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Paycheck Calculator 2026

Calculate your exact take-home paycheck after federal taxes, FICA, state tax, and all deductions — for salary, hourly (with overtime), bonus, and 1099 self-employment income. Real-time, using official 2026 IRS withholding tables.

💼 Salary Paycheck ⏰ Hourly + Overtime 🎁 Bonus Paycheck 🧾 1099 / Freelance

💼Salary

⏰Hourly

🎁Bonus

🧾1099 / SE

💼Salary Paycheck Calculator

💼 Enter your annual gross salary and elections to see your exact net paycheck using 2026 IRS Publication 15-T withholding tables and OBBBA-updated deductions.

Annual Gross Salary

Pay Frequency

Filing Status

State Income Tax Rate

Pre-Tax Deductions (per paycheck)

401(k) Contribution

Annual limit: $24,500 (2026)

Health Insurance ($/period)

Your share per paycheck

HSA ($/period)

Annual limit: $4,300 (self)

Other Pre-Tax ($/period)

FSA, dental, vision, commuter

Post-Tax Deductions (per paycheck)

Roth 401(k) Contribution

After-tax; doesn't reduce taxable income

What Is a Paycheck Calculator?

A Paycheck Calculator is a financial tool that computes your net take-home pay — the amount that actually lands in your bank account — by subtracting all applicable taxes, FICA contributions, and voluntary deductions from your gross pay. Unlike a salary calculator (which converts pay between time periods) or a tax calculator (which estimates your annual tax liability), a paycheck calculator focuses on the per-paycheck picture: what will I see in my direct deposit this Friday?

Our 2026 Paycheck Calculator handles four distinct income scenarios that competing tools handle poorly: salaried employees with full deduction modeling, hourly workers with overtime (1.5×) and double-time (2×), bonus paychecks using either the IRS Percentage Method (flat 22%) or the Aggregate Method, and 1099/freelance income with self-employment tax, the QBI deduction, and business expense offsets. Every calculation uses the official 2026 IRS Publication 15-T withholding tables, the 2026 Social Security wage base of $184,500, and OBBBA-updated federal tax brackets.

📌 2026 FICA rates used in this calculator: Social Security: 6.2% on wages up to $184,500 (2026 wage base). Medicare: 1.45% on all wages. Additional Medicare Tax: 0.9% on wages over $200,000 (single) / $250,000 (MFJ) — this portion has no employer match. For self-employed workers: the full 15.3% self-employment tax applies on 92.35% of net self-employment income, with half of SE tax deductible from AGI.

What Is a Paycheck?

A paycheck is the payment an employer makes to an employee in exchange for work performed during a pay period — typically delivered as a direct deposit to the employee's bank account or, less commonly, as a paper check. Every paycheck has two key figures: the gross pay (total earnings before deductions) and the net pay (what you actually receive after all mandatory and voluntary deductions are removed).

A pay stub — the document that accompanies your paycheck — breaks down exactly where your gross pay goes. It shows all mandatory withholdings: federal income tax (based on your W-4 elections and the IRS withholding tables), Social Security tax (6.2%), Medicare tax (1.45%), and state income tax. It also shows voluntary pre-tax deductions (401(k) contributions, health insurance premiums, HSA contributions) and voluntary post-tax deductions (Roth 401(k), life insurance, wage garnishments). The difference between gross and net is typically 20–40% of gross pay, depending on income level, filing status, and benefit elections.

Net Paycheck = Gross Pay − Pre-Tax Deductions − Federal Withholding − FICA − State Tax − Post-Tax Deductions

Pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA, health ins.) reduce federal and state taxable income before withholding is calculated.
FICA applies to gross wages (not reduced by most pre-tax deductions except qualified health premiums under a cafeteria plan).

How Paycheck Withholding Works in 2026

Federal income tax withholding from each paycheck is calculated by your employer using IRS Publication 15-T, which is updated each January with the new year's inflation-adjusted figures. The 2026 edition incorporates the One Big Beautiful Bill Act changes to the 10% and 12% bracket thresholds. The standard withholding method used by most employers is the Annualized Wage Method: your per-period gross pay is multiplied by your pay frequency to get an annualized wage, the standard deduction and any W-4 adjustments are applied, and the resulting taxable income is run through the annual brackets to get an annual tax — which is then divided back down to a per-period withholding amount.

