How to Estimate Your US Paycheck After Federal Tax, Social Security, Medicare and 401(k)

American pay is quoted as gross salary. What you receive depends on federal tax, payroll taxes, retirement contributions and the state you live in.

Quick answer

Enter your salary, choose single or married filing jointly, add your 401(k) percentage and your state income tax rate. The calculator applies the 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deduction, Social Security and Medicare, and shows net pay by year, month, four weeks, week and day.

What is deducted

1. 401(k) contribution (pre-tax), which reduces taxable income.
2. Federal income tax in brackets after the standard deduction.
3. Social Security: 6.2 percent of wages up to the annual wage base.
4. Medicare: 1.45 percent of all wages (plus an additional 0.9 percent for high earners).
5. State income tax, which varies from zero (for example in Texas and Florida) to over 10 percent.

Steps

1. Enter your annual salary.
2. Pick the filing status.
3. Enter your 401(k) percentage and state tax rate.
4. Read net pay for each period.

What the estimate leaves out

• Local taxes and state disability insurance.
• Health insurance premiums and HSA/FSA contributions.
• Extra W-4 withholding and credits (for example child tax credit).
• Bonuses taxed at supplemental rates.

Tips

• Use your pay stub to compare; small differences are normal.
• Increasing your 401(k) lowers take-home by less than the contribution because it lowers tax.
• If you get a refund every year, you may be withholding too much; if you owe, too little.

This is an estimate, not tax advice.