Take-Home Pay Calculator – What's Your Real Paycheck?

Your salary and your paycheck are two different numbers, and the gap between them surprises most people. A $75,000 salary doesn't mean $6,250 hits your bank account each month. Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and state income tax all come out first — often reducing take-home by 25–40% depending on your state and filing status. This calculator applies 2024 federal tax brackets, the standard deduction for your filing status, FICA taxes (Social Security at 6.2% and Medicare at 1.45%), and state income tax estimates for all 50 states. It also lets you factor in pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions and health insurance premiums, which reduce taxable income and increase your net pay. Understanding your real after-tax income is the foundation of any accurate budget. It's also essential before accepting a job offer, negotiating a raise, comparing positions across states, or deciding how much to contribute to retirement. A $90,000 offer in California and a $90,000 offer in Texas are not the same offer — state taxes alone can create a $4,000–$6,000/year difference in actual cash. Run this before every major career decision. The gap between gross and net is where most financial plans go wrong.

Take-home pay = Gross income – Federal income tax – FICA – State income tax – Pre-tax deductions Federal income tax: applied to (Gross – Standard deduction – Pre-tax deductions) using progressive brackets. FICA: Social Security = 6.2% × min(gross, $168,600); Medicare = 1.45% × gross. An additional 0.9% Medicare surtax applies above $200,000 for single filers. Pre-tax 401(k) effect: Each $1 contributed reduces federal taxable income by $1. In the 22% bracket, a $500/month contribution costs only $390/month in reduced take-home — the $110 difference is avoided tax.