Enter your salary or hourly wage and see exactly how much you take home after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and state taxes. Know your real paycheck before you spend it.
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Your gross pay — what your employer pays you before any deductions — gets reduced by several layers of withholding before it hits your bank account. Understanding each one helps you make smarter decisions about your 401(k), withholding allowances, and take-home pay.
The U.S. uses a progressive tax system with brackets. In 2026, the brackets for single filers run from 10% on the first $11,600 of taxable income up to 37% on income above $609,350. Importantly, only the income within each bracket is taxed at that rate — not your entire income. Most workers land in the 22% or 24% bracket, but their effective (actual average) rate is lower.
Your taxable income is your gross pay minus the standard deduction ($14,600 for single filers in 2026) and any pre-tax contributions like 401(k) or HSA.
FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) taxes fund Social Security and Medicare. In 2026, employees pay 6.2% for Social Security (on the first $176,100 of wages) and 1.45% for Medicare — a combined 7.65%. Your employer matches this amount. High earners pay an additional 0.9% Medicare surtax on wages above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married).
State taxes vary dramatically. Nine states have no income tax at all: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Others like California and New York have top rates above 10%. State tax is calculated on your income after federal adjustments, though the exact method varies by state.
Contributions to a traditional 401(k), HSA, or FSA are made before taxes. A $500/month 401(k) contribution doesn't reduce your paycheck by $500 — it reduces it by $500 minus the tax you would have paid on that $500. For someone in the 22% bracket, the real cost is about $390/month. That's the power of pre-tax investing.
The most straightforward lever is maximizing pre-tax contributions to reduce taxable income. Check that your W-4 withholding allowances are correct — over-withholding means you're giving the government an interest-free loan until your refund. If you get a large refund every year, consider adjusting your W-4. Use the Tax Bracket Calculator to see which bracket you're in and how close you are to the next one.