How This Calculator Works
- Federal income tax is calculated with real progressive 2026 brackets (10%–37%) by filing status — never a single flat percentage of salary.
- Social Security is 6.2% of wages up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500 — earnings above that are not taxed for Social Security.
- Medicare is 1.45% of all wages with no cap, plus an Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9% withheld once wages exceed $200,000 (true liability thresholds vary by filing status).
- State tax is calculated using a manual rate you provide, making it accurate for any state or locality.
- Pre-tax deductions (401(k), HSA, FSA, dependent-care FSA, cafeteria-plan premiums) reduce federal and FICA wages according to their actual tax treatment — not a blanket assumption.
This tool provides estimates for planning purposes based on projected 2026 IRS figures and is not tax advice. Local tax coverage is limited to a manual rate entry — check your specific city/school-district rules. Consult a tax professional or your payroll department for exact figures.
How to Calculate Take-Home Pay
- 1. Gross pay = Regular pay + Overtime + Bonus + Commission + Other taxable income
- 2. Pre-tax wages = Gross pay − 401(k)/HSA/FSA/cafeteria-plan deductions
- 3. Federal taxable income = Pre-tax wages − Standard or itemized deduction − Student loan interest
- 4. Federal tax = Sum of (income within each bracket × that bracket's rate), minus credits
- 5. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (capped at $184,500) + 1.45% Medicare (uncapped) + 0.9% Additional Medicare above threshold
- 6. Net pay = Pre-tax wages − Federal tax − FICA − State tax − Local tax − Post-tax deductions