Paycheck Calculator
Enter your gross pay for a pay period and your estimated federal and state effective tax rates to get a quick estimate of your FICA withholding, total tax, and net take-home pay. This is a simplified flat-rate estimate, not an exact payroll calculation.
How to calculate paycheck
FICA is a fixed 7.65% of gross pay (6.2% Social Security plus 1.45% Medicare, the employee's share), which this calculator applies as a flat rate. Federal and state income tax are estimated by applying the effective rate you enter directly to your gross pay. Subtracting all three from your gross pay gives an estimated net, or take-home, pay for the period. This is a simplified flat-rate model: it does not use real tax brackets, does not account for pre-tax deductions like a 401(k) or health insurance, and ignores the Social Security wage base cap, so treat the result as a quick estimate rather than an exact paystub figure.
FICA = gross x 0.0765; federal tax = gross x fedRate%; state tax = gross x stateRate%; net pay = gross - FICA - federal tax - state tax
Worked example
A $2,000 gross paycheck with a 12% estimated federal rate and a 5% estimated state rate.
- FICA: $2,000 x 0.0765 = $153.00
- Federal tax: $2,000 x (12 / 100) = $240.00
- State tax: $2,000 x (5 / 100) = $100.00
- Total tax withheld: $153.00 + $240.00 + $100.00 = $493.00
- Net pay: $2,000 - $493.00 = $1,507.00
Result: Estimated net pay is $1,507.00 from a $2,000 gross paycheck.
Frequently asked questions
How is take-home pay calculated?
Start with gross pay, then subtract FICA (Social Security and Medicare), federal income tax, and any state income tax. This calculator uses a fixed 7.65% for FICA and applies your own estimated effective federal and state rates to a flat percentage of gross pay, so treat the result as a planning estimate rather than an exact paycheck.
What is FICA and why is it a fixed rate here?
FICA is the combined Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) tax withheld from most employee paychecks, totaling 7.65%. It applies at that flat rate up to an annual Social Security wage base cap that this simplified calculator does not model, so very high earners may see slightly less FICA withheld later in the year than this tool estimates.
Why does this calculator use a flat rate instead of tax brackets?
Real federal and state withholding uses graduated brackets, your W-4 elections, and other factors that a static, single-page calculator cannot replicate exactly. Instead, you enter your own estimated effective rate (the average rate you expect to pay overall), which gives a fast, reasonable take-home estimate without needing a full payroll engine.
Does this account for 401(k) contributions or health insurance?
No. This calculator estimates tax on your full gross pay and does not model pre-tax deductions such as 401(k) contributions, health insurance premiums, or HSA contributions, all of which would lower your taxable income and change your real withholding. Use it for a quick estimate, not as a substitute for your actual paystub or payroll software.
Why do some states show 0% state tax?
Nine US states, including Texas, Florida, and Washington, do not levy a state income tax on wages, so residents there should enter 0 for the state rate. Other states have their own brackets and rates, so check your state's department of revenue for your estimated effective rate.