The gap between your salary and the amount that actually lands in your bank account can be surprising. This paycheck calculator estimates your take-home pay after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare, and other withholdings, so you can budget around what you truly receive.
What comes out of your paycheck
Several deductions reduce gross pay: federal income tax based on your filing status and W-4, Social Security tax of 6.2%, Medicare tax of 1.45%, any state and local income tax, and pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions and health insurance premiums. Pre-tax deductions lower your taxable income, which reduces the income tax you owe.
How withholding is estimated
Federal income tax withholding depends on your filing status, pay frequency, and the information on your W-4. Social Security applies to wages up to the annual wage base ($176,100 in 2025), while Medicare has no cap. The calculator combines these to estimate your net pay per period.
A worked example
On a $60,000 salary paid biweekly, gross pay is about $2,308 per check. After roughly $143 for Social Security, $33 for Medicare, and federal income tax, a single filer typically nets somewhere around $1,850-$1,950 per paycheck before state tax — meaning close to a quarter of gross pay goes to withholdings.
Optimizing your take-home pay
- Increasing pre-tax 401(k) contributions lowers your taxable income and current tax, though it reduces net pay now.
- Review your W-4 after major life events — marriage, a new child, a second job — to avoid over- or under-withholding.
- A large refund means you withheld too much and gave the government an interest-free loan; adjusting your W-4 puts that money in each paycheck instead.
- Contributing to an HSA or FSA reduces taxable income further if you have eligible health expenses.