How this is calculated
- Federal income tax. We subtract the 2026 standard deduction
(
$16,100 single / $32,200 MFJ) from gross salary to get taxable income, then apply the 2026 marginal brackets (10%/12%/22%/24%/32%/35%/37%) from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32:tax = Σ (bracket rate × income falling in that bracket). No other deductions, credits, or income sources are modeled. - State income tax. Each state's published 2026 rate(s) apply directly to gross salary — this dataset doesn't include state-specific standard deductions. No-tax states show $0. Flat-rate states apply one rate to all wages. Progressive states apply their full published 2026 marginal bracket ladders; since official married-filing-jointly bracket schedules weren't part of our source data, MFJ thresholds are approximated by doubling the single-filer thresholds. State brackets are sourced from the Tax Foundation's 2026 state individual income tax tables.
- FICA. Social Security: 6.2% on wages up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500. Medicare: 1.45% on all wages, uncapped. Additional Medicare Tax: +0.9% on wages above $200,000 (single) / $250,000 (MFJ).
- Net pay.
net = gross − federal − state − FICA, divided by the pay periods in your chosen frequency: 52 (weekly), 26 (biweekly), 24 (semimonthly), or 12 (monthly).
What this doesn't model: local/city income taxes (see the FAQ below), pre-tax deductions like 401(k)/HSA/health premiums, additional voluntary withholding, dependents or other credits, bonuses, or non-wage income. It's a realistic first estimate of take-home pay — not a substitute for your actual pay stub.
Conceptual sources (not linked, referenced by name): the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Social Security Administration (SSA), and Tax Foundation's state income tax data.
Learn more
- FICA in 2026: Social Security & Medicare — how the 7.65% is split and capped.
- States With No Income Tax in 2026 — the 9 states (and the hidden catch).
- Biweekly vs Semimonthly vs Monthly Pay — how your schedule changes each check.
Take-home pay by state
Dedicated 2026 pages with each state's real rate and a full paycheck breakdown:
- Texas, Florida, Washington — no state income tax.
- Arizona, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Colorado, Illinois, Georgia — flat-rate states.
- Compare take-home pay across states →
Frequently asked questions
Does this include local or city income taxes?
No. This calculator only computes federal, state, and FICA payroll taxes. Cities and counties in several states — including New York City, and municipalities across Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, and the Portland, Oregon area — levy additional local income or earnings taxes that can add another 0.5% to 4% or more. Check your local government's site for exact rates.
Is this calculator exact — will it match my real paycheck?
No — it's an estimate. Real paychecks vary with pre-tax deductions (401(k), HSA, health insurance premiums), extra withholding elections, local taxes, dependents, and how your employer rounds each pay period. Use this to compare states and pay frequencies, not as your exact take-home number.
What is the Additional Medicare Tax?
A 0.9% surtax on wages above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly), on top of the standard 1.45% Medicare tax. It only applies to the portion of wages above the threshold, not your entire income.
Why does my state show $0 state tax?
Nine states levy no individual income tax on wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. If you picked one of these, $0 is correct — not a bug.
Does this calculator send my salary or state anywhere?
No. Everything runs locally in your browser; nothing you type is transmitted anywhere. The share-link button encodes your inputs into the URL itself.
This calculator is an educational estimate, not tax advice, not a payroll guarantee, and not a substitute for a licensed tax professional or your employer's actual payroll calculation. It does not account for pre-tax deductions, local/city taxes, additional withholding elections, dependents, or other income. No liability is accepted for decisions made from these results.