Take-Home-Paycheck Calculator
Press Calculate to see the results.
This take-home pay calculator estimates the net amount of each paycheck after 2026 federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, state and city taxes and pre-tax deductions, for any pay frequency and filing status.
Take-home pay, or net pay, is what lands in your bank account after everything is taken out of a paycheck. With the default inputs, an $80,000 salary paid biweekly with $6,000 of pre-tax deductions comes to about $60,430 a year, or $2,324.23 per paycheck, after $7,450 of federal income tax and $6,120 of Social Security and Medicare tax. Add your state and city rates for a fuller picture.
| Pay frequency | What it means |
|---|---|
| Daily | Paid for each day worked. Rare outside day labor and some gig work. |
| Weekly | 52 paychecks a year, usually on the same weekday. |
| Bi-weekly | 26 paychecks a year, every other week. The most common US schedule. |
| Semi-monthly | 24 paychecks a year on two fixed dates, such as the 15th and the last day of the month. |
| Monthly | 12 paychecks a year on a set day. |
| Quarterly | 4 payments a year. Unusual for regular wages. |
| Semi-annually | 2 payments a year. Unusual. |
| Annually | 1 payment a year, typically for bonuses or distributions. |
Income Tax
Federal income tax is the largest deduction from most paychecks. Employers withhold it based on the Form W-4 each employee completes, which records filing status, dependents, other income and any extra withholding. The tax is progressive: income is split into brackets, and each slice is taxed at its own rate, from 10% up to 37%. Moving into a higher bracket raises the rate only on the dollars inside that bracket, not on all income.
Before brackets apply, income is reduced by pre-tax payroll deductions, such as traditional 401(k) contributions and health insurance premiums, and by the standard deduction or itemized deductions. For 2026, the standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married couples filing jointly and $24,150 for heads of household. Credits then reduce the tax itself: the child tax credit, for example, is $2,200 per child under 17 in 2026.
For 2025 through 2028, workers may also deduct qualified tips (up to $25,000), the premium portion of qualified overtime pay (up to $12,500, or $25,000 for joint filers), up to $10,000 of interest on a loan for a new US-assembled vehicle, and an extra $6,000 per person aged 65 or older. Each phases out at higher incomes. Employers began reflecting these through updated withholding, but many workers will see the benefit mainly as a larger refund.
Withholding is an estimate. If too much is withheld, you get a refund after filing; if too little, you owe the difference and possibly a penalty. Reviewing your W-4 after a marriage, a new child, a second job or a big raise keeps withholding close to your actual tax. The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator on irs.gov helps with this.
Most states also tax wages, at flat rates or with their own brackets, and some cities, such as New York City, Philadelphia and many Ohio and Pennsylvania municipalities, add a local income tax. Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming do not tax wages. Enter a combined effective rate for your state and city to include them.
Your filing status determines your brackets and standard deduction:
| Filing status | Who uses it |
|---|---|
| Single | Unmarried, divorced or legally separated on the last day of the year. |
| Married filing jointly | Married couples combining their income and deductions on one return. |
| Married filing separately | Married people who file their own returns; usually higher tax, but sometimes useful for liability or income-driven loan payments. |
| Head of household | Unmarried taxpayers who pay more than half the cost of keeping up a home for a qualifying person, such as a child. |
| Qualifying surviving spouse | A widow or widower with a dependent child, who can use joint rates for two years after the year of the spouse's death. |
FICA Tax
FICA, named for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act, funds Social Security and Medicare. Employees pay 6.2% of wages for Social Security, up to a wage base of $184,500 in 2026, and 1.45% of all wages for Medicare. Employers pay a matching amount. Earnings above $200,000 for a single filer, or $250,000 for a married couple filing jointly, owe an additional 0.9% Medicare tax, which employers start withholding once wages from them pass $200,000.
Unlike income tax, FICA has no standard deduction and no brackets below the wage base, so it takes a flat 7.65% from the first dollar for most workers. Traditional 401(k) contributions do not reduce wages subject to FICA, though health insurance premiums and HSA contributions made through a cafeteria plan do. This calculator applies FICA to total job income, which may slightly overstate it if you have cafeteria-plan deductions.
