US Paycheck Calculator (2026)
From gross salary to the number that lands in your bank account: federal brackets, Social Security, Medicare, 401(k) and state tax, itemised per year, month and bi-weekly paycheck.
Tax year 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction ($16,100 single / $32,200 married filing jointly), Social Security at 6.2% up to the $184,500 wage base, Medicare 1.45% plus 0.9% additional above $200k/$250k. Assumes the standard deduction and W-2 employment. State tax is applied as a flat rate you enter, since state systems vary; check your state’s brackets for precision.
How a US paycheck is calculated
Four deductions stand between gross salary and take-home pay. Federal income tax applies progressive brackets (10% to 37% in 2026) to your taxable income, which is salary minus pre-tax contributions and the standard deduction. FICA taxes fund Social Security (6.2% of wages up to the annual wage base, $184,500 in 2026) and Medicare (1.45% on everything, plus an additional 0.9% on high incomes). State income tax ranges from zero in nine states to over 13% in California’s top bracket. Finally, voluntary pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions reduce taxable income while building retirement savings.
Marginal vs effective rates
Being "in the 22% bracket" does not mean paying 22% on everything. Brackets are marginal: only the income inside each band is taxed at that band’s rate. An $85,000 single filer in 2026 pays 10% on the first $12,400 of taxable income, 12% up to $50,400 and 22% only on the slice above, producing an effective federal rate near 11%, half the headline bracket. The calculator’s effective-rate row shows your true overall burden including FICA.
Why the 401(k) percentage matters twice
Every dollar into a traditional 401(k) skips federal (and usually state) tax today. At a 22% marginal rate, a 6% contribution on $85,000 costs about $3,978 of take-home but moves $5,100 into your retirement account, and employer matches, where offered, are free money on top. Slide the percentage in the calculator and watch the gap between salary sacrificed and wealth built.
Worked example: the $85,000 offer
A single filer on $85,000 with 6% into the 401(k) and a 5% state: the contribution removes $5,100 pre-tax, the standard deduction removes $16,100 more, leaving $63,800 of federally taxable income and about $8,748 of federal tax. Social Security takes $5,270, Medicare $1,233, state roughly $3,995. Take-home lands near $60,655 a year, $5,055 a month, $2,333 per bi-weekly check, an effective total burden around 23% while sitting "in the 22% bracket". Run your own offer above before negotiating; the monthly figure is the one your budget lives on.
The no-income-tax states
Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming levy no tax on wages. Enter 0 in the state field for these. For others, a flat approximation of your state’s effective rate (typically 3% to 6% for middle incomes) gets within a few dollars per paycheck; state bracket systems are too varied for one tool to model precisely, and we would rather be honest about that than pretend.
Frequently asked questions
How much tax is deducted from a paycheck in the US?
For most middle incomes, expect roughly 20% to 30% combined: federal income tax (effective 8% to 18%), Social Security 6.2%, Medicare 1.45%, and state tax of 0% to 6%. The calculator itemises each for your exact salary and shows the effective total rate.
What are the 2026 federal tax brackets?
Seven rates apply: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% and 37%, with the 22% bracket for single filers covering taxable income between $50,400 and $105,700. Brackets are marginal, so each rate applies only to income inside its band.
Does the calculator include the standard deduction?
Yes: $16,100 for single filers and $32,200 for married filing jointly in 2026 is subtracted before federal tax is computed. If you itemize deductions larger than the standard amount, your federal tax will be lower than shown.
Why is my bi-weekly paycheck not exactly half the monthly figure?
There are 26 bi-weekly periods in a year but only 12 months, so a bi-weekly check is annual take-home divided by 26, about 7.7% smaller than half a month. Two months a year deliver three paychecks.