How much federal tax is taken out of my paycheck?

Federal income tax withheld depends on your gross salary, filing status, and W-4 elections. For 2026, federal tax brackets range from 10% on income up to $11,925 for single filers, up to 37% on income over $626,350. Most Americans earning $40,000 to $100,000 land in the 12% or 22% bracket.

What is FICA tax and how much is it?

FICA stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It covers Social Security tax at 6.2% on wages up to $176,100 in 2026, and Medicare tax at 1.45% on all wages with no limit. Together, FICA costs 7.65% of your gross pay. Earners over $200,000 pay an extra 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax.

How do I calculate my take-home pay?

Your take-home pay equals your gross salary minus all taxes and deductions: federal income tax, Social Security tax at 6.2%, Medicare tax at 1.45%, state income tax which varies by state, and any pre-tax deductions like 401k contributions or health insurance premiums. For most Americans, net pay is roughly 65 to 80 percent of gross pay.

Which US 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. Residents of these states keep significantly more of their paycheck compared to high-tax states like California or New York.

Paycheck Calculator 2026 – Free US Take-Home Pay Estimator

Q: What is a W-4 and how does it affect my paycheck?

A W-4 is the Employee Withholding Certificate you fill out when starting a new job. It tells your employer how much federal income tax to withhold from each paycheck. The 2020 redesigned W-4 uses dollar amounts and life situation questions instead of the old allowance system.

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How Is My Paycheck Calculated?

Every US paycheck goes through a series of deductions before the money reaches your bank account. Understanding these deductions helps you plan your budget, negotiate salary, and avoid surprises at tax time. Here is exactly what gets taken out of your paycheck and why.

Federal Income Tax

The US uses a progressive tax system, which means different portions of your income are taxed at different rates. You do not pay your top bracket rate on your entire salary — only on the portion that falls in that bracket. For 2026, the federal tax brackets for a single filer are:

Tax Rate	Income Range (Single)	Income Range (Married)
10%	$0 – $11,925	$0 – $23,850
12%	$11,926 – $48,475	$23,851 – $96,950
22%	$48,476 – $103,350	$96,951 – $206,700
24%	$103,351 – $197,300	$206,701 – $394,600
32%	$197,301 – $250,525	$394,601 – $501,050
35%	$250,526 – $626,350	$501,051 – $751,600
37%	Over $626,350	Over $751,600

Your employer also subtracts the standard deduction ($15,000 for single filers in 2026) before calculating withholding, which reduces the taxable income used for calculations.

FICA Taxes — Social Security and Medicare

FICA taxes fund Social Security and Medicare programs. Unlike income tax, these are flat rates applied to every dollar you earn up to certain limits. Social Security tax is 6.2% on earnings up to $176,100 in 2026. Medicare tax is 1.45% on all earnings with no cap. Together, FICA takes 7.65% from most paychecks. High earners over $200,000 pay an additional 0.9% Medicare surtax.

State Income Tax

State taxes vary dramatically across the US. Nine states charge zero state income tax — Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Other states range from Pennsylvania's flat 3.07% to California's graduated rates reaching up to 13.3% for the highest earners.

💡 Living in a no-tax state?

Residents of Texas, Florida, or Washington save thousands per year compared to high-tax states. On a $70,000 salary, the difference between living in Texas vs California can be over $4,000 per year in state income tax alone.

How to Use This Paycheck Calculator

Enter Your Salary

Input your annual salary or switch to hourly wage. Enter your hours per week if using hourly.

Choose Pay Frequency

Select how often you get paid — weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly.

Select Filing Status

Choose Single, Married Filing Jointly, or Head of Household to match your W-4.

Pick Your State

Select your state to automatically apply the correct 2026 state income tax rate in our salary paycheck calculator.

See Instant Results

Your take-home pay updates instantly. Switch between per paycheck, monthly, and annual views.

Frequently Asked Questions

Federal income tax withheld depends on your gross salary, filing status, and W-4 elections. For 2026, federal tax brackets range from 10% (income up to $11,925 for single filers) to 37% (income over $626,350). Most Americans earning $40,000–$100,000 land in the 12% or 22% bracket. Because the US uses a progressive system, you only pay each bracket rate on the income within that range — not your entire paycheck. Our take-home pay calculator applies the exact 2026 federal brackets to give you an accurate withholding estimate.

FICA stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It covers two mandatory payroll taxes: Social Security (6.2% on wages up to $176,100 in 2026) and Medicare (1.45% on all wages with no limit). Together, FICA costs 7.65% of your gross pay. Your employer matches this amount and pays an equal 7.65% on your behalf. Earners over $200,000 pay an extra 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax on income above that threshold.

Your take-home pay (also called net pay) equals your gross salary minus all taxes and deductions. The main deductions are: federal income tax (varies by bracket), Social Security tax (6.2%), Medicare tax (1.45%), state income tax (0%–13.3% depending on state), and any pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions or health insurance premiums. For most Americans earning $50,000–$80,000, take-home pay is roughly 70–78% of gross pay. Use our free paycheck calculator above for an instant, accurate estimate specific to your situation.

Nine states have no state income tax on wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. If you live or work in one of these states, your take-home pay will be noticeably higher than in high-tax states. For example, on a $70,000 salary, a California resident pays roughly $3,800 in state income tax, while a Texas resident pays $0. New Hampshire taxes only investment income, not wages.

A W-4 (Employee's Withholding Certificate) is the form you fill out when starting a new job. It tells your employer how much federal income tax to withhold from each paycheck. The 2020 redesigned W-4 uses dollar amounts and life situation questions instead of the old allowance system. Claiming additional withholding increases the amount taken out each pay period (smaller check, larger refund). Reducing withholding means you keep more each pay period but may owe taxes at the end of the year. The IRS recommends using their Tax Withholding Estimator to fill out your W-4 accurately.

Gross pay is your full salary before any taxes or deductions — the number in your employment contract or offer letter. Net pay (take-home pay) is what actually gets deposited into your bank account after all taxes, Social Security, Medicare, and any other deductions are subtracted. For most Americans, net pay is roughly 65–80% of gross pay, depending on income level, filing status, and state. Pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions reduce your taxable gross pay, which can modestly increase your take-home pay compared to taking the same amount as cash.