Paycheck Calculator (2026)
See what a salary is really worth per paycheck. This estimator applies the official IRS tax-year 2026 brackets and standard deduction plus FICA (Social Security and Medicare), then splits the result into your actual pay periods.
It covers federal taxes only - state and local income taxes, pre-tax benefits like 401(k) and health premiums, and W-4 specifics are not included, so treat results as a solid ballpark rather than a payroll quote.
How the calculation works
- Federal taxable income = gross salary − standard deduction ($16,100 single / $32,200 married joint for 2026).
- Federal tax = 2026 marginal brackets applied to that taxable amount.
- FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to $184,500 of wages) + 1.45% Medicare (all wages).
- Net = gross − federal − FICA, then divided by your pay frequency.
Worked example: $65,000 single, biweekly. Taxable income is $48,900, federal tax ≈ $5,620, FICA ≈ $4,972.50, net ≈ $54,408 per year - about $2,093 per biweekly paycheck, an effective combined rate of roughly 16.3%.
Frequently asked questions
How much is taken out of my paycheck?
Three federal pieces come out first: federal income tax (depends on your W-4 and income), Social Security at 6.2% up to the annual wage base, and Medicare at 1.45% with no cap. State income tax, retirement contributions, and insurance premiums come out on top of that.
How much Social Security tax do I pay in 2026?
6.2% of wages up to $184,500 for the year - the maximum employee contribution is $11,439. Above that wage base no further Social Security is withheld.
What is the 2026 standard deduction?
$16,100 for single filers and married filing separately, $32,200 for married filing jointly, per IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32. It reduces the income your federal tax brackets apply to.
Why is my real paycheck different from this estimate?
Real withholding follows your W-4 elections, state and local taxes, benefit deductions, and employer rounding. This tool uses the annual-tax method, which lands close for straight salaries but will differ where bonuses, pre-tax deductions, or multiple jobs are involved.