Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about take-home pay, the taxes withheld from your paycheck, and how this free paycheck calculator works. Every figure below uses the 2026 tax rates built into the tool.
Taxes and take-home pay
Why is my paycheck smaller than my salary?
Your salary is your gross pay, and taxes come out before you are paid. Federal income tax, Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%), and in most states a state income tax are withheld from every check. On a typical salary that adds up to roughly 15% to 30% of your pay, which is the gap between your salary and your take-home pay. There is a full breakdown on why your paycheck is smaller than your salary.
How much tax comes out of a $60,000 salary?
For a single filer in a state with no income tax, a $60,000 salary pays about $5,020 in federal income tax and $4,590 in Social Security and Medicare, totaling roughly $9,610. That leaves about $50,390 in take-home pay, an effective tax rate near 16%. Adding a state income tax or a 401(k) contribution changes the result.
What is FICA?
FICA is the payroll tax that funds Social Security and Medicare. In 2026 it is 6.2% for Social Security on wages up to $184,500 and 1.45% for Medicare on all wages, which is 7.65% for most workers. High earners pay an extra 0.9% Medicare tax on wages above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly). See FICA explained for more.
Which states have no income tax?
Nine states take no income tax on wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. In those states no state tax is withheld from your paycheck, but you still pay federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare.
How is my paycheck calculated?
Take-home pay starts with your gross pay, then subtracts federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state income tax, and any pre-tax deductions. Each tax is figured from your annual wages, and your paycheck is the share that falls in your pay period. The full paycheck guide walks through every step.
Using the calculator
Is this paycheck calculator accurate?
It gives close estimates using 2026 federal brackets, the standard deduction, FICA rates, and each state's income tax rules. It does not include local taxes, most state-specific credits, or your individual W-4 details, so treat it as an estimate rather than tax advice.
Is my information private?
Yes. All of the math runs in your browser. Nothing you enter, such as your salary or state, is uploaded, stored, or sent anywhere. There is no sign-up and no account needed to use the calculator.
What pay frequencies does the calculator support?
You can view take-home pay weekly, every two weeks (biweekly), twice a month (semi-monthly), monthly, or annually. The yearly totals are the same; only how the amount is split per paycheck changes.
Does it work for hourly and salaried pay?
Yes. Choose Salary to enter an annual figure, or Hourly to enter a rate and hours per week. Hourly pay is annualized as your rate times hours per week times 52 weeks, then taxed the same way as a salary.
Do 401(k) contributions lower my taxes?
Traditional 401(k) contributions are pre-tax, so they lower your federal and state income tax by reducing your taxable income. Social Security and Medicare still apply to those dollars, so FICA does not go down. You can enter a 401(k) percentage in the calculator to see the effect.
Run your own numbers: the free paycheck calculator shows your take-home pay after every tax, for any salary, hourly wage, state, and pay frequency.
More guides
- How your paycheck is calculated (2026)
- Why is my paycheck smaller than my salary?
- What is FICA? Social Security & Medicare tax explained
- Take-home pay by state
General information, not tax, legal, or financial advice. Figures are 2026 estimates and exclude local taxes and most state-specific credits.
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