Hourly Paycheck Calculator
Estimate your real take-home pay after federal income tax, state tax, Social Security, and Medicare. Enter your hourly rate, weekly hours, filing status, and state — we'll show you gross pay, every deduction, and your final net paycheck for any pay period.
Estimated Paycheck Breakdown
State tax is an estimate based on average rates. Actual withholding varies by state.
Understanding Your Paycheck Deductions
Every U.S. paycheck includes mandatory deductions for federal income tax (based on your W-4), Social Security (6.2% on wages up to the annual cap), and Medicare (1.45%, plus 0.9% Additional Medicare on high earners). Most states also withhold a state income tax, though nine states — Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming — do not tax wage income.
Why This Is an Estimate
This calculator uses simplified 2026 federal brackets and a flat average state rate. Your actual paycheck may differ based on pre-tax 401(k) or HSA contributions, health insurance premiums, additional withholdings on your W-4, and local taxes. For exact figures, review your pay stub or consult your payroll department.
How This Calculator Works
The tool starts from gross pay — your hourly rate times hours worked, scaled to the pay period you choose (weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly, or monthly). From that gross it subtracts four deductions in order. Social Security takes 6.2% and Medicare takes 1.45%, together the 7.65% FICA tax. Federal income tax is estimated by annualizing your gross, subtracting the standard deduction for your filing status, applying the 2026 marginal brackets, and dividing back to the period. State income tax applies an average effective rate for the state you select. The leftover is your estimated net pay: net = gross − FICA (7.65%) − federal withholding − state withholding. Because it works from your regular rate, the result assumes straight-time hours; overtime should be added separately.
A Worked Example
Take a single filer earning $22.00 an hour, 40 hours a week, paid weekly in a state with roughly a 5% effective rate. Gross is $22.00 × 40 = $880.00. FICA removes 7.65% — Social Security $54.56 and Medicare $12.76, totaling $67.32. State tax at 5% is about $44.00. Annualized gross is $45,760; after the standard deduction and the 2026 single brackets, federal withholding lands near $58 for the week. Net pay is roughly $880.00 − $67.32 − $44.00 − $58.00 = $710.68. That is about 19% of gross gone before a single pre-tax benefit is counted. In practice I tell people to expect their first real check to look like this, then drop further once 401(k) and insurance come out. — Carla Mendez
What Affects Your Result
- Filing status. Single, married filing jointly, and head of household use different brackets and standard deductions, changing federal withholding on identical gross pay.
- Your state. Nine states levy no wage income tax, while others range from under 3% to over 8% effective, swinging take-home significantly.
- Pre-tax deductions. 401(k), HSA, FSA, and many health premiums come out before income tax is calculated, lowering both your taxable wages and your tax.
- W-4 adjustments. Extra withholding, dependents, and multiple-job settings on your W-4 raise or lower federal tax beyond the basic bracket math.
- The Social Security wage cap. Once year-to-date wages pass the annual cap, the 6.2% Social Security portion stops, raising later-year take-home.
- Additional Medicare tax. High earners owe an extra 0.9% Medicare tax above set income thresholds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is FICA and how much is taken out?
FICA is the combined Social Security and Medicare payroll tax. Employees pay 6.2% for Social Security (up to the annual wage base) plus 1.45% for Medicare — 7.65% total. Your employer matches that amount separately.
Why is my take-home pay lower than my hourly rate suggests?
Gross pay is reduced by federal income tax withholding, the 7.65% FICA tax, and in most states a state income tax. Pre-tax benefits like 401(k) contributions and insurance premiums cut it further, so net pay is usually 20% to 30% below gross.
Which states have no income tax?
Nine states do not tax wage income: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Workers there still owe federal income tax and FICA but keep more of each check.
Does filing status change my withholding?
Yes. Your W-4 filing status sets which federal brackets and standard deduction apply. Married filing jointly generally withholds less per dollar than single, with head of household in between, so identical gross pay yields different take-home amounts.