Start with the question you need answered
US payroll language can be confusing: gross pay is not take-home pay, taxable wages are not always the same as gross wages, and a 22% marginal bracket does not mean 22% of every dollar is withheld. Our guides explain these distinctions using examples you can check by hand.
How to calculate take-home pay
From hourly wages to federal withholding, FICA, and final net pay.
2026 federal tax brackets
Exact published thresholds and a worked example for single filers.
Hourly vs. salary
Compare annual income, overtime, and common pay schedules.
Read your US paystub
Understand gross pay, YTD wages, FICA, and benefit deductions.
How Overtime Pay Works in the US
A plain-English guide to regular wages, the time-and-a-half multiplier, FLSA basics, and overtime paycheck estimates.
How Traditional 401(k) Deductions Affect a Paycheck
Understand why traditional 401(k) contributions often reduce federal income-taxable wages but not Social Security or Medicare wages.
How to use these guides with the calculator
Begin with an estimate using a realistic hourly rate or annual salary. Check the pay frequency, then compare the breakdown with the terms explained in the guides. When you have an existing paystub, use its state and local withholding figures rather than assuming the tax is zero. For important decisions, rely on your employer's actual payroll information and current rules.
The IRS and Social Security Administration publish the core federal rules used by the model. We link directly to those official sources, and we make it clear where payroll withholding and year-end tax obligations can differ.
Year-specific federal reference
For year-by-year thresholds, compare our 2026 federal brackets with the 2027 federal brackets and Social Security limit. These are published historical and planning references; the main paycheck calculator uses the selected year.