Paycheck Calculator
Estimate your take-home pay after federal income tax, FICA (Social Security & Medicare), and state taxes. Uses 2025 federal tax brackets.
How Federal Income Tax Is Calculated
The U.S. federal income tax is progressive — meaning higher income is taxed at higher rates, but only the income within each bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate. A single filer earning $60,000 does not pay 22% on the full $60,000. They pay 10% on the first $11,925, 12% on income from $11,926 to $48,475, and 22% only on income from $48,476 to $60,000.
| Rate | Single Filer | Married Filing Jointly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0–$11,925 | $0–$23,850 |
| 12% | $11,926–$48,475 | $23,851–$96,950 |
| 22% | $48,476–$103,350 | $96,951–$206,700 |
| 24% | $103,351–$197,300 | $206,701–$394,600 |
| 32% | $197,301–$250,525 | $394,601–$501,050 |
| 35% | $250,526–$626,350 | $501,051–$751,600 |
| 37% | Over $626,350 | Over $751,600 |
2025 federal tax brackets. Standard deduction: $15,000 (single), $30,000 (MFJ).
Your marginal tax rate (the rate on your last dollar of income) is different from your effective tax rate (total tax divided by total income). A single filer earning $60,000 has a marginal rate of 22% but an effective rate of roughly 13%, because most of their income was taxed at 10% and 12%.
FICA: Social Security and Medicare
FICA taxes are flat-rate payroll taxes, separate from income tax, that fund Social Security and Medicare. Unlike income tax, they apply regardless of deductions or filing status:
| Tax | Employee Rate | Wage Cap (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security | 6.2% | $176,100 |
| Medicare | 1.45% | No cap |
| Additional Medicare Tax | 0.9% | On wages above $200K (single) |
Social Security tax stops once your earnings for the year cross $176,100 — so high earners see a noticeable paycheck increase partway through the year when Social Security withholding stops. Medicare has no wage cap, and earners above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (MFJ) pay an additional 0.9% on the excess, withheld by the employer starting from the first dollar over the threshold.
How Pay Frequency Affects Your Paycheck
Your pay frequency determines how your annual salary is divided, but the total annual tax is the same regardless of how often you are paid. What changes is the size of each withholding amount — which affects cash flow and budgeting. Here is how a $72,000 annual salary (single, standard deduction) breaks down across four common pay schedules:
| Pay Schedule | Checks/Year | Gross Per Check | Est. Net Per Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 52 | $1,385 | ~$1,040 |
| Bi-weekly | 26 | $2,769 | ~$2,080 |
| Semi-monthly | 24 | $3,000 | ~$2,254 |
| Monthly | 12 | $6,000 | ~$4,508 |
Estimates for a single filer at $72,000/year. Federal and FICA taxes only; no state tax or pre-tax deductions applied.
Bi-weekly pay (26 paychecks per year) is the most common schedule for salaried workers in the US. It produces two "extra" paychecks per year compared to semi-monthly (24 checks) — those months with three paychecks are a useful opportunity to make extra debt or savings contributions.
Understanding Your Pay Stub
Your pay stub shows gross earnings and all deductions. Mandatory deductions include federal and state income taxes and FICA. Voluntary deductions — 401(k) contributions, health insurance premiums, HSA or FSA contributions, and dental or vision insurance — are not included in this calculator's estimates but will further reduce your net pay.
Importantly, most pre-tax voluntary deductions (traditional 401(k), HSA, FSA, and employer-sponsored health insurance) reduce your federal and state taxable wages — so a $400/month 401(k) contribution does not reduce your paycheck by a full $400. In a 22% marginal bracket, the actual paycheck impact is closer to $312, because you save $88 in federal taxes alone. This is the fundamental tax incentive behind pre-tax retirement savings.
The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator is the authoritative tool for determining the exact right W-4 settings for your situation — particularly useful after major life changes or if you want to minimize refunds and maximize each paycheck.
Frequently Asked Questions
What taxes are deducted from my paycheck?
Most employees see four mandatory deductions: federal income tax (based on your income, filing status, and W-4 elections), state income tax (varies by state — nine states have no income tax as of 2025), Social Security (6.2% on earnings up to $176,100 in 2025), and Medicare (1.45% on all wages). Additional deductions may include 401(k) contributions, health insurance premiums, HSA contributions, and local or city income taxes. Voluntary pre-tax deductions like 401(k) and HSA reduce your taxable income, meaning you pay less in federal and state income tax — but they do not reduce FICA taxes.
What is FICA and who pays it?
FICA stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It covers two payroll taxes: Social Security (6.2% on wages up to the annual wage base) and Medicare (1.45% on all wages), totaling 7.65% of your gross wages. Your employer pays an exactly equal 7.65% match on top of your wages — a cost invisible on your pay stub but real to your employer. High earners pay an Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9% on wages above $200,000 for single filers and $250,000 for married filing jointly. Self-employed individuals pay both the employee and employer share (15.3%) through self-employment tax, though half is deductible.
How does my W-4 affect how much is withheld?
Your W-4 (Employee's Withholding Certificate) tells your employer how much federal income tax to withhold from each paycheck. The 2020 redesign replaced the old allowances system with a more direct approach: you can claim dependents, report additional income or deductions, and request extra withholding or reduced withholding. Claiming more dependents on your W-4 decreases withholding (larger paychecks but a smaller or no refund at tax time). Claiming fewer or requesting extra withholding increases what's held (smaller paychecks, larger refund). The IRS recommends reviewing your W-4 anytime you have a major life event — marriage, divorce, new child, or significant income change.
How does filing status affect my federal tax?
Your filing status determines your standard deduction and the income thresholds for each tax bracket. Married Filing Jointly (MFJ) receives a $30,000 standard deduction in 2025 versus $15,000 for single filers, and has bracket thresholds that are roughly double the single amounts. At most income levels, MFJ results in a lower effective tax rate than single. Head of Household — for unmarried people who pay more than half the household costs and have a qualifying dependent — falls between single and MFJ, with a $22,500 standard deduction and somewhat wider brackets than single.
Which states have no income tax?
As of 2025, these states have no state individual income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire (taxes investment income only), South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington (taxes capital gains over $262,000 starting 2022), and Wyoming. If you live and work in one of these states, enter 0% as your state tax rate. Note that some cities and counties impose their own income taxes regardless of state (New York City, Philadelphia, Detroit, Columbus, and others) — these are separate from state taxes and should be added if applicable.
What is the difference between gross pay and net pay?
Gross pay is your earnings before any deductions — the salary or hourly rate agreed upon with your employer. Net pay (take-home pay) is what actually lands in your bank account after all taxes and deductions are withheld. The gap between gross and net typically ranges from 25–40% for most middle-income earners, depending on filing status, state, and voluntary deductions. This gap is why budgeting based on gross salary is a common and costly mistake — your real spending power is your net pay, not the number on your offer letter.
How do pre-tax deductions like 401(k) affect my take-home pay?
Pre-tax deductions — contributions to a traditional 401(k), 403(b), HSA, or FSA — reduce your taxable income, which means you pay less in federal and state income tax. A $500/month traditional 401(k) contribution from a 22% federal tax bracket saves approximately $110 in federal income tax that month, so your paycheck only decreases by about $390, not $500. This is the core tax advantage of pre-tax retirement accounts. Roth 401(k) contributions, by contrast, are made with after-tax dollars — they don't reduce current taxes, but qualified withdrawals in retirement are tax-free.