The Four Paycheck Scenarios This Calculator Covers

Salary Paycheck — The most common scenario. Your annual salary is divided by your pay frequency (26 for bi-weekly, 24 for semi-monthly, 52 for weekly, 12 for monthly) to get gross pay per period. Pre-tax deductions like 401(k) and health insurance reduce the taxable amount before withholding is calculated. Post-tax deductions like Roth 401(k) come out after taxes, so they don't affect your withholding but do reduce your take-home. Our salary mode also shows all equivalent pay periods (annual, monthly, bi-weekly, hourly) in real time.

Hourly Paycheck with Overtime — Hourly workers are entitled to 1.5× their regular rate for hours over 40 per week under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Some states (notably California) also require double-time (2×) for over 12 hours in a workday or for the 7th consecutive day in a workweek. A common misconception is that overtime is taxed at a higher rate — it isn't. Overtime pay is simply additional income and is taxed at the same marginal rate as your regular wages. However, because overtime income pushes your annualized wage higher, it may result in withholding at a higher bracket rate during that period.

Bonus Paycheck — Bonus withholding follows one of two IRS-approved methods. The Percentage Method withholds a flat 22% federal income tax on the bonus amount (plus FICA and state taxes), regardless of your regular tax bracket. This is the most common method for separately-paid bonuses. The Aggregate Method adds the bonus to your most recent regular paycheck, computes the withholding on the combined amount, and subtracts what was already withheld on the regular check — resulting in bonus withholding at your marginal rate. For high earners in the 32–37% brackets, the Aggregate Method produces higher withholding; for lower earners, the 22% Percentage Method may actually over-withhold.

1099 / Self-Employment Paycheck — Independent contractors and freelancers receive gross payments with zero withholding. They are responsible for calculating and paying their own taxes, typically through quarterly estimated tax payments (IRS Form 1040-ES). The 1099 tax picture is more complex than W-2: self-employed workers pay the full 15.3% self-employment (FICA equivalent) tax on 92.35% of net self-employment income, can deduct half of this SE tax from AGI, may qualify for the 20% QBI deduction (income below ~$197,300 for single filers in 2026), and can deduct legitimate business expenses to reduce net profit before calculating tax.

Paycheck Deduction Reference for 2026

Deduction / Tax	Rate / Amount	Pre-Tax or Post-Tax	2026 Limit
Federal Income Tax	10%–37% (marginal brackets)	N/A (mandatory)	No limit
Social Security (FICA)	6.2% employee share	N/A (mandatory)	On first $184,500
Medicare (FICA)	1.45% (+ 0.9% over $200k)	N/A (mandatory)	No wage cap
State Income Tax	0%–9.9%+ (varies by state)	N/A (mandatory)	Varies
Traditional 401(k)	Employee elected %	Pre-tax (reduces federal + state)	$24,500/yr
Roth 401(k)	Employee elected %	Post-tax (no tax reduction)	$24,500/yr (combined)
Health Insurance Premium	Employer-plan specific	Pre-tax (Section 125)	Varies
HSA Contribution	Employee elected	Pre-tax	$4,300 self / $8,550 family
FSA (Healthcare)	Employee elected	Pre-tax	$3,300/yr
Dependent Care FSA	Employee elected	Pre-tax	$5,000/yr
Life / Disability Insurance	Plan-specific	Usually post-tax	Varies

Related Financial Calculators

Your paycheck is the starting point for all personal financial planning. These tools help you build the complete picture:

Frequently Asked Questions

A paycheck calculator estimates your net take-home pay by simulating the exact deductions your employer makes from each paycheck. It works by: (1) starting with your gross pay for the period (salary ÷ pay frequency, or hours × rate); (2) subtracting pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions, health insurance premiums, and HSA contributions to get the taxable wage; (3) calculating federal income tax withholding using the IRS annualized wage method and 2026 Publication 15-T brackets; (4) calculating FICA taxes (Social Security at 6.2% up to $184,500 and Medicare at 1.45%); (5) calculating state income tax at your state's effective rate; (6) subtracting any post-tax deductions; and (7) reporting the remaining amount as your net paycheck. Our calculator performs all of these steps in real time using official 2026 IRS figures, so you can see exactly how each input affects your take-home pay.

