How this paycheck calculator works
U.S. net pay is not “salary ÷ 26.” Employers withhold federal income tax using IRS methods, plus Social Security (6.2% up to the annual wage base) and Medicare (1.45%, with an extra 0.9% on high wages). Most states add their own income tax; Texas, Florida, and several others do not tax wages.
This tool annualizes your gross pay, subtracts the 2026 standard deduction for your filing status, then applies 2026 federal brackets published with IRS inflation adjustments (Revenue Procedure 2025-32). Traditional 401(k) deferrals reduce the federal and state wage we tax here. They do not reduce FICA. A pre-tax health premium is treated like a Section 125 amount and comes out before income tax and FICA.
State tax is a simplified percentage so you can see Texas versus California in one click. Real withholding uses state tables, local taxes, and credits this page does not claim to copy. Override the rate from your last stub if you have one.
We do not model the Child Tax Credit, other credits, itemized deductions, or the full 2020-and-later Form W-4. If those apply, your real check will differ — often in your favor.