Self-employed people pay both halves as self-employment tax: 15.3% on 92.35% of net earnings, with the Social Security part capped at the wage base. They can deduct half of it when figuring income tax. Choose "self-employed" above to switch from FICA to self-employment tax.
Take Home Pay
Net pay is gross pay minus federal, state and local income tax, Social Security and Medicare, and any voluntary deductions such as retirement contributions, insurance premiums, union dues or wage garnishments. Two people with the same salary can have quite different take-home pay depending on where they live, how much they put into a 401(k), how many dependents they claim and the benefits they elect.
How to Increase a Take Home Paycheck
Earning more is the obvious way to increase net pay, but there are also ways to keep more of what you already earn. Some of them simply move money from one place to another, so weigh each against your long-term goals.
- Update your W-4. If you received a large refund last year, you are lending the government money interest-free. Adjusting withholding raises each paycheck by the amount you would otherwise get back as a refund. Do the reverse if you owed.
- Claim the new deductions. If you earn tips or overtime, buy a new US-assembled car with a loan, or are 65 or older, the 2025–2028 deductions can lower your tax. Account for them on your W-4 so the savings show up in each paycheck rather than at tax time.
- Use pre-tax benefits wisely. Traditional 401(k) contributions, HSA contributions and flexible spending accounts for health care, dependent care or commuting lower taxable income. Each pre-tax dollar reduces take-home pay by less than a dollar, because it also cuts your tax.
- Review benefit elections. Compare health plans each open enrollment; a plan with a lower premium and an HSA can raise net pay for healthy households. Drop insurance or add-ons you do not need.
- Ask for a raise or promotion. Bring market pay data and a record of results. Even a small percentage raise compounds over a career.
- Look at your state. State income tax rates range from zero to over 13% at the top, so moving, or a remote job in a different state, can change net pay noticeably. Check how your current and new state treat remote workers before moving.
- Claim credits you qualify for. The child tax credit, child and dependent care credit, education credits and the earned income credit all reduce tax, and some can be reflected in withholding.
- Pay attention to overtime and shift differentials. If you are non-exempt, extra hours at time and a half can lift pay substantially, and the overtime premium is partly deductible through 2028.
- Consider side income carefully. A second job or freelance work raises income but is taxed at your marginal rate plus FICA or self-employment tax. Set aside or have extra withheld for it so it does not create a surprise bill.
2026 Tax Brackets
Taxable income ranges for 2026. The standard deduction was $16,100 for single filers and married people filing separately, $32,200 for joint filers and $24,150 for heads of household.
| Rate | Single | Married filing jointly | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $12,400 | $0 – $24,800 | $0 – $17,700 |
| 12% | $12,401 – $50,400 | $24,801 – $100,800 | $17,701 – $67,450 |
| 22% | $50,401 – $105,700 | $100,801 – $211,400 | $67,451 – $105,700 |
| 24% | $105,701 – $201,775 | $211,401 – $403,550 | $105,701 – $201,750 |
| 32% | $201,776 – $256,225 | $403,551 – $512,450 | $201,751 – $256,200 |
| 35% | $256,226 – $640,600 | $512,451 – $768,700 | $256,201 – $640,600 |
| 37% | Over $640,600 | Over $768,700 | Over $640,600 |
2025 Tax Brackets
Taxable income ranges for 2025. The standard deduction was $15,750 for single filers and married people filing separately, $31,500 for joint filers and $23,625 for heads of household. These amounts reflect the increase made by the 2025 tax law.
| Rate | Single | Married filing jointly | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $11,925 | $0 – $23,850 | $0 – $17,000 |
| 12% | $11,926 – $48,475 | $23,851 – $96,950 | $17,001 – $64,850 |
| 22% | $48,476 – $103,350 | $96,951 – $206,700 | $64,851 – $103,350 |
| 24% | $103,351 – $197,300 | $206,701 – $394,600 | $103,351 – $197,300 |
| 32% | $197,301 – $250,525 | $394,601 – $501,050 | $197,301 – $250,500 |
| 35% | $250,526 – $626,350 | $501,051 – $751,600 | $250,501 – $626,350 |
| 37% | Over $626,350 | Over $751,600 | Over $626,350 |
2024 Tax Brackets
Taxable income ranges for 2024. The standard deduction was $14,600 for single filers and married people filing separately, $29,200 for joint filers and $21,900 for heads of household.
