What is the paycheck calculator — take-home pay after taxes?
In short
Your take-home pay is your gross pay minus federal income tax, FICA (7.65% for Social Security and Medicare), state income tax, and any pre-tax deductions like 401(k) or HSA. On a $60,000 salary paid bi-weekly, a single filer in a no-income-tax state keeps roughly $1,960 per paycheck after about $255 in federal tax and $177 in FICA — an effective total rate around 22%.
This paycheck calculator estimates your exact take-home pay for any pay frequency — weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly. It applies 2024 federal income tax brackets, full FICA withholding (Social Security + Medicare), state income tax for 23 supported states, and pre-tax deductions including 401(k), HSA, and other pre-tax items.
How to use this calculator
- 1Enter your annual gross salary.
- 2Select your pay frequency (weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly).
- 3Choose your filing status (single, married filing jointly, or head of household).
- 4Select your state for state income tax, or pick a zero-tax state.
- 5Set your 401(k) contribution rate (0–23%) and monthly HSA contribution.
- 6Add any other per-period pre-tax deductions.
- 7Read your take-home pay per period and the annual breakdown.
The formula
- gross
- — Annual or per-period gross pay before any deductions
- pre-tax
- — Annual 401(k), HSA, and other pre-tax deductions
- std deduction
- — 2024 standard deduction ($14,600 single; $29,200 married)
- FICA
- — Social Security (6.2%) + Medicare (1.45%) payroll taxes
- federal tax
- — Federal income tax from progressive 2024 brackets
- state tax
- — State income tax based on your selected state
- take-home
- — Net pay after all taxes and pre-tax deductions
Worked example
The scenario
Single filer earning $75,000/year in Texas (no state income tax), paid bi-weekly, contributing 6% to 401(k) and $200/month to HSA.
The result
Gross bi-weekly paycheck: $2,885. Federal tax: ~$300 (after $14,600 standard deduction and $4,500 401k + $2,400 HSA pre-tax). FICA: ~$220. Take-home: ~$2,365 per paycheck — about $61,490/year.
Common use cases
- Comparing job offers with different salaries and pay frequencies
- Planning a budget based on actual take-home pay, not gross salary
- Evaluating how a 401(k) contribution rate change affects your paycheck
- Understanding the tax impact of a salary raise
- Estimating how much of a raise you actually keep after taxes
Limitations & assumptions
- Uses 2024 federal tax brackets and standard deductions — results differ if you itemize.
- State tax estimates use flat-rate or simplified bracket approximations for many states.
- Does not account for local city or county income taxes (e.g., New York City, Philadelphia).
- FICA withholding is shown as the employee share (6.2% + 1.45%); employers pay an equal amount.
- Does not include after-tax deductions like health insurance premiums or Roth contributions.
Frequently asked questions
Disclaimer: KalkWise calculators are provided for general informational and educational purposes only and do not constitute financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the figures you enter and the assumptions described above. Actual outcomes will vary. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.