⚑ A rough estimate, not tax advice
This is a simplified estimate for educational purposes only. It ignores tax credits, local and city taxes, the Social Security wage cap and any extra withholding — and is not tax advice. Consult a licensed professional before making decisions.
$
$
Take-home pay per period
$0
$0Net annual
$0Federal tax
$0FICA (7.65%)
$0State tax
$0Pre-tax
How the paycheck calculator works
Your estimated take-home pay starts from gross salary and removes each deduction in order:
taxable = max(0, gross − pre-tax − standard deduction)
net = gross − pre-tax − federal − FICA − state
The standard deduction is $14,600 (single) or $29,200 (married filing jointly) for 2024. Federal tax is applied marginally across the 2024 brackets on taxable income. FICA is 7.65% of pay after pre-tax deductions (6.2% Social Security + 1.45% Medicare). State tax is a flat percentage of taxable income — adjust it to your state, or set it to 0 for no-income-tax states. Per-period pay divides the net by 12 (monthly), 24 (semi-monthly), 26 (bi-weekly) or 52 (weekly) periods.
Frequently asked questions
How is take-home pay calculated?
Gross minus pre-tax deductions and the standard deduction gives taxable income. Federal tax is applied marginally across the 2024 brackets, FICA is 7.65% of pay after pre-tax, and state tax is a flat percent of taxable income. Net pay is gross minus pre-tax, federal, FICA and state — then split across your pay periods.
What is FICA and why is it 7.65%?
FICA combines Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) for 7.65% total, applied here to pay after pre-tax deductions. This tool doesn't model the Social Security wage cap or the extra 0.9% Medicare surtax on high earners.
Does this include tax credits and local taxes?
No. It's a simplified estimate that ignores credits (like the Child Tax Credit), local or city income taxes, extra withholding and most state-specific rules. Your real paycheck can differ meaningfully.
Why does my real paycheck differ from this estimate?
Employer withholding follows your W-4 and IRS tables, not your final liability, so it rarely matches an annualized estimate. Credits, extra withholding, local taxes, benefits and progressive state tax all shift the number. Treat this as a rough guide.
Related tools
Sources & further reading
2024 federal income tax brackets and standard deduction, U.S. Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov); FICA rates, Social Security Administration (ssa.gov). Read our full disclaimer →