Free Financial Tool

Paycheck
Calculator

See your exact take-home pay after federal and state taxes, Social Security, Medicare, and pre-tax deductions. Updated for 2025.

2025
Tax Year
51
States + D.C.

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2025 Tax Tables
Pay Type
Gross Pay
$
Filing Status
Single
Married Filing Jointly
Married Filing Separately
Head of Household
Location & Withholding
Pre-Tax Deductions (annual for 401k; monthly for others)
$0
$
$
$
Estimated Take-Home Pay
$—
Enter details and calculate
Annual Net
—
Effective Rate
—
—
Total Tax Burden
Calculate to see your effective rate and marginal bracket.

Pay Breakdown

Per Paycheck

Your full breakdown will appear here after calculating.

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How It Works

Understanding your take-home pay

2025 Federal Tax Brackets

Federal income tax rates range from 10% to 37% across seven progressive brackets. Most workers fall in the 22–24% marginal bracket, though effective rates are typically much lower. The 2025 brackets are confirmed by the IRS and adjusted for inflation from 2024.

FICA Taxes in 2025

Social Security is withheld at 6.2% on wages up to $176,100. Medicare is withheld at 1.45% on all wages, plus an additional 0.9% on wages over $200,000. These are separate from income tax and not reduced by standard deductions.

Maximize With Pre-Tax Deductions

Traditional 401(k) contributions (up to $23,500 in 2025) reduce your taxable income dollar-for-dollar. Combined with HSA and FSA contributions, a worker in the 24% bracket can save $6,000 or more in federal income taxes annually.

Common Questions

Frequently asked questions

Your take-home pay is gross pay minus federal income tax (calculated using 2026 progressive brackets and your filing status), FICA taxes (Social Security 6.2% and Medicare 1.45%), applicable state income tax, and any pre-tax deductions such as 401(k) contributions or health insurance premiums. Pre-tax deductions reduce your federal and state taxable income before taxes are calculated.
Your marginal rate is the tax rate that applies to your highest dollar of income. Your effective rate is the average rate across all your income combined. Because the U.S. uses a progressive system, a person in the 24% bracket still pays 10% and 12% on income in the lower tiers — so their effective federal rate is always lower than their marginal rate.
Yes, for traditional 401(k) contributions. Every dollar contributed reduces your federal and state taxable income, so a $10,000 contribution in the 22% bracket saves roughly $2,200 in federal income tax that year. The 2026 401(k) contribution limit is $23,500 for employees under 50, with an additional $7,500 catch-up allowed for those 50 and older.
Nine states have no broad individual income tax on wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. For a $100,000 salary, living in a no-tax state versus a high-tax state like California or Oregon can mean $5,000–$9,000 more in annual take-home pay.
Withholding allowances reduce the amount of federal income tax your employer withholds per paycheck. Each allowance corresponds to a $4,300 reduction in annual taxable withholding. Claiming more allowances increases your take-home pay during the year but reduces your refund (or creates a balance due) at tax time. The standard setting is 0 allowances for most W-4 filers post-2020.
This tool provides reliable estimates based on 2026 federal brackets and state flat-rate approximations. Actual withholding may vary based on your specific W-4 elections, employer benefit deductions, local city taxes, and year-to-date wages. For personalized guidance on withholding or tax planning, speaking with a CPA or tax advisor is always recommended.