US paycheck / take-home pay calculator
Estimate US take-home pay after federal income tax, FICA and state tax.
Estimate using 2024 federal brackets and the standard deduction. Excludes credits, 401(k) and local taxes.
How the calculation works
From gross pay, subtract the standard deduction to get taxable income; apply progressive federal tax; add FICA (6.2% Social Security up to the wage base + 1.45% Medicare) and state tax.
Worked example: $60,000/yr, single
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gross salary | $60,000 |
| − Standard deduction | $14,600 |
| = Taxable income | $45,400 |
| Federal tax (10% and 12% brackets) | $5,216 |
| FICA (7.65%) | $4,590 |
| Annual take-home (before state) | $50,194 |
Effective rate: ~16.3% — much lower than the "sticker" 22% bracket, because brackets are progressive and the standard deduction removes $14,600 from the base.
Marginal ≠ effective rate
Your marginal rate is the top bracket (what one extra dollar pays). Your effective rate is total tax ÷ total income — always lower. Mixing them up overestimates your taxes.
State income tax
It ranges from 0% (e.g., Texas, Florida, Washington, Tennessee, Nevada) to ~10%+ (California, New York). Enter your state's average rate in the state-tax field.
Examples
- $60,000/yr, single, no state tax: ~$4,183/month take-home (~16.3% effective rate).
Frequently asked questions
What is FICA?
They are the Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes withheld from your pay.
Does entering a higher bracket reduce my take-home?
No. Brackets are progressive: only income above the threshold pays the new rate. A raise always increases take-home pay.
Does contributing to a 401(k) change my taxes?
Yes: traditional contributions are pre-tax, lowering your taxable income (FICA still applies). It is one of the simplest ways to cut this year's taxes.
Why does my real paycheck differ from the estimate?
Health insurance, 401(k), HSA, local taxes and your W-4 change withholding. The calculator shows the base case with the standard deduction.
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Updated on July 2, 2026 · by Rafael Rossi · Methodology & sources