US Paycheck Calculator

Your paycheck is reduced by three main categories of withholding. First, Federal Income Tax is calculated on a progressive basis across seven brackets (10% to 37% for 2025) after subtracting the standard deduction for your filing status ($15,000 single, $30,000 married filing jointly, $22,500 head of household). Second, FICA taxes fund Social Security (6.2% up to the 2025 wage base of $176,100) and Medicare (1.45% on all wages, plus an extra 0.9% on income above $200,000 for single filers or $250,000 for joint filers). Third, most states levy their own income tax on top of federal — ranging from 0% in states like Texas, Florida and Washington to over 13% at the top bracket in California.

Pre-tax deductions like traditional 401(k) contributions and employer-sponsored health insurance premiums reduce your taxable wages before federal and state tax are calculated, which is why maxing out a 401(k) can lower your tax bill even though it also reduces your take-home pay today. Health insurance premiums paid through a Section 125 cafeteria plan typically reduce FICA wages too, which this calculator accounts for.

Note: This calculator estimates federal withholding using 2025 IRS brackets and provides simplified state tax estimates for California and New York (single-filer brackets); for other states, enter an approximate flat rate. It does not account for local/city taxes, pre-tax FSA/HSA contributions, or additional W-4 adjustments — check your pay stub or a tax professional for exact figures.