Paycheck calculator, take-home pay for 2026
Your take-home pay is gross pay minus federal income tax, 6.2% Social Security, 1.45% Medicare, state income tax and any pre-tax deductions like a 401(k). Enter your salary or hourly rate, pay schedule and W-4 details to see each 2026 paycheck. Add your state's rate if it taxes wages.
Updated November 2026
Calculator
Federal income tax uses the IRS Publication 15-T percentage method for 2026. State tax uses the flat rate you enter. Local taxes and other deductions aren't included. Over $184,500 a year, Social Security stops once you reach the cap. This shows the yearly average per paycheck. An estimate, not tax advice.
How is take-home pay calculated?
The calculator follows the IRS percentage method in Publication 15-T for 2026, the method payroll software uses. It annualizes your pay, subtracts pre-tax 401(k) and health insurance, takes off the standard allowance for your W-4 filing status unless the Step 2 box is checked, finds the tentative tax in the 2026 table, subtracts your Step 3 credits and divides by your number of paychecks.
Social Security is 6.2% of wages up to $184,500 for 2026. Medicare is 1.45% of all wages, plus 0.9% withheld on wages over $200,000. State income tax uses the flat rate you enter, which is a good estimate for flat-tax states and a rough one for states with brackets.
What does a $60,000 salary take home?
| Paid every two weeks, single, no state tax | Per paycheck |
|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,307.69 |
| Federal income tax | $193.08 |
| Social Security | $143.08 |
| Medicare | $33.46 |
| Take-home pay | $1,938.08 |
That's about $50,390 a year. Add a 5% state tax and take-home drops by about $115 a paycheck.
How can I change my take-home pay?
- File a new Form W-4 with your employer to raise or lower withholding. Use Step 4(c) to add a fixed amount per check
- Contribute to a 401(k) or HSA before tax. It lowers income tax now, though Social Security and Medicare still apply to 401(k) money
- Claim the new deductions on your W-4. Qualified tips and overtime can lower withholding through Step 4(b) from 2025 to 2028
Running payroll for a team? Our payroll cost calculator shows what each hire costs you, and our payroll service runs it for you.
Sources
- IRS: Publication 15-T (2026)
- IRS: Form W-4
- Social Security Administration: Contribution and benefit base
General information, not tax advice for your situation.
How much tax comes out of a paycheck?
For most people, federal income tax of roughly 5% to 15% of gross pay, 7.65% for Social Security and Medicare, and state tax where it applies. The calculator gives your exact estimate.
Why is my first paycheck smaller than expected?
Partial pay periods, benefit deductions that start right away and one-time withholding all play a part. Compare a full pay period instead.
Does the calculator work for hourly pay?
Yes. Choose hourly, enter your rate and hours per week, and it works out the paycheck for your pay schedule.
Is a payroll calculator the same as a paycheck calculator?
For an employee, yes. Employers also pay their own share of Social Security, Medicare and unemployment tax, which our payroll cost calculator adds up.
Tell us what's messy. We'll tell you what it takes.
Tell us what you need and get a fixed price before any work starts. No pressure and no contract.