US Paycheck Calculator

Estimate US take-home pay per paycheck after 2026 federal tax, Social Security, Medicare, 401(k), state income tax and state payroll deductions such as SDI.

Reviewed by Dany, RightSums team · Updated

Runs in your browser. Free, no sign-up.

salary-tax · Daily life · US

This paycheck calculator gives an estimate, not a pay stub. Enter your salary, filing status, pay frequency, 401(k) percentage and state. It takes off the 401(k), capped at $24,500, and any pre-tax health, dental or HSA deductions, applies the 2026 standard deduction and federal brackets, then subtracts $2,200 for each child under 17 and $500 for each other dependant, as on the 2026 Form W-4. Social Security is 6.2% up to $184,500 and Medicare 1.45%, plus 0.9% above $200,000 single. State income tax uses the Tax Foundation's 2026 tables. State payroll deductions, such as California SDI, New York paid family leave and Washington's paid leave and WA Cares, use each state's official 2026 rates. City and county taxes are left out unless you add a local rate.

Accepted inputs

  • Annual salary ($)
  • Filing status
  • Pay frequency
  • Pre-tax 401(k) (%)
  • State
  • Local tax rate (%), optional
  • Children under 17, optional
  • Other dependants, optional
  • Pre-tax health, dental and HSA ($ per year), optional

Outputs

  • Take-home pay per paycheck
  • Annual net take-home pay
  • Federal, state and local tax
  • State payroll deductions (SDI, paid leave)
  • Child and dependant credit
  • Social Security and Medicare
  • Effective tax rate

How to use the US Paycheck Calculator

  1. Enter your annual salary and choose single, married filing jointly or head of household.
  2. Pick how often you are paid, add your pre-tax 401(k) percentage and, if you like, your children, other dependants and pre-tax health costs.
  3. Choose your state so the tool can add state income tax and state payroll deductions such as SDI or paid leave.
  4. Read your take-home pay per paycheck and per year, with each tax and deduction shown on its own line.

Frequently asked questions

How much is $85,000 a year after taxes?

About $60,359 a year, or $2,321 per bi-weekly paycheck, for a single filer in California putting 6% into a 401(k). Federal income tax is $8,748, Social Security $5,270, Medicare $1,232.50, California income tax about $3,186, California SDI $1,105 and the 401(k) takes $5,100. Other states give different results.

How is federal income tax on my paycheck estimated?

The tool works out your full-year federal tax and divides it by your number of paychecks. It subtracts your 401(k), pre-tax health costs and the 2026 standard deduction, applies the 2026 brackets, then takes off $2,200 per child under 17 and $500 per other dependant, as on Form W-4 Step 3. Your employer's actual withholding can still differ.

How do children change my paycheck?

Each child under 17 cuts federal tax by up to $2,200 a year, and each other dependant by $500, never below zero. A single filer on $85,000 in Texas with two children pays $5,470 federal tax instead of $9,870, taking home $73,027.50 a year. The credit shrinks by $50 per $1,000 of income over $200,000.

Which states take SDI or paid leave out of my paycheck?

In 2026 employees pay into state disability or paid leave schemes in California, New York, New Jersey, Washington, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Hawaii, Oregon, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Minnesota and Maine. California SDI is 1.3% with no cap, $1,105 on $85,000. Alaska, New Jersey and Pennsylvania also take a small unemployment contribution. Maryland starts in 2027.

Do pre-tax health insurance and HSA deductions lower my taxes?

Yes, when they go through your employer's cafeteria plan they cut federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare. On $60,000 single in Texas, $3,000 a year of pre-tax health costs lowers take-home by only $2,410.50, from $50,390 to $47,979.50, because you save $589.50 in tax. California taxes HSA contributions, which the tool does not model.

Sources

The rates and rules in this tool come from:

Guides that use this tool

Terms explained

  • Child Tax Credit: The Child Tax Credit cuts US federal tax by up to $2,200 per qualifying child under 17, with up to $1,700 refundable.
  • FICA: FICA is the US payroll tax for Social Security (6.2% up to $184,500 in 2026) and Medicare (1.45%, plus 0.9% over $200,000).
  • Form W-4: Form W-4 is the IRS form you give your employer so it withholds the right federal income tax from your pay.
  • Marginal tax rate: Your marginal tax rate is the share of your next pound or dollar of income that goes in tax and deductions.
  • Standard deduction: The standard deduction is the fixed amount US taxpayers subtract from income before federal tax: $16,100 single, $32,200 joint for 2026.
  • State Disability Insurance (SDI): State Disability Insurance is a payroll deduction that funds short-term disability and paid family leave; California takes 1.3% of all wages in 2026.

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