What it does
Type your pay and choose how often you are paid. The calculator works out your 2026 federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, 401(k), HSA and state income tax, then shows what reaches your bank each paycheck, each month and each year. A bar shows where every dollar goes.
States with no income tax on wages, and the flat-rate states we have checked on the state’s own website (Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, plus Arizona’s chosen withholding rate), are worked out exactly. For every other state you type your own effective rate; the page says so plainly next to the box.
To turn an hourly wage into a salary first, use the hourly to salary calculator; to compare with other countries, try the Canada tax calculator or the UK tax calculator.
How to use it
- Type your pay a year, or switch to an hour and add your hours a week.
- Pick your pay schedule and filing status, and count children under 17.
- Choose the state you work in. If a rate box appears, type your effective state rate.
- Add your 401(k), HSA and health premiums taken from pay.
What each setting does
- Traditional 401(k): lowers federal and state income tax, but not Social Security or Medicare.
- Roth 401(k): taken after tax, so your tax stays the same.
- HSA and premiums through payroll: lower income tax, Social Security and Medicare.
- Children under 17: $2,200 child tax credit each, reduced above $200,000 ($400,000 joint).
- Age: sets your 401(k) limit; the page warns when you go over.
Worked example
Alex is single, earns $75,000, is paid every two weeks, puts 5% ($3,750) into a traditional 401(k) and works in Illinois. Federal taxable income is $75,000 − $3,750 − $16,100 = $55,150, so federal tax is $6,845. Social Security is $4,650 and Medicare $1,087.50. Illinois tax is 4.95% of $68,325 ($71,250 less the $2,925 exemption) = $3,382.09. Take-home is $55,285.41 a year, or $2,126.36 a paycheck. In Texas it would be $2,256.44.
FAQs
Why does my real paycheck differ a little? Payroll uses withholding tables and your W-4, and may round differently. The tax you truly owe is settled on your return.
Are city or county taxes included? No. New York City, Philadelphia, Detroit, Ohio and Indiana counties and others add their own.
Is anything saved? No. Nothing you type leaves the page. Not financial or tax advice; check the official source.
Where the numbers come from
- 2026 federal tax brackets, standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 joint, $24,150 head of household) and child tax credit ($2,200): IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-25-32.pdf (checked 2026-11-10)
- Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% plus 0.9% over $200,000: SSA 2026 COLA fact sheet, https://www.ssa.gov/news/en/cola/factsheets/2026.html (checked 2026-11-10)
- 401(k) limit $24,500, catch-up $8,000 (50+) and $11,250 (60-63): IRS, https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/401k-limit-increases-to-24500-for-2026-ira-limit-increases-to-7500 ; HSA $4,400 / $8,750: Rev. Proc. 2025-19, https://www.irs.gov/irb/2025-21_IRB (checked 2026-11-10)
- State rates for 2026: Illinois 4.95% and $2,925 exemption (tax.illinois.gov bulletin FY 2026-15); Michigan 4.25% and $5,900 exemption (michigan.gov Form 446, 2026); Kentucky 3.5% and $3,360 standard deduction (revenue.ky.gov K-4 2026); North Carolina 3.99% (ncdor.gov tax rate schedules; standard deduction $12,750 / $25,500 / $19,125 from ncdor.gov, fixed in law); Pennsylvania 3.07% (pa.gov); Arizona A-4 withholding percentages (azdor.gov) (all checked 2026-11-10)
- Starting rates for other flat-rate states (Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, Utah): Tax Foundation, 2026 State Income Tax Rates, https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/state/state-income-tax-rates-2026/ (estimate, check the official source)
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Last updated 2026-11-10.