US paycheck calculator (2026)

Work out your take-home pay from your salary, or the salary you need for a target paycheck: federal tax, FICA and state tax for all 50 states, with 2026 IRS and Tax Foundation figures. Free, no sign-up.

How is US take-home pay calculated?

Federal income tax: after the standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, $24,150 head of household), rates from 10% to 37%; $2,200 Child Tax Credit per child under 17, phased out above $200,000 ($400,000 married filing jointly).
FICA: Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000, or $250,000 married filing jointly).
State: 2026 brackets for all 50 states and DC; nine states do not tax wages (Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming). State payroll contributions for California (SDI 1.3%), Washington (WA Cares 0.58%) and Massachusetts (PFML 0.46%).
401(k): deducted before federal and state income tax (limit $24,500), but not before FICA.

Not included: city and county taxes (New York City, Ohio, Pennsylvania…), high-income phase-outs in some states, means-tested credits.

Frequently asked questions

What is the take-home pay on $70,000 in Texas?

For a single filer with no children: $6,570 federal tax and $5,355 FICA, no state tax, so about $58,075 a year.

And in California?

On the same salary, state income tax (about $2,388) and SDI ($910) bring take-home pay to about $54,777.

Sources: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, IRS Publication 15 (2026), Tax Foundation 2026.

How to use it

Enter your gross pay per year, month, two weeks, week or hour, or start from the take-home pay you want.
Choose the state (all 50 states and DC) and your filing status: single, married filing jointly or head of household.
Enter the number of children under 17 for the Child Tax Credit.
Add your 401(k) (pre-tax percentage), other pre-tax deductions (health insurance, HSA) and your employer match.
Read the breakdown: federal tax, Social Security, Medicare, state tax and contributions, net pay per period and total employer cost (including federal unemployment, FUTA).

Reading a US paycheck

Pay is often biweekly (26 paychecks a year), not monthly. Two months a year therefore have three paydays.
The tool's figure is an annual estimate: actual withholding depends on the W-4 you gave your employer. Too little withheld means a bill in April; too much means a refund.
401(k) contributions cut federal and state income tax, but not FICA. Contributing at least up to the employer match is an instant raise.

Comparing two states

For the same salary, the gap can reach thousands of dollars a year: nine states don't tax wages (including Texas, Florida and Washington), while California, New York and Oregon have high rates. But no-income-tax states often make up for it with higher property or sales taxes, and housing costs usually matter more than tax. Use the tool to compare take-home pay, then weigh it against the cost of living.

What's not included

City and county income taxes (New York City, Philadelphia, many Ohio cities…), means-tested credits (EITC) and some high-income phase-outs. For complex situations (self-employment income, several states in one year), get professional advice.

See also: Canada, United Kingdom, France.

Guide written and checked by Erwan Hautot · updated 29 October 2026.