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Convert different salaries and pay frequencies into estimated per-pay and annual take-home amounts.
Paycheck Calculator
Enter gross pay and pay frequency to estimate 2026 take-home pay, then refine the result with W-4, state, local, and deduction settings.
Financial Calculators
2026 Take-Home Pay Estimate
Uses 2026 federal percentage-method schedules and the selected state model. Results update instantly.
Advanced W-4, state, and deduction settings
Choose a state to include its 2026 wage-withholding model.
Your take-home pay estimate will appear here
Enter gross pay to calculate federal, FICA, state, and local estimates.
Planning estimate for regular 2026 wages and a 2020-or-later Form W-4. It does not cover every credit, deduction, reciprocal agreement, local rule, paid-leave premium, benefit, bonus, tip, overtime, nonresident, or multi-job situation. Compare payroll with the 2026 IRS Publication 15-T and the applicable state source.
What Is Paycheck Calculator?
A paycheck calculator converts gross wages into an estimated net paycheck after federal income tax withholding, Social Security, Medicare, selected state income tax, and entered deductions. It annualizes regular wages using the chosen pay frequency.
The federal model follows the 2026 IRS Publication 15-T percentage method for a 2020-or-later Form W-4. State models vary, and the result remains a planning estimate rather than an employer payroll record or tax-return forecast.
How to Use Paycheck Calculator
1
Enter Gross Pay and Frequency
Use regular taxable wages for one pay period and choose the matching number of annual payments.
2
Choose Filing Status and State
Select the W-4 filing status and a supported state model or leave state tax excluded.
3
Refine Advanced Settings
Add deductions, W-4 entries, state allowances, local rate, and year-to-date Social Security wages when applicable.
4
Review the Live Breakdown
Compare estimated net pay with federal, FICA, and state components; verify it against payroll documents.
How the 2026 Paycheck Calculator Works
Taxable pay is gross pay minus entered pre-tax deductions. The calculator annualizes that amount, applies the selected 2026 Publication 15-T schedule and W-4 adjustments, then divides annual withholding by pay periods.
Employee Social Security is 6.2% up to the 2026 $184,500 wage base. Medicare is 1.45%, with 0.9% additional employee withholding on wages above the employer’s $200,000 threshold.
Net pay = gross pay − pre-tax deductions − federal withholding − Social Security − Medicare − state/local estimate − post-tax deductions
Example
For $3,000 biweekly gross pay, single filing status, no deductions, credits, state model, or prior wages, the tool applies the 2026 federal schedule plus $186.00 Social Security and $43.50 Medicare.
Paycheck Calculator Features
- 2026 federal W-4 percentage-method schedules
- Social Security wage-base and Additional Medicare handling
- Eight selectable state wage-tax models
- Advanced credits, deductions, local rate, and year-to-date inputs
Common Use Cases
Review a W-4 change
Explore how annual credits, deductions, other income, or extra withholding may affect a regular paycheck.
Plan benefit deductions
Separate entered pre-tax and post-tax deductions to see their different effects on the estimate.
Limits and Important Notes
- The model covers regular wages and a 2020-or-later Form W-4; bonuses, tips, qualified overtime deductions, older forms, and special wage methods may differ.
- State and local rules, reciprocity, nonresident allocation, paid-leave programs, and employer benefits may require additional adjustments.
- A paycheck estimate is not a tax-return liability calculation and cannot guarantee a refund or balance due.
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