Paycheck Calculator

Estimate your take-home pay after federal income tax and FICA (Social Security and Medicare) withholding.

Enter Your Details

Federal tax + FICA only. Does not include state tax, 401(k), or health insurance deductions.

Take-Home Per Paycheck

$0

Annual Net Pay

$0

Total Withheld

$0

How is take-home pay calculated?

Take-home pay is your gross salary minus federal income tax (based on your bracket) and FICA (7.65% for Social Security and Medicare combined), divided by your number of pay periods.

Net Pay = (Gross Salary − Federal Tax − FICA) / Pay Periods

What Comes Out of a Paycheck

Gross pay is your full salary or wages before any deductions. Net (take-home) pay is what's left after mandatory withholdings, primarily federal income tax and FICA, and often additional voluntary deductions like retirement contributions and health insurance premiums that this calculator does not account for.

Understanding FICA

FICA funds Social Security and Medicare and applies to nearly all employee wages: 6.2% for Social Security (up to an annual wage base limit, above which no further Social Security tax is withheld) and 1.45% for Medicare (with no wage cap, and an additional 0.9% Medicare surtax on high earners above certain thresholds). Combined, most employees see 7.65% of gross wages withheld for FICA below the Social Security wage cap.

Why This Is an Estimate, Not a Paystub

This calculator estimates federal income tax and FICA only. It does not include state or local income tax (which varies significantly by location, and some states have none), pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions or health insurance premiums (which reduce taxable income and therefore federal tax owed), or post-tax deductions. Your actual paystub will differ based on your specific benefit elections and location.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is FICA tax?

FICA stands for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act and funds Social Security and Medicare. It's 6.2% for Social Security (up to an annual wage cap) and 1.45% for Medicare, for a combined 7.65% withheld from most employee paychecks.

2. Why is my take-home pay lower than my salary divided by pay periods?

Take-home pay is gross pay minus federal income tax withholding, FICA (Social Security and Medicare), and any state/local taxes or benefit deductions, so it's always lower than a simple salary-divided-by-pay-periods calculation.

3. Does this include state income tax?

No, this estimate covers federal income tax and FICA only. State and local income tax vary significantly by location, some states have none, so check your specific state's rules for a complete picture.

See your full marginal and effective rate with the Tax Bracket Calculator, or plan retirement contributions with the 401(k) Calculator.

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