Paycheck Calculator
See what actually lands in your bank account — gross to net in seconds.
Estimated take-home
Rough estimate only — not tax advice. Real withholding depends on your W-4, state, and benefits.
How to use the paycheck calculator
- Enter your gross pay and tell us whether it is per paycheck or an annual salary.
- Choose your pay frequency and an estimated overall tax rate.
- Add any pre-tax deductions (401k, health premiums) per paycheck.
What actually shrinks your paycheck
The gap between gross and net pay surprises almost everyone. Federal income tax is only part of it: FICA takes 7.65% off the top for Social Security and Medicare (your employer matches it), then state and sometimes local income taxes pile on, and pre-tax deductions for health insurance and retirement come out before you ever see the money. The “estimated tax rate” here is meant to bundle all of that into one number — for a ballpark, most US employees land between 20% and 30% all-in, higher in high-tax states. Your W-4 fine-tunes the federal slice: claim too little and you get a refund (an interest-free loan to the IRS), claim too much and you owe in April. Use this for planning and offer comparisons, then check a real pay stub for the truth.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my paycheck smaller than I expected?
Taxes and deductions. Between federal/state income tax, 7.65% FICA, and health/retirement deductions, take-home is commonly 70–80% of gross.
Biweekly vs semi-monthly — what's the difference?
Biweekly is every two weeks (26 paychecks/year, with two “third paycheck” months). Semi-monthly is twice a month on fixed dates (24 paychecks). Biweekly paychecks are slightly smaller but you get two bonus ones.
What tax rate should I enter?
As a rough all-in estimate (federal + state + FICA), 22–28% works for many US employees. Adjust up in high-tax states or down if you have major deductions.
Is this tax advice?
No. This is a planning estimate. Real withholding depends on your W-4 elections, state rules, and benefits — talk to a tax professional for the real numbers.