US Paycheck Calculator by State
Estimate take-home pay for salary or hourly work with federal, FICA, state, benefit and deduction controls.
What this calculator explains
A paycheck is more than annual salary divided by the number of pay periods. Federal income-tax withholding depends on Form W-4 inputs and payroll frequency. Social Security and Medicare follow separate payroll-tax rules, while state and local withholding varies by jurisdiction. The calculator shows every major deduction as a separate line so users can see why gross pay and take-home pay differ.
Use the scenario controls to compare job offers, check an hourly pay stub, model overtime or a one-time bonus, and test a change in retirement or benefit deductions without losing the base calculation.
How the estimate is calculated
- Convert salary or hourly earnings into gross pay for the selected payroll period.
- Apply eligible pre-tax deductions according to their actual payroll treatment.
- Estimate federal withholding from the current IRS payroll tables and the user’s W-4 inputs.
- Calculate Social Security and Medicare withholding, including applicable wage-base or additional-tax logic.
- Apply current state and supported local withholding rules, then subtract after-tax deductions.
- Annualize the result only after the per-pay-period calculation is complete.
Formula
Estimated net pay = gross pay − pre-tax deductions − federal withholding − Social Security − Medicare − state/local withholding − after-tax deductions
Worked example
Suppose an employee earns $2,800 every two weeks, contributes $140 to a traditional 401(k), and has illustrative withholding of $250 federal, $120 state and $25 after tax. Social Security at 6.2% of $2,800 is $173.60, and Medicare at 1.45% is $40.60. The example net paycheck is $2,800 − $140 − $250 − $120 − $173.60 − $40.60 − $25 = $2,050.80. Actual federal, state and local withholding depends on the selected settings and current rules.
Current rules and configuration notes
- Federal withholding must use the 2026 IRS payroll-withholding methods and the user’s current Form W-4 inputs.
- For 2026, Social Security tax is 6.2% for the employee and 6.2% for the employer on covered wages up to $184,500.
- State and local withholding must come from a separate jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction rule registry; unsupported local taxes must be disclosed.
Update requirement: Federal payroll tables and Social Security wage-base inputs must be reviewed for every calendar year. State and local rules require their own source registry.
Included in the estimate
- Regular, hourly, overtime, commission and bonus earnings
- Federal withholding based on current payroll tables
- Social Security and Medicare withholding
- State withholding and supported local payroll taxes
- Pre-tax and after-tax payroll deductions
- Per-pay-period and annualized summaries
Not included or not guaranteed
- A final income-tax return or refund estimate
- Unreported tips, investment income or business income unless entered
- Every municipal or special-district tax
- Employer payroll costs
- Legal, tax or payroll advice
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is the paycheck calculator?
It is an estimate based on the inputs and rule set selected. Payroll systems may use permitted rounding methods, supplemental-wage treatment and local rules that create small differences.
Does a 401(k) contribution reduce every payroll tax?
A traditional 401(k) contribution generally reduces federal taxable wages but normally does not reduce Social Security or Medicare wages. Other deductions can have different treatment.
Why is my state paycheck different from another state?
States use different income-tax systems, exemptions and local-tax rules. Some states have no broad individual wage income tax, while others also have city or local withholding.
Can I calculate overtime pay?
Yes. Enter regular hours, overtime hours and the applicable overtime multiplier. The extra earnings are added before withholding is estimated.
Is bonus withholding the same as regular-pay withholding?
Not always. Employers may use a supplemental-wage method permitted by federal and state rules. Select bonus mode to see which method the estimate uses.
Does this replace the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator?
No. Toolistify is useful for paycheck scenarios; the IRS estimator is the authoritative federal tool for a more complete withholding review.
Official sources
Applicable period: 2026 · Last reviewed: September 3, 2026
- IRS Publication 15-T — Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods (2026)
- Social Security Administration — Contribution and Benefit Base
- IRS — Tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026
- IRS Publication 15 — Employer's Tax Guide (2026)
Display the applicable period and a real Last reviewed date beside this source list.
Recommended internal links
Compare the full value of your job offer
After estimating take-home pay, calculate the employer match in your 401(k) and compare total compensation rather than salary alone.
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