01
Start with gross pay
Gross pay is your earnings before applicable taxes, retirement contributions, benefits, and other deductions.
QuickEstimators · 2026 tax year
Take-Home Pay Calculator 2026: Your Pay After Taxes and Deductions
This calculates paycheck deductions, meaning what's withheld from each check. Tax-return deductions are claimed when you file.
Estimate how much of your salary or hourly earnings you may take home after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state taxes, and selected payroll deductions.
2026 tax yearAll 50 statesSalary or hourly payPaycheck, monthly & annual views
The short version
What does take-home pay mean?
Take-home pay is the amount remaining from your gross earnings after applicable taxes and payroll deductions are taken out. It is also commonly called net pay.
02
Estimate taxes and deductions
Your estimate can include federal income tax, FICA, state income tax, and deductions entered into the calculator.
03
Review your net pay
The remaining amount is your estimated take-home pay for the selected paycheck, monthly, or annual view.
Quick reference
Hourly take-home pay reference table (2026)
Estimated take-home pay based on hourly rates (assuming single filer, standard W-4, 40 hours/week, federal tax and FICA only; state taxes apply on top).
| Hourly Rate | Weekly Take-Home | Biweekly Take-Home | Annual Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15 | $524.02 | $1,048.05 | $27,249.20 |
| $20 | $684.72 | $1,369.45 | $35,605.60 |
| $24 | $813.28 | $1,626.57 | $42,290.72 |
| $26 | $877.56 | $1,755.13 | $45,633.28 |
| $30 | $1,006.12 | $2,012.25 | $52,318.40 |
| $40 | $1,295.41 | $2,590.82 | $67,361.20 |
Key facts
What affects your take-home pay?
Open the sections below for a quick explanation of the main payroll items behind a take-home pay estimate.
Federal income tax
Federal income tax withholding depends on taxable wages and withholding information such as filing status, W-4 elections, credits, and additional adjustments.
Social Security
Social Security is part of FICA payroll tax. Employee withholding applies to covered wages up to the applicable annual Social Security wage base.
Medicare
Medicare is also part of FICA and is calculated separately from Social Security. Higher wages may also be subject to Additional Medicare Tax under federal rules.
State income tax
State tax treatment varies throughout the United States. Some states have no individual state income tax, while others use different rates and withholding systems.
Retirement and benefit deductions
A 401(k), health insurance, HSA, or other payroll deduction can reduce the amount that reaches your bank account. The tax treatment depends on the specific deduction.
Pay frequency
Weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, and monthly schedules divide annual earnings across different numbers of pay periods. This changes the amount of each paycheck.
Understand the result
Gross pay vs. take-home pay
These two numbers answer different questions: what you earned versus what remains after estimated taxes and deductions.
Before deductions
Gross pay
Gross pay is your earnings before applicable income taxes, payroll taxes, benefits, retirement contributions, and other deductions.
After estimated deductions
Take-home pay
Take-home pay, or net pay, is the estimated amount remaining after applicable taxes and payroll deductions.
How it works
How to use the take-home pay calculator
1
Enter your earnings
Enter your annual salary or hourly rate. If you use hourly pay, provide your typical hours per week.
2
Select your tax details
Choose your pay frequency, filing status, state, and any deductions you want included in the estimate.
3
Review your net pay
Review estimated federal tax, FICA, state tax, deductions, and the resulting take-home amount.
Pay schedule
Take-home pay by pay frequency
Your annual salary can be divided across different numbers of pay periods depending on how your employer pays you.
Weekly
Typically 52 pay periods per year.
Biweekly
Typically 26 pay periods per year.
Semimonthly
Typically 24 pay periods per year.
Monthly
Typically 12 pay periods per year.
Keep calculating
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Use the calculator that matches the question you are trying to answer.
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Estimate overtime earnings and their effect on your pay.
Bonus Tax Calculator
Estimate how taxes and withholding can affect a bonus.
Hourly to Salary Converter
Convert an hourly rate into estimated annual salary.
Methodology & limitations
Use the result as an estimate
A take-home pay calculator can estimate payroll deductions from the information you provide, but it cannot reproduce every employer payroll configuration. W-4 elections, benefits, retirement plans, additional withholding, payroll settings, and state-specific rules can affect an actual paycheck.
For an important tax or payroll decision, verify the relevant details with your employer, payroll administrator, or a qualified tax professional.
Straight answers
Take-home pay questions, answered
Common questions about net pay, taxes, deductions, states, and paycheck calculations.
How do I calculate my take-home pay?
Start with your gross pay and subtract the taxes and payroll deductions that apply to your situation. These can include federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state income tax, retirement contributions, health insurance, HSA contributions, and other deductions. The amount left is your estimated take-home, or net, pay.
What is the difference between gross pay and take-home pay?
Gross pay is what you earn before taxes and payroll deductions. Take-home pay, also called net pay, is the amount left after applicable taxes and deductions are taken from your gross earnings.
Can I calculate take-home pay from an hourly wage?
Yes. Enter your hourly rate and typical hours per week. The calculator uses those values to estimate annual earnings and then converts the result into your selected pay frequency.
Does my state affect my take-home pay?
Yes. State income-tax rules differ across the United States. Some states do not impose an individual state income tax, while others use different rates, deductions, exemptions, and withholding rules. Your selected state therefore affects the estimate.
What deductions can reduce my take-home pay?
Common deductions include retirement contributions, health insurance, HSA contributions, and other payroll deductions. Whether a deduction also reduces taxable wages depends on how the particular benefit or contribution is treated for tax purposes.
Why is my actual paycheck different from the calculator?
An online estimate cannot reproduce every payroll setting used by an employer. Your W-4 elections, benefits, retirement contributions, additional withholding, payroll frequency, and other employer-specific deductions can change the amount that actually appears on your paycheck.
Does pay frequency change my annual take-home pay?
Pay frequency changes how your annual earnings are distributed across individual paychecks. For example, a biweekly schedule generally has 26 pay periods per year, while a semimonthly schedule generally has 24. The selected schedule therefore changes the estimated amount of each paycheck.
QuickEstimators
Your paycheck, made legible.
Use the calculator above to estimate your take-home pay, then explore the state calculators and related payroll tools when you need a more specific estimate.
Browse by location
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Choose a state to see its dedicated paycheck calculator, tax-treatment information, and state-specific guidance.
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