Income

Paycheck Calculator

Estimate take-home pay after federal tax, Social Security, and Medicare.

Calculator

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Net (take-home) pay

$3,518.5

Federal tax

$564

State tax

$235

Social Security

$310

Medicare

$72.5

Effective tax rate

23.63%

What is paycheck?

This paycheck calculator estimates your take-home pay by subtracting federal income tax, Social Security (6.2%), and Medicare (1.45%) from gross pay.

Example

A $5,000 monthly gross paycheck nets about $4,050 after $500 federal tax, $310 Social Security, and $72.50 Medicare.

Money-saving tips

  • Adjust your W-4 withholding if you get large refunds or owe at tax time.
  • State and local taxes also reduce take-home pay — factor those in.
  • Pre-tax deductions like 401(k) and health insurance lower taxable income.

Common mistakes

  • Forgetting that bonuses are taxed at a higher supplemental rate.

Financial definitions

Net pay
Take-home pay after all taxes and deductions.
FICA
The combined Social Security and Medicare payroll tax.

Frequently asked questions

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