Estimate net pay after federal tax, FICA, state tax, and a basic 401(k) contribution.
✦ Source basis: 2026 IRS brackets, SSA wage base, and FICA rates plus user-entered state tax · Methodology
Use this tool when: you want a realistic paycheck estimate from a straightforward W-2 salary before deciding whether an offer, raise, or relocation actually improves monthly cash flow.
Best used for: annual-to-net paycheck translation • raise planning after tax drag • state-tax sensitivity checks
Recommended next step
Not for: tax-credit planning, self-employment, local payroll edge cases, or a filing-grade return estimate. The output is a strong planning number, not a substitute for payroll software or a CPA.
Each result represents a different way to read the same net estimate:
Annual net: gross minus federal tax, FICA, state tax, and your 401(k) contribution.
Monthly net: annual net divided by 12.
Bi-weekly net: annual net divided by 26.
Total tax rate: federal, state, and FICA combined as a share of gross pay.
Three Net-Pay Scenarios That Often Change the Decision
Scenario
What to watch
Why it matters
$8K raise at the same employer
Monthly net, not just annual gross
A raise that sounds meaningful on paper may shrink materially after federal, state, and FICA withholding.
Moving from a 5% tax state to a 0% tax state
Total tax rate and annual net
The relocation value may come more from state tax removal than from the base salary itself.
Increasing 401(k) from 6% to 10%
Annual net versus tax rate
You can see the real cash-flow tradeoff instead of assuming a contribution increase is either free or too painful.
This is where the tool becomes useful: not “what is my net pay?” in isolation, but “does this compensation change still improve my real monthly outcome?”
What This Tool Does Not Fully Model
Tax credits such as CTC, EITC, or education credits
Itemized deductions and many special-case adjustments
City or local income taxes
Employer benefit deductions beyond the simple 401(k) input shown here
Self-employment tax for contractors
If your situation is more complex than a straightforward W-2 paycheck, treat this as a directional estimate, not a filing-grade result.
Your gross salary and your take-home pay can differ significantly — often by 25–35% for middle-income earners. Understanding every deduction helps you plan your finances, optimize your W-4, and negotiate more effectively because you know what a raise may put in your pocket.
Federal Income Tax — Progressive rates from 10% to 37% (2026 brackets). Only the income within each bracket is taxed at that rate — not your entire salary.
Social Security (FICA) — 6.2% on wages up to $184,500 in 2026. Once you hit this threshold mid-year, SS withholding stops — which is why some higher earners see bigger paychecks in Q4.
Medicare — 1.45% on all wages with no cap. High earners above $200,000 pay an additional 0.9% Medicare surtax.
State Income Tax — Ranges from 0% (TX, FL, WA, and 6 others) to 13.3% (CA top bracket). Most middle-income earners pay 3–7% effective state rate.
Pre-tax deductions — 401(k) up to $23,500, HSA up to $4,300 (single), FSA up to $3,200. Each dollar contributed pre-tax reduces your taxable income, lowering both federal and state taxes simultaneously.
💡 Zero state income tax states: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming have no state income tax. For a $90,000 earner, this can mean $4,000–$6,300 more in annual take-home pay compared to a 5–7% state income tax state.
2026 Federal Income Tax Brackets
Rate
Single Filers
Married Filing Jointly
10%
Up to $12,400
Up to $24,800
12%
$12,401 – $50,400
$24,801 – $100,800
22%
$50,401 – $105,700
$100,801 – $211,400
24%
$105,701 – $201,775
$211,401 – $403,550
32%
$201,776 – $256,225
$403,551 – $512,450
35%
$256,226 – $640,600
$512,451 – $768,700
37%
Over $640,600
Over $768,700
Real Take-Home Pay Examples (2026)
Here's what estimated net pay can look like for a single filer with standard deduction, 5% state tax, and 6% 401(k) contribution:
Gross Salary
Federal Tax
FICA
State (5%)
Net Take-Home
Effective Rate
$50,000
~$3,460
$3,825
$2,350
~$37,365/yr
~19.3%
$75,000
~$6,680
$5,738
$3,525
~$54,558/yr
~21.3%
$100,000
~$11,850
$7,650
$4,700
~$69,800/yr
~24.2%
$130,000
~$18,062
$9,945
$6,110
~$88,083/yr
~26.2%
$200,000
~$33,854
$14,339
$9,400
~$130,407/yr
~28.8%
* Includes 6% 401(k) pre-tax. Numbers are estimates — use the calculator above for your own situation.
Take-Home Pay Questions Answered
How accurate is this calculator?
This calculator provides a reliable estimate for most W-2 employees with straightforward tax situations. It correctly applies 2026 federal brackets, the standard deduction, FICA rates, the additional 0.9% Medicare surtax for high earners, and your 401(k) contribution. It does not account for tax credits (Child Tax Credit, EITC, etc.), additional income sources, or itemized deductions. For complex situations, consult a CPA.
Does contributing to a 401(k) reduce my taxes?
Yes — traditional 401(k) contributions are pre-tax, meaning they reduce both your federal and state taxable income. A 6% contribution on a $75,000 salary ($4,500) saves approximately $990–$1,530 in federal taxes depending on your bracket, plus additional state tax savings. Roth 401(k) contributions are post-tax, so they don't reduce current-year taxes but grow and withdraw tax-free.
What's the difference between marginal and effective tax rate?
Your marginal rate is the rate that applies to your last dollar of income — the highest bracket you reach. Your effective rate is your total federal tax divided by your total gross income. A single filer earning $100,000 is in the 22% marginal bracket, but their effective federal rate is about 13.2% because the first $12,400 of taxable income is taxed at 10%, the next $38,000 at 12%, and so on.
Why is my paycheck different every time?
Your paycheck can vary due to changes in hours worked (for hourly employees), bonus payments, changes in benefit deductions (health insurance premiums that renew annually), hitting the Social Security wage base cap ($184,500), or mid-year W-4 changes. Once you've earned $184,500 in wages, Social Security withholding stops — which typically means larger paychecks in the final months of the year for higher earners.