Take-home pay calculator
Take-home pay is what is left after income tax, FICA and anything taken before tax. This shows each line separately.
Where every dollar goes
2026 tax year · 26 pay periods| Line | Per paycheck | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,615.38 | $68,000.00 |
| 401(k) contribution | −$130.77 | −$3,400.00 |
| Federal income tax | −$130.46 | −$3,392.00 |
| Social Security | −$162.15 | −$4,216.00 |
| Medicare | −$37.92 | −$986.00 |
| Texas state income tax | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Take-home pay | $2,154.08 | $56,006.00 |
The order deductions come off, and why it matters
Worked on $75,000, paid every two weeks. The order is not cosmetic: it decides how much each deduction actually saves you.
| Step | Amount | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,884.62 | What the job pays for the period |
| Less Section 125 health premium | −$150.00 | Comes off first, and reduces income tax AND FICA wages |
| Less 401(k) contribution | −$144.23 | Reduces income tax wages only, not FICA |
| Federal income tax | −$222.38 | Brackets applied after the standard deduction |
| Social Security | −$169.54 | 6.2% of FICA wages, up to $184,500 for 2026 |
| Medicare | −$39.65 | 1.45% with no cap, plus 0.9% above $200,000 |
| State income tax | varies | Each state uses its own base and rates |
The line most people get wrong is the 401(k). It lowers the wages your income tax is worked out on, but Social Security and Medicare are charged on pay before the deferral. That is why the Social Security wage figure in box 3 of your W-2 is usually higher than the federal wage figure in box 1.
A Section 125 health premium is different. It comes out before both, so it reduces income tax and FICA. On the same dollar, a health premium saves you more than a 401(k) contribution does, though the 401(k) is money you keep.
What is not in this figure
Take-home pay as shown here covers tax and pre-tax deductions. Several things come out after tax and will make your real deposit smaller.
Roth 401(k) contributions are post-tax by definition. So are most disability and supplemental life premiums, union dues, employee stock purchase contributions, loan repayments and any garnishment. None of them change what you owe, which is why they sit outside the calculation, but they do change what arrives.
Working the other way, the figure assumes you work the whole year at this rate. A mid-year raise, bonus or unpaid leave will move the annual total and with it your effective rate.
Common questions
- What is take-home pay?
- Gross pay minus pre-tax deductions, federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and any state or local tax. It is the amount that reaches your bank account, before any post-tax deductions your employer also takes.
- Why is my take-home pay lower than this calculator says?
- Usually post-tax deductions: Roth contributions, supplemental insurance, union dues, stock purchase plans or garnishments. Those reduce your deposit without changing your tax, so they sit outside this calculation.
- Does a 401(k) contribution increase my take-home pay?
- No. It reduces take-home pay, but by less than the amount contributed, because the contribution also lowers your income tax. A $100 contribution might cost you about $78 in take-home at a 22% marginal rate.
- What percentage of my paycheck goes to taxes?
- For most people on a middle income it is between 15% and 30% once federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and state tax are counted. The calculator above shows your own effective rate.
Choose your state
State rules change the answer more than anything else on this page.