Take-Home Pay Calculator
Estimate your paycheck after federal tax, Social Security, and Medicare (2026).
Your numbers
401(k), HSA, and health premiums.
Optional — add your state’s effective rate.
Take-home pay (per year)
$4,199.17/mo · $1,938.08 biweekly
- Gross income
- $60,000.00
- Federal income tax
- −$5,020.00
- Social Security
- −$3,720.00
- Medicare
- −$870.00
- State tax
- −$0.00
- Take-home pay
- $50,390.00
The number on your offer letter isn't the number that hits your bank account. Between federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and (often) state tax, your take-home pay can be a fifth or more below your gross. Here's exactly how the deductions stack up in 2026.
The order of deductions
Your paycheck is calculated in layers:
- Pre-tax deductions come out first — 401(k), HSA, and health premiums — reducing the income that's taxed.
- Federal income tax applies to what's left after the standard deduction.
- FICA (Social Security + Medicare) is calculated on your wages.
- State tax (if your state has one) comes off too.
What remains is your take-home pay. The Take-Home Pay Calculator runs all of these for 2026.
Federal income tax is progressive
The US uses progressive brackets — you don't pay one rate on everything. For 2026, a single filer's first $12,400 of taxable income is taxed at 10%, the next band at 12%, and so on up to 37%. Critically, the standard deduction ($16,100 single / $32,200 married filing jointly in 2026) is subtracted first, so your taxable income is well below your gross.
For a single filer earning $60,000: after the $16,100 standard deduction, taxable income is $43,900, producing about $5,020 in federal income tax — an effective federal rate of roughly 8%, far below the 12% top bracket they touch.
FICA: Social Security and Medicare
FICA is a flat-rate payroll tax:
- Social Security: 6.2% of wages up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500.
- Medicare: 1.45% of all wages, plus an extra 0.9% above $200,000.
On $60,000, that's $3,720 + $870 = $4,590. Unlike income tax, there's no deduction — it applies from the first dollar.
Putting it together
For our $60,000 single filer with no state tax: roughly $5,020 federal + $4,590 FICA ≈ $9,610 in deductions, leaving about $50,390 take-home — close to 84% of gross. Add state income tax and the take-home falls further.
Why your state matters
State income tax ranges from 0% (Texas, Florida, and several others) to over 13% at the top in some states. Because it varies so much, this calculator lets you enter your state's effective rate to fold it into the estimate.
The bottom line
Take-home pay is gross minus pre-tax deductions, federal income tax (progressive, after the standard deduction), FICA, and state tax. Use the Take-Home Pay Calculator to estimate your 2026 paycheck, and remember it's a federal estimate — your exact withholding depends on your W-4, state, and local rules.
Frequently asked questions
How is take-home pay calculated?
Take-home pay is your gross minus pre-tax deductions, federal income tax (after the standard deduction), Social Security and Medicare (FICA), and any state tax. What remains is the amount deposited to your account.
How much of my paycheck goes to taxes?
It depends on income and location, but a typical single filer keeps roughly 75–85% of gross federally. On $60,000 with no state tax, about $9,600 goes to federal income tax and FICA, leaving around $50,400 take-home.
What is FICA on my paycheck?
FICA is Social Security (6.2% up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500) plus Medicare (1.45% on all wages, with an extra 0.9% above $200,000). It’s a flat payroll tax with no standard deduction.
How do pre-tax deductions affect my paycheck?
Pre-tax deductions like 401(k) and HSA contributions and health premiums lower your taxable income, reducing your income tax. They also reduce your take-home, since that money goes to the benefit rather than your bank account.
Is federal income tax a flat rate?
No — it’s progressive. You pay 10% on the first band of taxable income, then 12%, 22%, and so on. Only the income within each bracket is taxed at that bracket’s rate, so your effective rate is lower than your top bracket.
Does this calculator include state taxes?
It’s a federal estimate, but you can enter your state’s effective rate to fold it in. State income tax ranges from 0% (in states like Texas and Florida) to over 13% at the top in some states.
What is the 2026 standard deduction?
For 2026 it’s $16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married filing jointly, and $24,150 for head of household. It’s subtracted from your income before federal income tax is calculated.
Why is my actual paycheck different from this estimate?
This is a simplified federal estimate. Your real withholding depends on your W-4 elections, exact state and local taxes, additional credits and deductions, and benefit choices — so treat it as a close approximation, not an exact figure.