What lands in your bank account
Your salary and your paycheck are two different numbers. Before you see a dollar, your employer withholds federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and, in most states, state income tax. If you save in a traditional 401(k), that comes out too.
This calculator uses the 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions published by the IRS, plus the 2026 payroll tax rules:
- Social Security: 6.2 % of wages up to $184,500.
- Medicare: 1.45 % of all wages, plus 0.9 % on wages above $200,000 ($250,000 for married couples filing jointly).
- 401(k): traditional contributions lower your federal taxable income but not your Social Security and Medicare wages.
- State tax: enter your state's rate as a flat percentage. State rules differ, so treat that part as an estimate.
The result is your yearly take-home pay and the amount per paycheck, whether you are paid weekly, every two weeks, twice a month or monthly. It assumes the standard deduction and no tax credits, so your actual refund or balance due may differ. Use it to plan a budget around the money you will actually receive, not the figure in your offer letter.