| Rate | Single | Married filing jointly | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $11,600 | $0 – $23,200 | $0 – $16,550 |
| 12% | $11,601 – $47,150 | $23,201 – $94,300 | $16,551 – $63,100 |
| 22% | $47,151 – $100,525 | $94,301 – $201,050 | $63,101 – $100,500 |
| 24% | $100,526 – $191,950 | $201,051 – $383,900 | $100,501 – $191,950 |
| 32% | $191,951 – $243,725 | $383,901 – $487,450 | $191,951 – $243,700 |
| 35% | $243,726 – $609,350 | $487,451 – $731,200 | $243,701 – $609,350 |
| 37% | Over $609,350 | Over $731,200 | Over $609,350 |
2023 Tax Brackets
Taxable income ranges for 2023. The standard deduction was $13,850 for single filers and married people filing separately, $27,700 for joint filers and $20,800 for heads of household.
| Rate | Single | Married filing jointly | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $11,000 | $0 – $22,000 | $0 – $15,700 |
| 12% | $11,001 – $44,725 | $22,001 – $89,450 | $15,701 – $59,850 |
| 22% | $44,726 – $95,375 | $89,451 – $190,750 | $59,851 – $95,350 |
| 24% | $95,376 – $182,100 | $190,751 – $364,200 | $95,351 – $182,100 |
| 32% | $182,101 – $231,250 | $364,201 – $462,500 | $182,101 – $231,250 |
| 35% | $231,251 – $578,125 | $462,501 – $693,750 | $231,251 – $578,100 |
| 37% | Over $578,125 | Over $693,750 | Over $578,100 |
2022 Tax Brackets
Taxable income ranges for 2022. The standard deduction was $12,950 for single filers and married people filing separately, $25,900 for joint filers and $19,400 for heads of household.
| Rate | Single | Married filing jointly | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $10,275 | $0 – $20,550 | $0 – $14,650 |
| 12% | $10,276 – $41,775 | $20,551 – $83,550 | $14,651 – $55,900 |
| 22% | $41,776 – $89,075 | $83,551 – $178,150 | $55,901 – $89,050 |
| 24% | $89,076 – $170,050 | $178,151 – $340,100 | $89,051 – $170,050 |
| 32% | $170,051 – $215,950 | $340,101 – $431,900 | $170,051 – $215,950 |
| 35% | $215,951 – $539,900 | $431,901 – $647,850 | $215,951 – $539,900 |
| 37% | Over $539,900 | Over $647,850 | Over $539,900 |
2021 Tax Brackets
Taxable income ranges for 2021. The standard deduction was $12,550 for single filers and married people filing separately, $25,100 for joint filers and $18,800 for heads of household.
| Rate | Single | Married filing jointly | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $9,950 | $0 – $19,900 | $0 – $14,200 |
| 12% | $9,951 – $40,525 | $19,901 – $81,050 | $14,201 – $54,200 |
| 22% | $40,526 – $86,375 | $81,051 – $172,750 | $54,201 – $86,350 |
| 24% | $86,376 – $164,925 | $172,751 – $329,850 | $86,351 – $164,900 |
| 32% | $164,926 – $209,425 | $329,851 – $418,850 | $164,901 – $209,400 |
| 35% | $209,426 – $523,600 | $418,851 – $628,300 | $209,401 – $523,600 |
| 37% | Over $523,600 | Over $628,300 | Over $523,600 |
2020 Tax Brackets
Taxable income ranges for 2020. The standard deduction was $12,400 for single filers and married people filing separately, $24,800 for joint filers and $18,650 for heads of household.