A paycheck is the compensation paid by an employer to an employee for work performed during a pay period — most commonly via direct deposit into the employee's bank account. The pay stub that accompanies every paycheck contains several key sections. Earnings: gross pay broken down by type (regular, overtime, holiday, bonus). Taxes: federal income tax withheld, Social Security tax (OASDI), Medicare tax, state income tax, and any local/city taxes. Pre-tax deductions: 401(k) or 403(b) contributions, health/dental/vision insurance premiums, HSA contributions, FSA contributions, commuter benefits. Post-tax deductions: Roth 401(k), life insurance, wage garnishments, charitable giving. YTD totals: cumulative year-to-date figures for all categories — crucial for tracking when you'll hit the Social Security wage base ($184,500 in 2026). Net pay: the final amount deposited after all deductions. Understanding each line item on your pay stub is essential for verifying your paycheck is correct and for planning annual tax liability.

No — there is no special overtime tax rate. Overtime pay is taxed at exactly the same rates as regular wages. It is subject to the same federal income tax brackets, the same FICA rates, and the same state income tax. The confusion arises because earning overtime often results in higher withholding during that pay period, making it feel like overtime is taxed more. Here is why: the IRS withholding tables use an annualized wage method — your per-period gross pay is multiplied by your pay frequency to get an estimated annual wage, which then determines the withholding bracket. If your overtime pushes your annualized estimate into a higher bracket, your withholding for that period will be calculated at that higher marginal rate — but only on the income above each bracket threshold. Importantly, this does not mean you are overpaying for the year — it simply front-loads withholding, which may result in a slightly larger refund when you file your annual return. The bottom line: overtime is always worth earning. The after-tax value of overtime is always positive and never zero.

Bonuses are treated as "supplemental wages" by the IRS and can be withheld using one of two methods. Percentage Method (22% flat): The IRS requires a flat 22% federal withholding on supplemental wages paid separately from regular wages, up to $1 million total supplemental wages per year. (Above $1 million, the rate jumps to 37%.) This is the most common method for year-end or performance bonuses. The 22% rate applies regardless of your actual tax bracket — so a worker in the 12% bracket will have 22% withheld (and likely get some back as a refund), while a worker in the 32% bracket will have only 22% withheld (and may owe more). Aggregate Method: The employer adds the bonus to your most recent regular paycheck and withholds at the combined rate, then subtracts what was already withheld on the regular check. This produces withholding at your true marginal rate. In addition to federal withholding, bonuses are also subject to Social Security (6.2%, up to the wage base), Medicare (1.45%), and state income tax. To calculate how much of a bonus you'll actually receive, subtract 22% federal + 7.65% FICA + your state rate from the gross bonus — typically leaving you with 65–75% of the bonus amount.

Your W-4 (Employee's Withholding Certificate) directly controls how much federal income tax your employer withholds from each paycheck. The redesigned 2020+ W-4 uses dollar-amount adjustments rather than allowances. Key W-4 levers: Step 2 — Multiple jobs or spouse works: Checking this box increases withholding to account for combined income pushing you into higher brackets. Most two-earner households should complete this step. Step 3 — Claim dependents: Entering your Child Tax Credit amount ($2,200/child in 2026) reduces withholding dollar-for-dollar by that amount spread over your paychecks. A family with two children claiming $4,400 reduces annual withholding by $4,400. Step 4a — Other income: Enter interest, dividends, or 1099 income not subject to withholding so your W-2 withholding covers the additional tax. Step 4b — Deductions: If you plan to itemize and your deductions exceed the standard deduction, enter the excess — this reduces withholding. Step 4c — Extra withholding: Enter a flat dollar amount to add to each paycheck's withholding — useful for covering 1099 side income or ensuring you don't owe at filing.

