.
  • Child tax credit: $2,200 per qualifying child, claimed on W-4 Step 3.
  • Social Security wage base: up to $184,500 from $176,100.
  • 401(k) limit: $24,500, plus an $8,000 catch-up at 50+ and $11,250 at ages 60–63.
  • State tax cuts: Georgia (4.99%), Indiana (2.95%), Kentucky (3.5%), North Carolina (3.99%), Ohio (2.75% flat), Oklahoma (4.5% top), Montana and Nebraska all cut rates for 2026.

Take-home pay at common salaries

Single filer, bi-weekly pay, standard 2026 W-4, no pre-tax deductions:

SalaryTexas (no state tax)CaliforniaNew York
$40,000$1,320.00 / $34,320$1,277.59 / $33,217$1,252.04 / $32,553
$50,000$1,629.04 / $42,355$1,564.06 / $40,665$1,538.65 / $40,005
$60,000$1,938.08 / $50,390$1,845.02 / $47,970$1,825.25 / $47,457
$75,000$2,368.94 / $61,593$2,224.73 / $57,843$2,222.47 / $57,784
$100,000$3,045.38 / $79,180$2,800.96 / $72,825$2,841.43 / $73,877
$150,000$4,376.58 / $113,791$3,928.31 / $102,136$4,059.16 / $105,538

Per paycheck / per year. Compare every state at once with the take-home pay by state tool.

6 ways to increase your take-home pay

  1. Update your W-4. If you got a big refund last year, you're over-withholding. Our W-4 calculator shows how each step changes your check.
  2. Claim the 2026 deductions. Tipped and overtime workers can add those deductions on W-4 Step 4(b) and get the savings now instead of at tax time.
  3. Use pre-tax accounts. HSA and FSA dollars skip income tax and FICA, saving 20–40% on medical costs.
  4. Capture the full 401(k) match. It doesn't raise this paycheck, but it's an instant 50–100% return on the money you put in.
  5. Check your state withholding form. Many states have their own certificate (CA DE 4, NY IT-2104, etc.) with separate allowances.
  6. Negotiate with net in mind. Use the raise calculator to see what a raise is worth after tax.

Paycheck calculators by state

Frequently asked questions

How much will my paycheck be after taxes?

It depends on your pay, filing status, state and deductions. As a benchmark, a single filer earning $60,000 a year in Texas (no state income tax) takes home about $1,938.08 every two weeks, or $50,390 a year, in 2026. Enter your own numbers in the calculator above for an exact estimate.

What percentage of my paycheck goes to taxes?

Most U.S. workers lose 15% to 30% of gross pay to taxes. Social Security and Medicare alone take 7.65%. Federal income tax adds roughly 5–15% for middle incomes, and state and local taxes add 0–10% depending on where you live. In the example above, total taxes are 16.0% of gross pay.

Is this paycheck calculator updated for 2026?

Yes. It uses the 2026 IRS brackets and standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly), the 2026 Social Security wage base of $184,500, the $2,200 child tax credit, 2026 state tax tables, and the new One Big Beautiful Bill Act deductions for tips, overtime, seniors and car loan interest.

How is federal income tax withholding calculated?

Employers use the percentage method in IRS Publication 15-T. Your pay is annualized, pre-tax deductions are subtracted, the standard deduction for your filing status is removed, the result runs through the tax brackets, and W-4 credits for dependents are subtracted. The annual figure is then divided by your number of paychecks. This calculator follows the same steps.

Does no tax on tips or overtime show up in my paycheck?

Only if you claim it. The deductions are taken on your tax return, but you can get the benefit in each paycheck by entering them on Step 4(b) of a 2026 Form W-4. Tick the boxes in section 5 of the calculator to see the effect. Social Security and Medicare are still withheld on tips and overtime.

Why is my first paycheck different from what the calculator shows?

Common reasons: a partial pay period, benefits that start after 30–90 days, a one-time bonus taxed at the 22% supplemental rate, an older W-4 on file, or local taxes we don’t know about. If your regular paychecks keep differing by more than a few dollars, compare each line of your pay stub with the breakdown here.

What is the difference between gross pay and net pay?

Gross pay is what you earn before anything is taken out. Net pay (take-home pay) is what lands in your bank account after taxes, retirement contributions, insurance premiums and other deductions.

Do 401(k) contributions lower my taxes?

Traditional 401(k) contributions lower federal and (in most states) state income tax, but not Social Security or Medicare. Every $100 you contribute usually costs you only $70–$85 in take-home pay. Pennsylvania is the main exception — it taxes 401(k) contributions. The 2026 limit is $24,500.

Which states have no income tax on paychecks?

Nine states don’t tax wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. Washington still deducts small amounts for paid leave and long-term care, and Alaska for unemployment insurance.

Is my information saved or shared?

No. Every calculation runs in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to a server or stored. The "Copy link" button only puts your inputs in the URL so you can save or share them.

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