Free Paycheck Calculator
Find out exactly how much you take home after federal tax, state tax, Social Security, and Medicare. Enter your gross pay, select your state and filing status, add 401(k) or health insurance deductions — and get your net pay instantly. Uses 2025 IRS brackets. All 50 states covered. 100% private, runs in your browser.
Pay Information
Enter the amount before any deductions
Tax Filing Info
Select your work state for state income tax
Each allowance reduces taxable income by $4,300/yr. Use 0 if you filed a 2020+ W-4.
Deductions
Enter a percentage, not dollars. Example: type 6 to contribute 6% of your gross pay.
Pre-tax. Enter the dollar amount deducted each paycheck.
Pre-tax premium. Check your pay stub for the exact amount.
Garnishments, union dues, Roth 401(k), etc. Enter dollars, not percent.
Take-Home Pay
$2,287.02
per paycheck · $59,462.64/yr
Breakdown
| Gross Pay | $3,000.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | −$337.46 |
| State Income Tax | −$146.01 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | −$186.00 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | −$43.50 |
| Take-Home Pay | $2,287.02 |
🔒 Calculated in your browser. Data never leaves your device. Federal brackets use 2025 IRS rates. State tax estimates may vary — local taxes not included.
Take-Home Pay
$2,287.02
per paycheck · $59,462.64/yr
Breakdown
| Gross Pay | $3,000.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | −$337.46 |
| State Income Tax | −$146.01 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | −$186.00 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | −$43.50 |
| Take-Home Pay | $2,287.02 |
🔒 Calculated in your browser. Data never leaves your device. Federal brackets use 2025 IRS rates. State tax estimates may vary — local taxes not included.
Take-Home Pay
$2,287.02
per paycheck
$59,462.64/yr
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is this paycheck calculator?+
Very accurate for federal taxes — we use the official 2025 IRS tax brackets and standard deductions. State taxes are close approximations using 2025 rate data; however, state-specific deductions, exemptions, and local city/county taxes are not included. For precise withholding, consult your employer's payroll department or a tax professional.
Does this include local (city or county) income taxes?+
No. Many cities and counties — including New York City, Philadelphia, and San Francisco — have their own local income taxes on top of state tax. This calculator covers federal and state only. Add your local tax rate separately if applicable.
What's the difference between gross pay and net (take-home) pay?+
Gross pay is the full amount your employer pays you before any deductions. Net pay — also called take-home pay — is what you actually receive after federal tax, state tax, FICA (Social Security and Medicare), and any other deductions are withheld. The difference can be 20–35% for a typical American worker.
What is FICA and how much does it cost me?+
FICA stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It covers Social Security (6.2% of your wages up to $176,100 in 2025) and Medicare (1.45% on all wages, no cap). Together that's 7.65% of your paycheck — your employer matches this amount, so the total contribution to these programs is 15.3% of your pay.
How do pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA) reduce my taxes?+
Pre-tax deductions reduce your taxable income before federal and state income taxes are calculated. If you contribute $200 per paycheck to a traditional 401(k) and you're in the 22% federal bracket, you save about $44 in federal tax on that contribution alone. HSA contributions and employer-sponsored health insurance premiums work the same way.
What are W-4 allowances and should I enter any?+
The W-4 allowance system was used before the 2020 form redesign. Each allowance reduced your taxable income by $4,300 per year (2025 value). If you filed a 2020 or later W-4, enter 0 — the new form uses a dollar-based system instead. If you use an older pre-2020 W-4, enter your number of allowances.
Why doesn't my calculator result match my actual paycheck exactly?+
Several factors aren't included here: local income taxes, state disability insurance (SDI in CA, NJ, NY etc.), year-to-date earnings affecting SS wage base mid-year, employer-specific benefit deductions, and supplemental wage withholding. This calculator gives a close estimate — your employer's payroll system uses your exact W-4 and benefit elections.
Can I use this for hourly pay?+
Yes. Toggle "I get paid hourly" and enter your hourly rate and hours per week. The calculator automatically converts to a per-paycheck gross based on your pay frequency. For example, $25/hr × 40 hours/week = $2,000 gross per week, or $4,000 for a bi-weekly paycheck.
You might also like
How to Use the Paycheck Calculator
- Enter your gross pay. This is your pay before any taxes or deductions come out. If you're paid hourly, toggle "I get paid hourly" and enter your hourly rate plus hours per week — the calculator does the rest.
- Choose your pay frequency. Select how often you receive a paycheck: weekly, bi-weekly (every two weeks), semi-monthly (twice a month), monthly, or annual. This affects how deductions are spread across your pay periods.
- Select your filing status and state. Your federal filing status (Single, Married Filing Jointly, etc.) determines your tax bracket and standard deduction. Your state determines whether state income tax applies and at what rate.
- Add deductions if applicable. Click "Deductions" to enter your 401(k) contribution percentage, HSA contributions, and health insurance premiums. These reduce your taxable income before federal and state taxes are calculated.
- Read your results instantly. The results panel updates in real time as you type. Switch between "Per Paycheck" and "Annual" views to see both your per-period take-home pay and your full-year picture.
- Copy or print your results. Use the Copy button to paste your breakdown anywhere, or print a clean summary for your records.
Why Use Our Free Paycheck Calculator?
100% private, runs in your browser. Your salary and deduction information never leaves your device. There are no servers, no accounts, and no data collection. You can even disconnect from the internet after the page loads and the calculator continues to work.
Current 2025 federal tax brackets. We use the IRS 2025 tax year brackets from Rev. Proc. 2024-40 and the updated standard deductions ($15,000 single, $30,000 married filing jointly). The Social Security wage base is updated to $176,100 for 2025.
All 50 states plus D.C. Nine states have no income tax on wages — the calculator flags this automatically. The remaining states use 2025 rate data ranging from flat-tax states like Pennsylvania (3.07%) to high-bracket states like California (up to 13.3%).
No signup, no limits, completely free. There is no premium tier, no email required, and no daily cap on calculations. This tool was built to give workers accurate paycheck estimates without friction.
Understanding Your Paycheck Deductions
Your gross pay is the starting number — the full amount your employer agrees to pay you before anything is withheld. From there, several categories of deductions reduce what you actually receive (your net or "take-home" pay).
Federal income tax uses a progressive bracket system. In 2025, the first $11,925 of taxable income is taxed at 10%, the next slice at 12%, and so on up to 37% for income above $626,350 (single filers). Your taxable income is your gross pay minus your standard deduction and any pre-tax deductions like a 401(k). This means most workers pay a much lower effective rate than their top marginal bracket — for example, a single filer earning $65,000 pays around 11–12% of gross in federal tax, not the 22% top bracket rate.
FICA taxes fund Social Security and Medicare. Social Security is 6.2% of wages up to the 2025 wage base of $176,100 — once you earn more than that, no additional Social Security tax is withheld for the rest of the year. Medicare is 1.45% on all wages with no cap. High earners (above $200,000 for single filers) pay an additional 0.9% Medicare surtax.
Pre-tax deductions like a traditional 401(k), HSA contributions, and employer-sponsored health insurance premiums are subtracted before federal and state income taxes are calculated. This reduces your taxable income dollar-for-dollar. A $200/month 401(k) contribution, for example, doesn't just save you $200 — it also reduces the taxes you pay on that $200. Post-tax deductions (like Roth 401(k) or garnishments) come out after taxes and do not reduce your tax bill.