Know Exactly What You
Take Home Every Paycheck
Free, lightning-fast paycheck and state tax calculator. See your exact net pay after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and state deductions.
Paycheck & Tax Calculator2026 IRS Rules
Real-time take-home calculations, federal withholdings, FICA/SECA, and Texas state taxes.
or $845/wk • $3,664/mo • $43,962/yr
Are you an Independent Contractor, Freelancer or Gig Worker?
Estimate your 15.3% Self-Employment Tax (SECA), quarterly 1040-ES payments, and deductible business expenses with our specialized 1099 engine.
Key State Employment & Regional Tech Hubs
Explore paycheck take-home benchmarks across major metropolitan regions
Explore Hourly Wages After Taxes
Instant net take-home calculations for America's most common hourly pay rates:
Featured High-Population State Hubs
California has progressive tax brackets starting at 1% and reaching up to 13.3% including mental health tax surcharges.
Florida has no state personal income tax, making it a leading retirement and relocation destination in the United States.
Illinois levies a constitutionally mandated flat individual income tax rate of 4.95%.
New York State features progressive brackets from 4% to 10.9%, with NYC residents paying an additional local income tax.
Texas has a constitutionally protected 0% personal income tax, making take-home pay substantially higher.
Washington State levies 0% personal income tax on salaries and wages, with a narrow excise tax on high capital gains.
Frequently Asked Questions About US Paychecks & Taxes
Everything you need to know about federal tax brackets, FICA deductions, and state tax rules
Q. How is paycheck take-home pay calculated in the United States?
Take-home pay equals your gross wages minus three core mandatory deductions: Federal Income Tax (based on progressive IRS tax brackets after applying standard deductions), FICA taxes (6.2% Social Security up to statutory caps plus 1.45% Medicare), and applicable State/Local Personal Income Taxes.
Q. Which US states have 0% state income tax?
There are currently nine states with no personal income tax on earned wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. In these states, workers only pay federal income tax and FICA.
Q. What is FICA tax and why is it deducted from every paycheck?
FICA stands for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It funds Social Security (6.2% of wages up to the 2026 statutory cap of $184,500) and Medicare (1.45% of all wages). Unlike federal income tax, FICA has no standard deduction and is withheld starting from your first dollar of gross earnings.
Q. How do independent contractors (1099) calculate self-employment tax?
Independent 1099 contractors pay Self-Employment Tax (SECA) of 15.3% (12.4% Social Security and 2.9% Medicare) on 92.35% of net profit. The IRS allows deducting 50% of this self-employment tax from gross earnings before calculating taxable federal income.
Q. What is the 30% rule for housing affordability from your paycheck?
The 30% rule is the gold standard US personal finance guideline recommending that you spend no more than 30% of your net take-home monthly pay on rent or mortgage. Our calculator automatically computes this maximum recommended housing allowance for every wage level.
Understanding Your Paycheck Withholdings
1. Federal Income Tax Withholding
The US utilizes a progressive marginal tax bracket system. When you earn income, your initial dollars are taxed at 10%, with subsequent amounts taxed at 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and up to 37%. Before brackets apply, the federal standard deduction ($16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married couples in 2026) is subtracted from your gross salary.
2. FICA Taxes (Social Security & Medicare)
Mandated by the Federal Insurance Contributions Act, every employed worker contributes 6.2% of their earnings toward Social Security (up to the 2026 statutory wage ceiling of $184,500) and 1.45% toward Medicare. Unlike income taxes, FICA is deducted starting from your very first dollar of gross pay.
3. The 9 States With Zero Personal Income Tax
Nine states do not levy a standard personal income tax on earned wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Living in these states significantly increases net take-home pay compared to high-tax states such as California and New York.