How this calculator works
Federal tax uses 2026 brackets and the standard deduction for your filing status; FICA is 6.2% SS (wage base $184,500) + 1.45% Medicare (+0.9% above $200k/$250k). State tax is your flat % input.
Home → Salary & Income → Paycheck Calculator
Paycheck Calculator — Estimate Your Next Paycheck
Same engine as the salary calculator, framed per paycheck: enter gross pay and get federal withholding, FICA and net.
Scenario examples (2026 rates)
| Gross pay | Take-home per year | Take-home per month |
|---|---|---|
| 1,750 | $1,528.63 | $127.39 |
| 2,625 | $2,292.94 | $191.08 |
| 3,500 | $3,057.25 | $254.77 |
| 5,250 | $4,585.88 | $382.16 |
| 7,000 | $6,114.5 | $509.54 |
Every number above is computed by the same in-browser engine as the calculator — nothing is hardcoded.
Anatomy of a Paycheck in 2026
Read your next stub top to bottom and it tells the whole story this calculator approximates. Gross pay comes first. Pre-tax deductions, 401(k) deferrals, health and dental premiums, HSA and commuter contributions, come out before any tax is computed, which is why they are the cheapest dollars you ever spend. Federal withholding follows, driven by your W-4 and the 2026 brackets. FICA takes 6.2 percent for Social Security until your year-to-date wages cross the $184,500 base, plus 1.45 percent for Medicare with no cap. State and local income taxes apply where you live and work. Post-tax items come last: Roth contributions, union dues, garnishments. The remainder is net pay. One seasonal quirk worth knowing: in January your Social Security withholding resets, and high earners notice net pay jump late in the year once the wage base is passed, then drop again each January.
Pay Period Math: Why the Same Salary Yields Different Checks
A $78,000 salary produces exactly $3,000 semimonthly, $2,769 biweekly over 26 checks, $1,500 weekly over 52, and $6,500 monthly over twelve. Same annual money, very different cash-flow rhythm, and budgeting mistakes happen when people multiply the wrong number. Biweekly schedules hide two extra paychecks a year, the three-check months, which is the single easiest raise most employees never claim: budget on the 26-check baseline and route the surplus months straight to savings or debt. Hourly workers face the reverse trap, annualizing at 2,080 hours only if they actually work every week; unpaid time off, holidays and gaps shrink the real figure, so multiply your actual expected hours, not the theoretical ones. This calculator converts any input period, hourly, monthly or annual, into a single paycheck estimate using the 2026 tables, so you can compare offers paid on different schedules without doing the arithmetic yourself.
Pre-Tax Dollars Move Your Net More Than a Raise Does
A $500 raise costs an employer $500 and hands you maybe $330 after federal, state and FICA taxes. A $500 increase in your 401(k) deferral costs your employer the same match as before, removes $500 from taxable wages, and skips income tax entirely, while HSA contributions additionally dodge FICA, saving the full 7.65 percent on top. In 2026 you can defer into the standard 401(k) limit, with extra catch-up room if you are 50 or older, and fund an HSA if you are on a high-deductible plan. The paycheck effect is immediate and visible: run this calculator, then subtract your monthly deferral from gross and run it again, and the net difference is smaller than the deferral because taxes fell too. Employer match makes it free money on top. No salary negotiation beats the math of simply moving dollars to the pre-tax column first.
FAQ
Why doesn't it match my W-4 withholding exactly?
Actual payroll withholding uses the percentage method with your W-4 adjustments (dependents, extra withholding, two jobs). This is a close estimate, not a payroll system.
How do I lower withholding legally?
Adjust your W-4 for dependents, pre-tax 401(k)/HSA contributions — contributions reduce taxable wages and thus withholding.
When does the extra 0.9% Medicare tax start?
Employers must withhold the additional 0.9 percent once your wages with that employer pass $200,000, regardless of filing status. Your actual liability depends on household income: $200,000 single, $250,000 married filing jointly, $125,000 married filing separately. If withholding over-collects relative to your filing status you recover it as a credit at tax time; if you have two jobs that each stay under $200,000 you may owe the surtax when you file.
What is the difference between biweekly and semimonthly pay?
Biweekly pays every other week, 26 checks a year, with two months each year containing three checks. Semimonthly pays on fixed dates like the 1st and 15th, 24 checks a year. Annual totals are identical, but each semimonthly check is about 8.7 percent larger. Hourly workers should annualize with hours times 2,080 for biweekly schedules; salaried workers simply divide by 26 or 24.
I have two jobs. Will my withholding cover both?
Not by default. Each employer withholds as if it were your only job, so your combined income lands in a higher bracket than either payroll knows about, and tax day brings a bill. Fix it with the Step 4(c) Multiple Jobs worksheet on Form W-4, or add a flat extra amount to withhold each paycheck, or send quarterly estimated payments. Recheck after any raise or job change.