Paycheck Calculator
$
Pay Frequency
Filing Status
%
$
%
Net Pay per Check$2,012.23
Gross per Check$2,884.62
Pre-Tax Deductions$265.38
Federal Tax per Check$262.42
FICA per Check$213.61
State Tax per Check$130.96
Annual Net Pay$52,318.10
The Paycheck Calculator estimates what actually lands in your bank account each pay period after the deductions a real payroll run applies. Beyond federal income tax and FICA, it models pre-tax 401(k) contributions and health insurance premiums plus a flat state income tax, then divides everything across weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, or monthly pay so you can see the net amount per check.
Formula
net = gross − 401k − premium − federalTax − FICA − stateTax; perCheck = net / periodsPerYear
- gross
- Annual gross salary
- 401k
- Pre-tax retirement contribution (gross × percent)
- premium
- Annual pre-tax health insurance premium
- FICA
- Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45% on FICA wages
How it works
- Enter your annual gross salary, choose a pay frequency (weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, or monthly), and select a federal filing status.
- Add your pre-tax 401(k) percentage, annual health insurance premium, and your state income tax rate as a flat percent.
- The calculator subtracts pre-tax deductions, applies the 2024 standard deduction and progressive federal brackets, adds Social Security (6.2% up to the wage base) and Medicare (1.45%), applies state tax, and divides the annual net across your pay periods.
Worked example
A single filer earning $75,000 paid biweekly, contributing 6% to a 401(k), with no health premium or state tax.
- 401(k) = 75,000 × 6% = $4,500; gross per check = 75,000 ÷ 26 = $2,884.62.
- Federal taxable = 75,000 − 4,500 − 14,600 = $55,900; federal tax ≈ $7,351.
- FICA = 75,000 × 7.65% = $5,737.50.
- Annual net = 75,000 − 4,500 − 7,351 − 5,737.50 = $57,411.50; per check = ÷ 26.
About $2,208 net per biweekly check, roughly $57,412 net per year.
Frequently asked questions
- How is this different from a take-home pay calculator?
- This paycheck calculator adds pre-tax 401(k) and health premium deductions, a flat state income tax, and a semimonthly pay option, so it models real payroll more closely than a simple take-home tool that only applies federal tax and FICA.
- Does a 401(k) contribution reduce my taxes?
- A traditional 401(k) contribution is excluded from federal and state income tax, lowering your taxable income. It is still subject to Social Security and Medicare tax, which is why FICA here is figured on wages before the 401(k) deduction.
- Why is state tax modeled as a flat rate?
- State income tax rules vary widely and many states are progressive or have no income tax at all. A single flat percentage keeps the estimate simple; enter 0 for no-tax states or your effective rate for a closer approximation.
- Is this an exact paycheck amount?
- It is an estimate using 2024 federal brackets and the standard deduction. It does not include local taxes, additional Medicare surtax, garnishments, or post-tax deductions, so your actual stub may differ slightly.