| Rate | Single | Married filing jointly | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $9,875 | $0 – $19,750 | $0 – $14,100 |
| 12% | $9,876 – $40,125 | $19,751 – $80,250 | $14,101 – $53,700 |
| 22% | $40,126 – $85,525 | $80,251 – $171,050 | $53,701 – $85,500 |
| 24% | $85,526 – $163,300 | $171,051 – $326,600 | $85,501 – $163,300 |
| 32% | $163,301 – $207,350 | $326,601 – $414,700 | $163,301 – $207,350 |
| 35% | $207,351 – $518,400 | $414,701 – $622,050 | $207,351 – $518,400 |
| 37% | Over $518,400 | Over $622,050 | Over $518,400 |
2019 Tax Brackets
Taxable income ranges for 2019. The standard deduction was $12,200 for single filers and married people filing separately, $24,400 for joint filers and $18,350 for heads of household.
| Rate | Single | Married filing jointly | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $9,700 | $0 – $19,400 | $0 – $13,850 |
| 12% | $9,701 – $39,475 | $19,401 – $78,950 | $13,851 – $52,850 |
| 22% | $39,476 – $84,200 | $78,951 – $168,400 | $52,851 – $84,200 |
| 24% | $84,201 – $160,725 | $168,401 – $321,450 | $84,201 – $160,700 |
| 32% | $160,726 – $204,100 | $321,451 – $408,200 | $160,701 – $204,100 |
| 35% | $204,101 – $510,300 | $408,201 – $612,350 | $204,101 – $510,300 |
| 37% | Over $510,300 | Over $612,350 | Over $510,300 |
2018 Tax Brackets
Taxable income ranges for 2018. The standard deduction was $12,000 for single filers and married people filing separately, $24,000 for joint filers and $18,000 for heads of household.
| Rate | Single | Married filing jointly | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $9,525 | $0 – $19,050 | $0 – $13,600 |
| 12% | $9,526 – $38,700 | $19,051 – $77,400 | $13,601 – $51,800 |
| 22% | $38,701 – $82,500 | $77,401 – $165,000 | $51,801 – $82,500 |
| 24% | $82,501 – $157,500 | $165,001 – $315,000 | $82,501 – $157,500 |
| 32% | $157,501 – $200,000 | $315,001 – $400,000 | $157,501 – $200,000 |
| 35% | $200,001 – $500,000 | $400,001 – $600,000 | $200,001 – $500,000 |
| 37% | Over $500,000 | Over $600,000 | Over $500,000 |
2017 Tax Brackets
For 2017, the last year before the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, there were seven brackets from 10% to 39.6%. The standard deduction was $6,350 for single filers, $12,700 for joint filers and $9,350 for heads of household, and each taxpayer and dependent also had a $4,050 personal exemption.
| Rate | Single | Married filing jointly | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $9,325 | $0 – $18,650 | $0 – $13,350 |
| 15% | $9,326 – $37,950 | $18,651 – $75,900 | $13,351 – $50,800 |
| 25% | $37,951 – $91,900 | $75,901 – $153,100 | $50,801 – $131,200 |
| 28% | $91,901 – $191,650 | $153,101 – $233,350 | $131,201 – $212,500 |
| 33% | $191,651 – $416,700 | $233,351 – $416,700 | $212,501 – $416,700 |
| 35% | $416,701 – $418,400 | $416,701 – $470,700 | $416,701 – $444,550 |
| 39.6% | Over $418,400 | Over $470,700 | Over $444,550 |
Frequently asked questions
How much is $80,000 a year after taxes?
For a single filer in 2026 with no state income tax and $6,000 of pre-tax deductions, about $60,430 a year, or $2,324 every two weeks. State and city taxes reduce it further.
What percentage of my paycheck goes to taxes?
It depends on income, location and deductions. For a middle-income single filer, federal income tax and FICA together often take 15% to 22% of gross pay, before any state tax.
Why is my paycheck different from this estimate?
Employers withhold based on your W-4 and payroll formulas, which can differ from your actual yearly tax. Benefits, garnishments and local taxes also vary.
Do 401(k) contributions reduce my taxes?
Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce federal and most state income tax but not Social Security and Medicare tax. Roth contributions do not reduce current tax.
What is the Social Security wage base for 2026?
$184,500. Wages above that are not subject to the 6.2% Social Security tax, though Medicare tax still applies.
Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial, tax or legal advice. Confirm figures with a qualified professional or your lender.
Updated by Calculator.hair. How we build and check our calculators