US Paycheck & Take-Home Pay Calculator
Know what you keep.

A practical guide to understanding your US paystub

When you see a salary of $70,000 or a job listing that pays $25 an hour, that figure is usually gross pay—the amount earned before taxes and deductions. Net pay is what remains after your employer withholds required taxes and the benefits or other deductions you've chosen.

Gross pay is not the same as take-home pay

An employee making $25 an hour for 40 hours each week earns approximately $52,000 a year before deductions. That assumes 52 paid weeks at the same schedule. Part-time hours, unpaid time off, changing overtime, commissions, and bonuses can make actual earnings different.

Federal income tax is progressive

Moving into a higher federal tax bracket does not mean all your income suddenly gets taxed at that higher percentage. Instead, slices of your taxable income face different rates. This calculator starts with annualized earnings, subtracts qualifying modeled pre-tax deductions and the selected year’s standard deduction, then applies the applicable filing-status brackets.

Social Security and Medicare appear separately

FICA is the common name for two federal payroll taxes. Most covered employees pay 6.2% toward Social Security up to a wage cap that changes by year, plus 1.45% toward Medicare without a general wage ceiling. Employers also pay their own shares, which are not deducted again from your paycheck. Employers withhold another 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax on wages paid above $200,000 in a calendar year.

Why a real paystub might look different

Employers normally calculate withholding using IRS Publication 15-T and the Form W-4 on file. Your W-4 can account for multiple jobs, dependent credits, other income, additional deductions, and extra withholding. This calculator intentionally uses a simpler annual tax projection, so its federal figure is an estimate, not a reproduction of your employer's payroll calculation.

State income taxes, city taxes, disability programs, paid family leave premiums, and local payroll rules vary widely. Rather than guessing a tax rate from your ZIP code, this tool gives you a clearly labeled field to enter state and local withholding yourself. It also does not automatically apply itemized deductions or special tax-year deductions for qualifying tips or overtime.