US Paycheck Calculator 2026
Net take-home pay after federal tax, state tax, Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%), and 401(k).
On a $75,000 salary in Texas (no state income tax), a single filer contributing 6% to 401(k) takes home approximately $2,097/biweekly paycheck (after federal income tax and FICA). In California at the same salary, the biweekly paycheck drops to approximately $1,878 due to the 9.3% state income tax.
Gross Pay (Biweekly)
$2,884.62
Federal Tax (annual)
$7,124.00
State Tax (annual)
$0.00
FICA (SS + Medicare)
$5,737.50
401(k) Contribution
$4,500.00
Net Take-Home (Biweekly)
$2,216.87
FICA: Social Security 6.2% on first $176,100; Medicare 1.45% on all wages.
FICA: Social Security 6.2% on first $176,100; Medicare 1.45% on all wages.
About This Calculator
Your gross pay and your take-home pay can differ by 25–35%. The deductions that make up that gap are: federal income tax (determined by your W-4 withholding and filing status), FICA (6.2% Social Security on wages up to $176,100 + 1.45% Medicare on all wages), state income tax (0% to 13.3% depending on state), and any pre-tax 401(k) or HSA contributions.
401(k) contributions are especially powerful because they reduce your federal and state taxable income dollar-for-dollar. Contributing $300/biweekly paycheck to your 401(k) might only reduce your take-home by $220–$240 after the tax savings — effectively getting a 20–25% "return" immediately.
State tax has a massive impact on take-home pay. Moving from California (9.3%) to Texas (0%) on a $100,000 salary saves approximately $9,300/year in state income tax — an enormous difference in financial quality of life that's often overlooked when comparing job offers.
How to Use
- 1Enter your annual gross salary.
- 2Select your pay period (biweekly is most common at 26 paychecks/year; semi-monthly = 24; weekly = 52).
- 3Select your filing status and state of residence for accurate state tax.
- 4Enter your 401(k) contribution percentage — this reduces your taxable income.
- 5Review your per-paycheck breakdown: gross pay, each deduction, and net take-home.
Formula & Methodology
Net Pay = Gross Pay − Federal Income Tax − Social Security (6.2% on wages up to $176,100) − Medicare (1.45%) − State Income Tax − 401(k) Contribution. Federal tax is calculated after standard deduction ($15,000 single, $30,000 MFJ) on annualized income, then divided by pay periods.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the FICA tax rate for 2026?
FICA consists of two parts: Social Security tax at 6.2% on wages up to $176,100 (the 2026 wage base) and Medicare tax at 1.45% on all wages with no cap. High earners also pay an additional 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax on wages above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married). Employers match the 6.2% SS and 1.45% Medicare.
Which states have no income tax?
Nine states have no state income tax on wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Washington state has a 7% capital gains tax on gains above $262,000, but no wage income tax. These states typically make up revenue through higher sales taxes and property taxes.
How does 401(k) contribution affect my paycheck?
Traditional 401(k) contributions are pre-tax, reducing both federal and state taxable income. On a $75,000 salary at 22% federal + 5% state rate, contributing 6% ($4,500/year) reduces take-home by only $3,285/year ($126/biweekly paycheck) because $1,215 in taxes is saved. Roth 401(k) contributions are after-tax and don't reduce current take-home.
How do I calculate my biweekly take-home pay?
Annual net pay ÷ 26 = biweekly take-home. Annual net = Gross Salary − Federal Tax − FICA − State Tax − 401(k). Example: $75,000 gross in Texas (no state tax), single, 6% 401(k): Federal tax ~$8,300; FICA ~$5,738; 401(k) $4,500; Net ~$56,462/year; Biweekly ~$2,172.
What is the Social Security wage base for 2026?
The 2026 Social Security wage base is $176,100. Only wages up to this amount are subject to the 6.2% Social Security tax. Above $176,100, only the 1.45% Medicare tax applies (plus 0.9% additional Medicare on earnings above $200K). In contrast, Medicare has no wage base cap.
Sources & References
- IRS — Withholding Calculator
- SSA — 2026 FICA Contribution and Benefit Base
- IRS — Publication 15 (Employer Tax Guide)
Last updated: 2026-04-12