Take-Home Pay Calculator
Enter gross annual income and filing status to estimate monthly take-home after federal income tax and employee FICA. Optional pre-tax retirement and a flat state-tax rate refine the paycheck picture.
Calculate
Result
The formula
Subtract the standard deduction and pre-tax retirement from gross, apply federal brackets, then subtract employee Social Security (wage-base capped) and Medicare. Optional flat state tax applies to wages after retirement. Monthly take-home is annual net ÷ 12.
Worked example
- Single, $60,000 gross, 2025 standard deduction $15,000 → taxable $45,000
- Federal tax ≈ $5,161.50; Social Security $3,720; Medicare $870
- Net ≈ $50,248.50 → about $4,187 / month at ~16.3% effective tax
Result: ≈ $4,187 / month take-home with FICA on
How take-home is estimated
A paycheck stacks federal income tax withholding with FICA. This page uses IRS-style ordinary brackets plus simplified employee Social Security and Medicare shares.
Federal income tax
Progressive 2024 and 2025 brackets with an optional standard deduction. Pre-tax retirement lowers federal taxable wages in this model. Credits, AMT, and NIIT are omitted.
Social Security and Medicare
Employee OASDI is 6.2% up to the annual wage base; Medicare is 1.45% on all wages (additional Medicare tax not modeled). Traditional 401(k) deferrals usually still face FICA — this estimate applies FICA to full gross.
What we do not model
Health premiums, garnishments, local taxes, employer FICA, and year-specific credits. State tax is a flat percentage you enter — not a full state return.
Interesting facts
Gross vs take-home
Gross is before deductions. Take-home is what remains after federal tax, FICA, optional state tax, and any retirement amount you enter.
Effective rate
Total taxes ÷ gross. Usually far below your top marginal federal bracket because lower bands still apply.
Withholding ≠ final tax
Paycheck withholding is an estimate. Filing reconciles prepaid tax versus actual liability.
Biweekly ≠ twice monthly
Biweekly divides annual net by 26; semi-monthly calendars differ.
Pair with the income tax calculator
For a bracket-by-bracket federal-only view without FICA, use the income tax calculator.
Frequently asked questions
We estimate federal income tax from brackets, add employee Social Security and Medicare when enabled, subtract optional state tax and retirement, then show monthly, biweekly, weekly, and hourly nets.
It uses the same federal brackets and standard deduction options, then continues to net pay with FICA and paycheck-sized figures.
Yes when “Include Social Security and Medicare” is on — as a simplified employee FICA estimate. Turn it off for federal income tax only.
In this teaching model, FICA still applies to full gross wages. Retirement reduces federal taxable income and the cash take-home total.
Real paychecks include health premiums, local taxes, garnishments, and credits this tool skips. Treat the result as a planning ballpark.
Annual net ÷ 26 for biweekly, alongside monthly (÷12), weekly (÷52), and hourly (÷2,080) figures.
Only if you enter a flat state-tax percentage under the optional fields — not a full state return.
References
- IRS — Tax withholding estimator Official U.S. paycheck withholding tool.
- Social Security — contribution rates Employee/employer OASDI and HI rates.
- Understanding taxes Educational modules on how income tax works.