FinanceCalco

Paycheck Calculator

Built & reviewed by the FinanceCalco editorial teamHow we test calculatorsUpdated June 2026

Estimate your take-home pay after federal tax, FICA, and state tax. Enter your salary, pay frequency, state, and pre-tax deductions like a 401(k) — the per-paycheck and annual figures update instantly, and you can export them to Excel or share with a link.

Take-home per paycheck

$2,045.44

$53,181.50 per year

Federal tax
$7,351.00
FICA
$5,737.50
State tax
$4,230.00
401(k)
$4,500.00
Net annual
$53,181.50
$
%
pre-tax % of salary
$
per year

Where your paycheck goes

$75KGross
Take-home$53,181.50Federal tax$7,351.00FICA$5,737.50State tax$4,230.00401(k)$4,500.00
How this is calculatedmethodology

Federal income tax uses the 2024 single-filer brackets after the standard deduction. Pre-tax deductions — your 401(k) and any other pre-tax amounts — reduce the income subject to federal and state tax. FICA (Social Security + Medicare) is calculated on your full gross pay. State tax here is a simplified flat rate, not bracket-by-bracket.

Net = Gross − Federal − FICA − State − Pre-tax
Per paycheck = Net ÷ pay periods per year
Federal
Progressive 2024 single-filer brackets applied after the $14,600 standard deduction, on income reduced by your pre-tax deductions.
FICA
Social Security 6.2% (up to the $168,600 wage base) + Medicare 1.45%, charged on gross pay.
State
Approximate flat effective rate for the selected state, applied to gross minus pre-tax deductions.
Pre-tax
401(k) contribution plus other pre-tax deductions, which lower taxable income.
  • 2024 single filer
  • Approximate flat state rate
  • FICA on gross
  • Excludes local taxes & credits

Last reviewed: 2024 tax year

How to use the paycheck calculator

  1. Enter your gross salary and choose your pay frequency.
  2. Pick your state and add any 401(k) or pre-tax deductions.
  3. See your estimated take-home pay per paycheck and where the rest goes.

TipPre-tax deductions like a 401(k) lower your taxable income — and your take-home — but build your future.

How to use the paycheck calculator

Enter your annual gross salary and choose how often you are paid — weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly. Pick your state so an approximate state income tax can be applied, then add your 401(k) contribution as a percent of salary and any other pre-tax deductions in dollars per year. The large readout shows your estimated take-home pay on each paycheck, and the cells below break out federal tax, FICA, state tax, your 401(k), and your net annual pay.

The donut chart shows where your gross salary goes, splitting it into take-home pay, federal tax, FICA, state tax, and retirement savings. Use the export buttons to download your numbers as an Excel workbook or CSV, save the result as an image, or copy a link that reopens the calculator with your exact inputs.

How your take-home pay is calculated

Take-home pay is what is left after taxes and deductions. Federal income tax uses the 2024 single-filer brackets and is applied after the standard deduction, on the income that remains once your pre-tax contributions are removed. FICA — Social Security at 6.2% up to the wage base plus Medicare at 1.45% — is charged on your full gross pay. State tax here is a simplified flat effective rate for the state you choose.

Pre-tax deductions are powerful because they lower the income that federal and state taxes apply to: a dollar contributed to a traditional 401(k) reduces both your taxable income and your tax bill, even though it also reduces the cash that lands in your bank account. After subtracting federal tax, FICA, state tax, and your pre-tax deductions from gross, the remainder is your net annual pay, and dividing by your number of pay periods gives the amount on each paycheck.

Approximate 2024 estimate, single filer; state tax is a simplified flat rate; excludes local taxes, exemptions, and credits — not tax advice.

Frequently asked questions

How is take-home pay calculated?

Start with your annual gross salary and subtract your pre-tax deductions (401(k) and any others) to get the income that taxes apply to. From the gross we subtract estimated federal income tax, FICA (Social Security and Medicare), an approximate state tax, and your pre-tax deductions. What is left is your net annual pay; dividing it by the number of pay periods in your year gives the amount on each paycheck.

What is FICA?

FICA is the federal payroll tax that funds Social Security and Medicare. Social Security is 6.2% of wages up to an annual wage base ($168,600 in 2024), and Medicare is 1.45% of all wages with no cap. Together they total 7.65% of your gross pay, and your employer matches that amount separately. High earners also pay an extra 0.9% Medicare surtax above $200,000.

Why is the state tax approximate?

Real state income tax varies enormously — many states use their own brackets, deductions, exemptions, and credits, and some add local or city income taxes. To keep the estimate simple and fast, this calculator applies a single approximate effective rate per state to your income. Treat the state figure as a ballpark; your actual state tax can differ, especially with local taxes or unusual deductions.

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