Precision Utility
Take-Home Pay
Calculator
Federal Tax
2026
FICA
Included
Calculate your US take-home pay for 2026 in seconds. Enter your annual salary, filing status and state — the calculator applies federal income tax brackets, FICA (Social Security + Medicare) and state tax estimates to show your net pay instantly.
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How the US paycheck calculator works
Start by entering your annual gross salary. The calculator subtracts the standard deduction ($15,000 for single filers, $30,000 for married filing jointly) to arrive at your taxable income.
Federal income tax is calculated using the 2026 marginal brackets. Each portion of your income is taxed at the rate for that bracket — from 10% on the first $11,925 up to 37% on income above $626,350.
Next, FICA taxes are applied to your gross salary: 6.2% for Social Security (capped at $176,100) and 1.45% for Medicare (no cap). If you earn over $200,000, an additional 0.9% Medicare surtax kicks in.
Finally, if you've selected a state with income tax, a flat-rate estimate is applied to your gross salary. The result is your annual take-home pay, broken down into monthly and biweekly figures.
What you need to know about US taxes in 2026
The US federal tax system uses seven marginal brackets for 2026. Your filing status determines the income thresholds for each bracket — married filing jointly thresholds are roughly double those for single filers.
Key facts for 2026:
- The standard deduction is $15,000 (single) or $30,000 (married filing jointly)
- Federal brackets (single): 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, 37%
- FICA: 6.2% Social Security (wage cap $176,100) + 1.45% Medicare (no cap)
- Additional Medicare: 0.9% surtax on wages above $200,000
- States like Texas and Florida have no state income tax
- California and New York have some of the highest state tax rates in the country
This calculator provides estimates based on the standard deduction and flat state rates. Actual liability may vary depending on itemized deductions, credits, and local taxes. Consult the IRS for official guidance.
2026 federal income tax brackets
The US uses a marginal (progressive) tax system. You don't pay the top rate on your entire income — only on the portion that falls within each bracket. The thresholds below are for single filers.
| Rate | Single — Taxable Income | Married Filing Jointly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $11,925 | $0 – $23,850 |
| 12% | $11,925 – $48,475 | $23,850 – $96,950 |
| 22% | $48,475 – $103,350 | $96,950 – $206,700 |
| 24% | $103,350 – $197,300 | $206,700 – $394,600 |
| 32% | $197,300 – $250,525 | $394,600 – $501,050 |
| 35% | $250,525 – $626,350 | $501,050 – $751,600 |
| 37% | Above $626,350 | Above $751,600 |
Source: IRS. Standard deduction ($15,000 single / $30,000 MFJ) is subtracted from gross income before brackets are applied.
Paycheck example — $75,000 salary (single, no state tax)
Here's exactly how the calculator breaks down a $75,000 gross salary for a single filer with no state income tax.
| Item | Annual | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | $75,000 | $6,250 |
| Standard deduction | −$15,000 | — |
| Taxable income | $60,000 | — |
| Federal income tax | −$8,114 | −$676 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | −$4,650 | −$388 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | −$1,088 | −$91 |
| Take-home pay | $61,148 | $5,096 |
The effective federal tax rate is 10.8% — much lower than the marginal rate of 22% because most of the income is taxed at 10% and 12%. Total taxes as a percentage of gross: 18.5%.
Why your actual take-home might be lower
This calculator shows the baseline take-home before pre-tax benefits. Most employees have additional deductions that further reduce their net pay:
- 401(k) contributions — Pre-tax contributions reduce your taxable income. Contributing 6% on a $75,000 salary ($4,500) saves roughly $990 in federal tax at the 22% bracket.
- Health insurance premiums — Employer-sponsored plans are typically deducted pre-tax, reducing both federal income tax and FICA.
- HSA contributions — Health Savings Account contributions are triple tax-advantaged: pre-tax going in, tax-free growth, tax-free for medical expenses.
- FSA contributions — Flexible Spending Accounts for healthcare and dependent care are also pre-tax.
- State and local taxes (SALT) — This calculator includes a flat state rate estimate; actual state tax varies by income level and deductions.
Pre-tax deductions reduce your taxable income and can significantly lower your federal and state tax liability. A worker contributing $6,000 to a 401(k) and paying $3,000 in health premiums on a $75,000 salary effectively has taxable income of $66,000 — reducing their federal tax by around $1,320.
Frequently asked questions
How is federal income tax calculated in 2026?
Federal income tax uses marginal brackets. Your taxable income (after the standard deduction) is split across seven brackets ranging from 10% to 37%. You only pay the higher rate on income within that bracket, not on your entire salary.
What is FICA and how much do I pay?
FICA stands for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act. In 2026, employees pay 6.2% for Social Security on wages up to $176,100 and 1.45% for Medicare on all wages. An additional 0.9% Medicare surtax applies to wages above $200,000.
What is the standard deduction for 2026?
For 2026, the standard deduction is $15,000 for single filers and $30,000 for married filing jointly. This amount is subtracted from your gross income before federal tax brackets are applied.
Does this calculator include state income tax?
Yes. You can select your state from the dropdown. The calculator includes flat-rate estimates for popular states like California (9.3%) and New York (6.85%). States like Texas and Florida have no state income tax.
What is the Social Security wage cap for 2026?
In 2026, you pay the 6.2% Social Security tax only on the first $176,100 of wages. Any earnings above that cap are exempt from Social Security tax, though Medicare tax still applies with no cap.
How do I calculate my biweekly paycheck?
Divide your annual take-home pay by 26 (the number of biweekly pay periods in a year). This calculator shows your annual take-home, which you can easily convert to monthly, biweekly, or weekly figures.
Does a 401(k) contribution reduce my taxable income?
Yes. Traditional 401(k) contributions are pre-tax, meaning they reduce your taxable income dollar-for-dollar. If you earn $75,000 and contribute $6,000 to a 401(k), your federal taxes are calculated on $69,000 rather than $75,000 — saving roughly $1,320 in federal tax at the 22% bracket.
What's the difference between marginal and effective tax rate?
Your marginal rate is the rate applied to your last dollar of income — for a $75,000 earner (single), that's 22%. Your effective rate is total tax divided by gross income. For the same $75,000 earner, federal tax is around $8,114, giving an effective rate of about 10.8%. The effective rate is always lower than the marginal rate.
How does filing status affect my take-home pay?
Married filing jointly (MFJ) generally results in lower taxes than single because the bracket thresholds are double, and the standard deduction is $30,000 instead of $15,000. Head of Household falls between single and MFJ — it has higher thresholds than single and a $22,500 standard deduction, benefiting single parents who pay more than half the cost of keeping up a home.