US Paycheck Calculator

Gross pay is your salary before any deductions. Take-home pay (net pay) is what actually hits your bank account after federal income tax, state income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and any pre-tax benefit deductions like 401(k) or HSA contributions are removed.

The US uses a progressive tax system. In 2025, the federal standard deduction is $15,000 for single filers and $30,000 for married filing jointly. Your taxable income is your gross salary minus this deduction (and any pre-tax deductions). That income is then taxed at progressive rates from 10% to 37%, but only the income within each bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate — not your entire salary.

FICA stands for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It covers Social Security (6.2% on wages up to $176,100 in 2025) and Medicare (1.45% on all wages, plus an additional 0.9% on wages over $200,000 for single filers). Your employer matches these contributions separately — what you see here is only the employee share.

No. Some cities and counties have local income taxes — most notably New York City, Yonkers, and many cities in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. This calculator shows state-level taxes only. If you live in an area with local income tax, your actual take-home will be slightly lower.

Traditional 401(k) contributions are made pre-tax, which reduces your federal and state taxable income. For example, contributing $6,000 to a 401(k) reduces the income that gets taxed by $6,000 — saving you money now (though you'll pay taxes on withdrawals in retirement). The 2025 contribution limit is $23,500 ($31,000 if you're 50 or older).

Nine states have no state income tax on wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. If you live in one of these states, you only pay federal income tax and FICA.