2026 Pay Check Calculator

Estimate your take-home pay using 2026 federal withholding, Social Security, Medicare, pre-tax deductions and a simplified state tax calculation.

Updated for 2026: Includes IRS Publication 15-T withholding tables, the $184,500 Social Security wage base, the $24,500 401(k) employee limit, and support for both pre-2020 and current W-4 forms.

Live paycheck estimate

Enter income details and the estimate updates automatically.

Income Details

Income Type

HourlySalary

Hourly Rate ($)

Hours Per Week

Pay Period

Estimated annual income

$41,600.00

Taxes & Deductions

Tax profile

State of Residence

Filing Status

Federal W-4

W-4 Form Type

Pre-2020 W-42020+ W-4

Multiple Jobs or Spouse Works (Step 2)Use the higher withholding table when this applies.

Dependent Amount (Step 3) ($)

For dependents, typically $2,000 per child

Other Income (Step 4a) ($)

Annual non-job income to include

Deductions (Step 4b) ($)

Annual W-4 deductions

Extra Withholding (Step 4c) ($)

Additional amount per pay period

Year-to-date wages

Year-to-Date Earnings ($)

For Social Security ($184,500 cap) and Additional Medicare Tax calculations

Pre-tax deductions

401(k) Contribution (%)

Capped at the 2026 employee deferral limit of $24,500.

Health Insurance ($)

Other Pre-Tax Deductions ($)

Detailed Results

Your paycheck results will appear here after the first calculation.

Paycheck calculators by state

Choose your state for a take-home pay estimate, or use the federal paycheck calculator to exclude state income tax.

How to estimate your take-home pay

Choose hourly pay or annual salary, then enter your pay frequency. The hourly estimate includes time-and-a-half for hours above 40 in a week.
Select your state and filing status. Enter the amounts from your W-4, your year-to-date wages and any deductions from each paycheck.
Compare gross pay, federal withholding, the state estimate, Social Security, Medicare and net pay. Change an input to see how it affects your estimate.

Hourly and salary pay example

At $20 an hour for 40 hours a week, gross pay is $800 weekly, $1,600 biweekly or $41,600 annually before deductions. A $52,000 annual salary is $1,000 weekly or $2,000 biweekly before deductions. Biweekly pay uses 26 pay periods; twice-monthly pay uses 24.

Tax data and calculation notes

Federal withholding uses the 2026 IRS Publication 15-T annual percentage method and the W-4 entries you provide. Social Security uses a $184,500 annual wage base and a 6.2% employee rate. Medicare uses a 1.45% employee rate, with additional 0.9% withholding on wages paid by the employer over $200,000 in a calendar year, regardless of filing status.

State income tax is an estimate from simplified rates and, for California, simplified brackets. It does not implement every state's payroll withholding tables, deductions, credits or local income taxes. Check your state's official guidance and your employer's withholding for a payroll figure.

The 401(k) estimate spreads the 2026 $24,500 employee contribution limit across the selected pay periods. Your plan rules, eligibility for catch-up contributions and the tax treatment of benefit deductions can affect your actual paycheck.

Paycheck calculator questions

Why is take-home pay lower than gross pay?

Gross pay is your earnings before deductions. Take-home pay subtracts income tax withholding, Social Security, Medicare and the benefit deductions you enter.

Why does my pay stub differ from this estimate?

Your employer may use a different withholding method, and your paycheck may include local taxes, bonuses, taxable benefits, garnishments or deductions that this calculator does not cover. State estimates are simplified. Compare the individual deductions on your pay stub.

Does a federal paycheck estimate include state tax?

The federal calculator excludes state income tax. Choose a state calculator to include a simplified state estimate, or a state with no tax on wages to estimate federal withholding and FICA only.