Calculate Your Take-Home Pay
Enter your salary details below to see how much you actually take home after federal and state taxes, Social Security, Medicare, and other deductions.
| Item | Annual | Per Paycheck |
|---|
How Take-Home Pay Is Calculated
Your take-home pay is your gross salary minus all mandatory and voluntary deductions:
- Pre-tax deductions — Contributions to 401(k), traditional IRA, health insurance premiums, HSA, and FSA are subtracted first, reducing your taxable income.
- Federal income tax — Applied using progressive tax brackets on your taxable income (gross minus pre-tax deductions and the standard deduction).
- State income tax — Varies by state. Nine states have no income tax. Others range from about 3% to over 10%.
- Social Security — 6.2% of gross wages up to the annual wage base ($168,600 in 2024).
- Medicare — 1.45% on all earnings, plus an additional 0.9% on earnings above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly).
- Post-tax deductions — Roth 401(k) contributions, union dues, garnishments, etc.
2024 Federal Tax Brackets — Single
| Taxable Income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $11,600 | 10% |
| $11,601 – $47,150 | 12% |
| $47,151 – $100,525 | 22% |
| $100,526 – $191,950 | 24% |
| $191,951 – $243,725 | 32% |
| $243,726 – $609,350 | 35% |
| Over $609,350 | 37% |
2024 Federal Tax Brackets — Married Filing Jointly
| Taxable Income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $23,200 | 10% |
| $23,201 – $94,300 | 12% |
| $94,301 – $201,050 | 22% |
| $201,051 – $383,900 | 24% |
| $383,901 – $487,450 | 32% |
| $487,451 – $731,200 | 35% |
| Over $731,200 | 37% |
Examples
Example 1 — Single, $60,000 salary, average state
- Federal taxable: $60,000 - $14,600 standard deduction = $45,400
- Federal tax: $1,160 + ($45,400 - $11,600) × 12% = $1,160 + $4,056 = $5,216
- State tax (5%): $60,000 × 5% = $3,000
- Social Security: $60,000 × 6.2% = $3,720
- Medicare: $60,000 × 1.45% = $870
- Total deductions: $12,806 → Take-home: $47,194 ($1,815/biweekly)
Example 2 — Married, $120,000 salary, no state tax
- Federal taxable: $120,000 - $29,200 standard deduction = $90,800
- Federal tax: $2,320 + ($90,800 - $23,200) × 12% = $2,320 + $8,112 = $10,432
- State tax: $0
- Social Security: $120,000 × 6.2% = $7,440
- Medicare: $120,000 × 1.45% = $1,740
- Total deductions: $19,612 → Take-home: $100,388 ($3,861/biweekly)
Frequently Asked Questions
How is take-home pay calculated?
Take-home pay equals your gross salary minus all deductions: federal income tax (progressive brackets), state income tax, Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%), and any voluntary pre-tax or post-tax deductions like retirement contributions or insurance.
What is the Social Security tax rate?
Employees pay 6.2% of gross wages toward Social Security, up to the annual wage base limit of $168,600 (2024). Wages above this cap are not subject to Social Security tax. Your employer pays an additional 6.2%.
What is the Medicare tax rate?
The standard Medicare tax rate is 1.45% on all earnings with no cap. An additional 0.9% Medicare surtax applies to earnings above $200,000 for single filers or $250,000 for those married filing jointly.
How do federal tax brackets work?
Federal income tax is progressive — only the income within each bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate. For example, a single filer earning $50,000 in taxable income pays 10% on the first $11,600, then 12% on the next $35,550, then 22% on the remaining $2,850. This means your effective rate is lower than your marginal bracket.
Which states have no income tax?
Nine states have no state income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. New Hampshire and Tennessee historically only taxed investment income, which has since been phased out.
Does this calculator store my data?
No. All calculations run entirely in your browser. No salary, tax, or personal information is sent to any server or stored anywhere.
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Privacy & Limitations
- All calculations run entirely in your browser -- nothing is sent to any server.
- Results are estimates for planning purposes and should not replace professional financial advice.
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Take Home Pay Calculator FAQ
How is take-home pay calculated?
Take-home pay is calculated by subtracting all deductions from your gross pay. Deductions include federal income tax (based on tax brackets), state income tax, Social Security tax (6.2% up to the wage base), Medicare tax (1.45%, plus 0.9% additional above $200,000), and any pre-tax deductions like retirement contributions or health insurance.
What is the Social Security tax rate?
The Social Security tax rate is 6.2% for employees, applied to earnings up to the annual wage base limit ($168,600 for 2024). Earnings above this threshold are not subject to Social Security tax.
What is the Medicare tax rate?
The Medicare tax rate is 1.45% on all earnings. An additional 0.9% Medicare surtax applies to earnings above $200,000 for single filers or $250,000 for married filing jointly.
How do federal tax brackets work?
Federal income tax uses a progressive bracket system. Only the income within each bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate. For example, in 2024 for single filers, the first $11,600 of taxable income is taxed at 10%, the next portion up to $47,150 at 12%, and so on through the 37% bracket.
Does this calculator store my data?
No. All calculations run entirely in your browser. No salary, tax, or personal data is sent to any server or stored anywhere.