Paycheck Calculator

Estimate your gross pay, federal withholding, Social Security, Medicare, state income tax, deductions, and take-home pay. This free paycheck calculator is a simple planning tool for hourly and salary workers.

Results Per Paycheck

Gross Pay
$0
Federal Tax
$0
Social Security
$0
Medicare
$0
State Tax
$0
Pre-Tax Deductions
$0
Post-Tax Deductions
$0
Total Withheld
$0
Net Pay
$0

Enter your pay details and click Calculate to estimate your take-home pay.

How this paycheck calculator works

This paycheck calculator estimates per-paycheck earnings by starting with gross pay, subtracting pre-tax deductions, estimating federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and optional state income tax, and then subtracting post-tax deductions.

It supports both salary and hourly pay. For hourly workers, it can also include overtime pay. The result is a simple take-home pay estimate for planning and budgeting.

What to enter

  • Your pay type and pay frequency
  • Your annual salary or hourly rate
  • Your hours and optional overtime hours
  • Your federal filing status
  • Any pre-tax deductions per paycheck
  • Any post-tax deductions per paycheck
  • Any additional federal withholding
  • An optional flat state tax rate

What the results mean

  • Gross Pay: earnings before taxes and deductions
  • Federal Tax: estimated federal withholding for that paycheck
  • Social Security: estimated Social Security withholding
  • Medicare: estimated Medicare withholding
  • State Tax: estimated state withholding using your flat rate
  • Total Withheld: taxes plus deductions
  • Net Pay: estimated take-home pay for the paycheck

Paycheck calculator formula

This calculator estimates:

Gross Pay = Salary Per Period

or for hourly pay:

Gross Pay = (Hourly Rate × Regular Hours) + (Hourly Rate × Overtime Multiplier × Overtime Hours)

Annualized taxable income is estimated from paycheck earnings, then simplified federal tax brackets are applied. Social Security and Medicare are estimated separately, and optional state tax is calculated using the flat rate you enter.

Tips for using a paycheck calculator

Gross pay is not take-home pay

Your paycheck is reduced by taxes and deductions, so your net pay may be quite a bit lower than gross pay.

Pre-tax deductions can reduce withholding

Items like some retirement contributions and health premiums may reduce taxable pay before federal tax is calculated.

State withholding varies widely

Some states have no income tax, while others use complex systems. This calculator uses a flat state rate for simple planning.

Use it for budgeting

A paycheck estimate can help with monthly budgeting, job offer comparisons, overtime planning, and withholding adjustments.

Frequently asked questions

Does this calculator include exact payroll withholding rules?

No. This is a simplified paycheck planning tool. Real payroll systems may use more detailed withholding rules, local taxes, benefit rules, and employer-specific deductions.

Does this calculator include Social Security and Medicare?

Yes. This version estimates both Social Security and Medicare withholding as separate line items.

Can I use this for hourly jobs?

Yes. You can switch to hourly pay and enter weekly hours and overtime to estimate paycheck earnings.

Why might my real paycheck be different?

Real paychecks can differ because of local taxes, exact payroll withholding methods, benefits, bonuses, contribution limits, and other deductions not modeled here.

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