How to Calculate Your Take-Home Pay
Your take-home pay (net pay) is what is left after taxes and deductions are taken from your gross pay. In the US, three big items come out of most paychecks before you ever see the money.
What comes out of your paycheck
- Federal income tax — based on progressive brackets and your filing status.
- FICA — Social Security (6.2% up to the annual wage base) and Medicare (1.45%, plus a 0.9% surtax on high earners).
- State income tax — varies by state; nine states have no wage income tax at all.
The estimation steps
- Start with gross annual pay.
- Subtract the standard deduction to get taxable income, then apply the federal brackets.
- Add FICA (7.65% on most income).
- Add your state's income tax.
- Subtract the total from gross to get net take-home pay.
Effective tax rates usually land somewhere between 15% and 30% for typical salaries, but they depend heavily on your state and filing status. The take-home calculator estimates all of these at once so you can see the breakdown instantly.
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Open the calculatorFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between gross and net pay?
Gross pay is your salary before any deductions. Net pay (take-home pay) is what remains after federal tax, FICA and state tax are withheld.
How much is taken out of a paycheck for taxes?
For typical salaries, total withholding is often 15%–30% of gross pay, combining federal income tax, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax where it applies.
Which states have no income tax?
Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming do not tax wage income.