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Paycheck Calculator

Enter your gross pay, how often you are paid and your filing status to estimate your take-home pay.

Enter your values

Enter 0 for states with no income tax. State rules vary, so this is a flat estimate.

Result

Take-home pay per paycheck
$2,092.60
Federal income tax
$216.15
Social Security (6.2%)
$155.00
Medicare
$36.25
State income tax (estimate)
$0.00
Retirement contribution
$0.00
Take-home pay per year
$54,408
Total tax rate
16.3%
  • 2026 federal tax with the standard deduction, plus Social Security and Medicare. Credits, local taxes, health insurance and other deductions are not included, so your real paycheck will differ.

How to use Paycheck Calculator

  1. Enter your gross pay for one paycheck.
  2. Choose how often you are paid and your filing status.
  3. Add any retirement contribution and an estimated state tax rate.
  4. Read your estimated take-home pay and what was withheld.

About this tool

A paycheck is your gross pay minus federal income tax, Social Security (6.2% up to $184,500 of wages in 2026), Medicare (1.45%, plus 0.9% on high earners) and state tax where it applies. Pre-tax retirement contributions lower the income tax but not Social Security or Medicare.

This estimate annualizes your pay, applies the 2026 federal brackets and the standard deduction, and uses the flat state rate you enter. Credits, local taxes, health insurance and other deductions are not included, so your real paycheck will differ a little.

How it is calculated

Federal tax from the 2026 brackets on (annual pay − pre-tax contributions − standard deduction).

Social Security = 6.2% of pay up to $184,500. Medicare = 1.45% of pay.

Take-home = pay − pre-tax contribution − federal tax − Social Security − Medicare − state tax.

Worked examples

  • $2,500 every two weeks (single, no state tax): about $2,092.60 per paycheck.
  • That is $216.15 federal tax, $155.00 Social Security and $36.25 Medicare per paycheck.

Tips for better results

  • Enter your state rate to include state tax; use 0 for states with no income tax.
  • For an hourly wage, multiply the rate by the hours in a paycheck.
  • Use the federal income tax calculator for a bracket breakdown.

Frequently asked questions

How is take-home pay calculated?

Subtract federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and any state tax, plus pre-tax deductions, from your gross pay.

What is the Social Security wage base for 2026?

$184,500. Social Security tax of 6.2% applies only to wages up to that amount.

Why does my real paycheck differ?

Employers withhold using your W-4 and may also deduct health insurance, local taxes or benefits that are not in this estimate.

Are my numbers saved or sent anywhere?

No. The calculation runs in your browser on your own device. Nothing you type is sent to Paul Digital or any other server.

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Privacy

The calculation runs in your browser on your own device. The numbers you type are not sent to Paul Digital or any other server. Results are estimates from the numbers you enter and are not financial, tax or legal advice.