Net Pay Calculator 2026
Find your net pay, the amount you actually take home, from your gross salary or hourly wage. See how federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state tax and your deductions shrink each paycheck.
Enter your pay
| Per paycheck | Per year |
|---|
Gross pay vs. net pay
Gross pay is what you earn before anything is taken out: your salary, or your hourly wage times your hours. Net pay is what’s left after taxes and deductions, the amount that lands in your bank account.
Net pay = Gross pay − Pre-tax deductions − Taxes − After-tax deductions
What comes out of your paycheck
| Deduction | How it’s figured in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Pre-tax deductions | Traditional 401(k) lowers income tax. Health, dental and FSA/HSA payroll deductions lower income tax, Social Security and Medicare. |
| Federal income tax | 10% to 37% on pay after pre-tax deductions and the standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, $24,150 head of household). |
| Social Security | 6.2% of wages up to $184,500. |
| Medicare | 1.45% of all wages, plus 0.9% on wages over $200,000. |
| State and local tax | 0% in states with no income tax, up to more than 10% for high earners in the highest-tax states. |
| After-tax deductions | Roth 401(k), union dues, garnishments and similar. They don’t lower your taxes. |
Example: $60,000 a year, single, paid biweekly, 5% state tax
- Federal income tax: $60,000 − $16,100 = $43,900 taxable → 10% of $12,400 + 12% of $31,500 = $5,020
- Social Security: 6.2% × $60,000 = $3,720. Medicare: 1.45% × $60,000 = $870
- State tax: 5% × $60,000 = $3,000
- Net pay: $60,000 − $12,610 = $47,390 a year, or $1,822.69 per paycheck
Finding your state and local tax rate
State income taxes work very differently from state to state, so this calculator asks for one effective rate: your expected state and local income tax divided by your pay. Last year’s state return is the easiest place to find it (tax owed ÷ wages). For an exact figure, use a state calculator:
- New Jersey paycheck calculator: includes NJ’s income tax brackets and disability, family leave and unemployment deductions.
- Florida, Tennessee and Texas paycheck calculators: no state income tax.
- All state paycheck calculators
Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming don’t tax wages; enter 0% if you work in one of them. A few states also take disability or family leave contributions from paychecks, which you can add as an after-tax deduction.
Ways to raise your net pay
- Check your W-4. If you get a big refund every year, you’re having more withheld than needed. A new W-4 raises each paycheck instead.
- Use pre-tax benefits. Paying for health insurance or medical costs through payroll lowers your taxable pay, so each dollar costs you less.
- Know the trade-off with retirement savings. Traditional 401(k) contributions cut your take-home pay by less than the amount you save, because they lower your income tax.
Accuracy and limitations
- This is an estimate of your full 2026 tax spread evenly across paychecks. Employers use IRS withholding tables and your W-4, so a real paycheck can differ by a few dollars.
- It assumes one job, the standard deduction and no tax credits such as the Child Tax Credit.
- State and local tax is a single flat rate you enter, applied to pay after 401(k) contributions. Real state rules vary.
- It doesn’t include bonuses, overtime or other income.
For general information only; not tax, legal or financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good rule of thumb for net pay?
Many full-time workers take home roughly 70% to 80% of their gross pay. The lower end applies to higher incomes, high-tax states, and people with large benefit or retirement deductions.
Why is my first paycheck smaller than I expected?
It may cover a partial pay period, or benefit deductions may have started at once. Compare the hours and deductions on the stub with what you entered here.
Is net pay the same as take-home pay?
Yes. Both mean the pay left after all taxes and deductions.
Does a raise ever lower my net pay?
No. Moving into a higher tax bracket only taxes the extra dollars at the higher rate, so a raise always increases net pay. The raise calculator shows the gross difference.
Does the calculator save what I type?
No. The math runs in your browser and the numbers you type are not sent to our server or stored.
Related calculators
Sources
- IRS, Revenue Procedure 2025-32: 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions.
- Social Security Administration: 2026 Social Security wage base ($184,500).
- IRS Topic 751 and Topic 560: Social Security, Medicare and Additional Medicare Tax rates.
About this calculator. Built and maintained by Mubarak Hussain. Tax year 2026. Figures last checked against official sources in October 2026 and updated every January.
Found an error? Tell us and we will check and correct it.