Payroll Calculator

Free payroll calculator. Estimate take-home pay from an annual salary or hourly rate: federal income tax (2024 brackets), Social Security + Medicare (FICA), optional state income tax, pre- and post-tax deductions, and per-paycheck net for weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly pay.

Enter your pay and press Calculate.

How payroll calculator works

This calculator converts gross pay into an estimated net paycheck. Enter either an annual salary or an hourly rate plus hours per week, optionally add pre-tax deductions (like traditional 401(k) or health premiums), post-tax deductions (like Roth contributions or garnishments), pick a state, and choose a pay frequency. The calculator shows your net annual and per-paycheck take-home.

It applies the 2024 US federal income-tax brackets for a single filer (with the $14,600 standard deduction subtracted to get taxable income), then FICA: Social Security at 6.2% on wages up to the $168,600 wage cap, plus Medicare at 1.45% on all wages. State income tax uses a flat top-rate approximation drawn from public Department of Revenue data; sub-state brackets, credits, and local add-ons are not modeled, so treat it as an estimate.

The result shows each component (federal tax, Social Security, Medicare, state tax), the total tax, the effective tax rate, and the net per paycheck for your chosen frequency. It is a planning estimate, not tax advice; your actual withholding depends on your W-4, benefits, and local rules. Everything runs in your browser.

Frequently asked questions

How is my federal income tax estimated?
The calculator walks the 2024 single-filer federal brackets against your taxable income, which is your gross minus pre-tax deductions minus the $14,600 standard deduction. Each slice of income is taxed at its bracket rate, then the slices are summed.
What is the Social Security wage cap?
For 2024, Social Security tax (6.2%) applies only to the first $168,600 of wages. Earnings above that cap are not subject to Social Security tax, though Medicare (1.45%) still applies to all wages with no cap.
Is the state income tax accurate?
It uses a flat top-rate approximation of each state's top marginal bracket, so it overstates tax for lower incomes and understates it where brackets stack. It is an estimate for comparison; check your state tax authority for exact withholding.
What is the difference between pre-tax and post-tax deductions?
Pre-tax deductions (like traditional 401(k) or health insurance) reduce your taxable income, lowering income tax. Post-tax deductions (like Roth contributions or garnishments) are taken from your pay after tax is computed and do not reduce taxable income.