Paycheck Calculator 2026 — Take-Home Pay After Tax

How a paycheck is calculated

Start with gross pay for the period.
Subtract pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA, §125) to get taxable wages.
Subtract federal income tax withholding — the IRS percentage method annualises your wages, applies the 2026 schedule for your filing status, subtracts Step 3 credits, and divides back to the period.
Subtract Social Security (6.2% up to the $184,500 wage base for 2026) and Medicare (1.45%, plus 0.9% on wages over $200,000).
Subtract state income tax withholding for supported states.
What's left is your estimated take-home pay.

Every rate and threshold above is drawn from the 2026 IRS, SSA, and state publications listed on the Methodology & Sources page.

Per paycheck, per month, or per year

The three views answer different questions: per paycheck for what actually lands each payday, per month for budgeting rent and bills, and per year for comparing a job offer. Choose "An annual salary" to see all three. They are consistent — the per-paycheck figure times the number of paychecks in the year (52, 26, 24 or 12) equals the annual figure. Some years have 27 biweekly paydays instead of 26; see 27 pay periods for which years and what it does to a salary.

Why this is an estimate

Withholding is a running prepayment of your tax, not the final bill. Your W-4 settings, other income, itemised deductions, and credits all change the actual amount you owe, which is settled on your tax return. This tool also doesn't model local city taxes, state disability/unemployment beyond noted cases, or garnishments. See the full disclaimer.

Realistic expectations

We currently support four states with income tax plus the no-tax states. Full 50-state coverage is planned. If your state isn't listed, the tool is honest about it rather than guessing.

Related tools

Convert a salary to an hourly rate first: Salary to Hourly Calculator.
Work out gross pay and overtime first: Hourly Pay Calculator, Time Card Calculator.

Frequently asked questions

How accurate is this paycheck calculator?

It uses the 2026 IRS Publication 15-T percentage method for federal withholding, the 2026 Social Security wage base and Medicare rates, and published 2026 state withholding tables for the supported states. It's a good estimate of what an employer would withhold. It is not the tax you ultimately owe — your annual return reconciles the difference.

Which states are supported?

California, New York, Illinois, and Pennsylvania (with 2026 tables), plus the states with no wage income tax: Texas, Florida, Washington, Tennessee, Nevada, South Dakota, Wyoming, Alaska, and New Hampshire. Choose 'Another US state' to see federal and FICA only, with a clear note that your state tax isn't included.

What about New York City or Philadelphia?

Local city and county income taxes are not included. If you live in NYC, Yonkers, or a city with a wage tax, your actual paycheck will be lower than the estimate.

Can I start from my annual salary instead?

Yes. Choose 'An annual salary' and pick how often you're paid. The calculator spreads the salary across the year's paychecks and shows take-home per paycheck, per month, and per year — the view you want for budgeting or comparing a job offer.

$90,000 a year — what's the take-home?

It depends on your state and filing status. As a rough guide for a single filer in 2026 in a state with no income tax, expect somewhere around $66,000–$70,000 after federal tax and FICA, and less in a state with income tax. Choose 'An annual salary' above for your own estimate.

What are the W-4 boxes for?

They match a 2020-or-later Form W-4. Check 'multiple jobs' if you selected Step 2(c). 'Dependent credits' is the annual amount from Step 3. 'Extra withholding' is Step 4(c). Pre-2020 W-4s with allowances aren't modelled.