Salary/Take-Home Pay Calculator
Enter your gross salary below, and this paycheck calculator estimates your actual net take-home pay after taxes and deductions.
About
About Salary / Take-Home Pay Calculator
A job offer's headline salary figure is gross pay, before federal income tax, state tax where applicable, and FICA contributions get deducted, so it's rarely the number that actually lands in your bank account. A paycheck calculator bridges that gap, and this salary calculator breaks down exactly what gets withheld to show your real net pay.
FICA withholding alone, Social Security plus Medicare, adds up to 7.65% of gross pay for a typical W-2 employee in the US, split as 6.2% for Social Security and 1.45% for Medicare, on top of whatever federal and state income tax applies based on your filing status and bracket. That combination is exactly why a $70,000 salary offer never translates to $70,000 actually hitting your account over the year.
Comparing job offers across different states specifically requires looking at net pay, not gross, since state income tax rates vary dramatically, some states charge none at all, which can make a lower gross offer in a no-income-tax state net out higher than a bigger offer somewhere with steep state taxes.
Enter your gross pay, select your pay frequency, and input your filing status along with your state. The calculator breaks down exactly what's withheld for federal, state, and FICA taxes, landing on your actual net take-home figure.
Pre-tax contributions, a traditional 401(k) or an HSA, reduce your taxable income before any of this withholding math even applies, which is worth factoring in if you're trying to compare take-home pay under different contribution scenarios. Your income figures and tax details stay entirely private, calculated locally.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What's the real difference between gross pay and net pay?
Gross pay is your total earnings before any taxes or deductions. Net pay, your actual take-home amount, is what's left after federal, state, and FICA taxes, along with any other deductions, are subtracted.
Why do tax deductions vary so much from person to person?
Withholding depends on filing status, number of dependents, which state you're in, and any pre-tax deductions like 401(k) or HSA contributions, all of which shift the final number meaningfully.
Does this account for retirement contributions?
Yes, pre-tax contributions like a traditional 401(k) or HSA reduce your taxable income before tax withholding is calculated, which this tool factors into the final net pay figure.
When should I actually double-check my withholding?
Any time a major life event happens, getting married, having a child, buying a home, or getting a significant raise, since any of these can shift what you should actually be withholding.
Does this work accurately for freelance or 1099 income?
Not directly, it's built around standard W-2 employment with automatic employer withholding. Freelancers need to separately account for self-employment tax and quarterly estimated payments, which work differently.
Is my salary information saved anywhere?
No, every calculation happens locally through client-side JavaScript. Your income figures are never stored or transmitted to a server.
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