Self-employment (SE) tax is the independent contractor's equivalent of FICA. W-2 employees pay 7.65% FICA (6.2% SS + 1.45% Medicare) from their paycheck, and their employer pays a matching 7.65%. Self-employed workers have no employer, so they pay both sides — the full 15.3%. However, the IRS applies SE tax only to 92.35% of net self-employment income (acknowledging that the 7.65% "employer" portion is a business expense), bringing the effective SE tax rate to approximately 14.13% of net profit. Key SE tax deductions and credits: (1) Deduction for half of SE tax — you deduct 50% of your SE tax from gross income before calculating federal income tax, effectively reducing your income tax burden. (2) 20% QBI deduction — most freelancers and independent contractors below ~$197,300 in 2026 (single) can deduct 20% of qualified business income from taxable income, further reducing income tax. (3) Business expenses — all ordinary and necessary business expenses (software, equipment, home office, professional fees) reduce net profit before SE tax and income tax are applied. Combined, these deductions mean a freelancer earning $80,000 gross with $15,000 in business expenses, the SE deduction, and QBI has a much lower effective tax rate than the headline 15.3% + income tax rate would suggest.

US employers use four main pay frequencies. Bi-weekly (every two weeks) is the most common — 26 paychecks per year. This means two months per year have three paychecks (a "three-paycheck month"), which many employees use to make extra debt payments or savings contributions. Semi-monthly (twice per month) — exactly 24 paychecks per year, typically on the 1st and 15th or the 15th and last day of the month. This aligns more predictably with monthly bills but results in uneven check amounts when calculating hourly rates. Weekly — 52 paychecks per year, common in construction, restaurant, and hospitality industries. Monthly — 12 paychecks per year, common for salaried professionals and executives. The pay frequency matters for budgeting because each paycheck is a different dollar amount at the same annual salary: $75,000/year = $2,884.62 bi-weekly, $3,125 semi-monthly, $1,442.31 weekly, or $6,250 monthly — all before taxes.

Pre-tax deductions reduce your taxable wages before federal and state income tax is calculated — directly reducing the amount of income you are taxed on each paycheck. The most impactful pre-tax deductions are: 401(k) traditional contributions: every dollar contributed reduces your federal and state taxable wages by one dollar. At a 22% marginal rate, a $500 bi-weekly 401(k) contribution saves $110 in federal tax alone, plus state tax savings. Over 26 pay periods, that is $2,860 in federal tax savings annually. Health insurance premiums: if your employer uses a Section 125 "cafeteria plan" (most employers do), your share of health, dental, and vision premiums is pre-tax, reducing your W-2 income. HSA contributions: have a unique triple advantage — pre-tax contribution, tax-free growth, and tax-free withdrawal for medical expenses. FSA contributions: pre-tax for both healthcare and dependent care. Post-tax deductions like Roth 401(k) do not reduce your current taxable income — the tax benefit comes later, when qualified withdrawals in retirement are tax-free. Understanding the distinction helps you optimize your W-4 and deduction elections to maximize your per-paycheck take-home while still saving effectively.

First paychecks are frequently smaller than employees expect for several interconnected reasons. New W-4 default withholding: if you didn't complete a W-4 or submitted one without claiming dependents or deductions, your employer withholds at the single / no-adjustments rate, which is the highest standard withholding — this will be corrected over the year and may result in a refund. Benefits enrollment front-loading: if you enrolled in health insurance and it is effective from your start date, the full monthly or semi-monthly premium may be deducted from your first check to sync with the benefit period. Retirement plan enrollment: if your 401(k) is set up with auto-enrollment, contributions start immediately. Prorated pay: if you started mid-period, your first check is a partial pay period. Onboarding errors: payroll entry mistakes at new hires are common — always review your first two or three pay stubs carefully against your offer letter. If the withholding looks wrong, submit an updated W-4 and contact HR. Remember: over-withholding is corrected as a refund at tax time; under-withholding leads to a tax bill. Most employees prefer to be slightly over-withheld than to face a surprise balance due in April.