Enter your rate and hours. Get an instant, accurate breakdown of gross pay, federal taxes, FICA deductions, and net pay — no sign-up, no guessing.
Enter your details above and hit Calculate to see your net pay breakdown.
Understanding the math behind your paycheck helps you plan your finances, negotiate raises, and verify your pay stub is correct. Here's exactly how every figure is calculated.
Gross pay is your total earnings before any deductions. Multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you worked in the pay period.
Pre-tax deductions (like 401(k) contributions, HSA, and employer health insurance) are subtracted first, reducing your taxable income before the IRS takes its share.
Based on your adjusted gross income and filing status, federal income tax is withheld according to IRS Publication 15-T withholding tables for 2026.
Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) are fixed-rate payroll taxes applied to your gross pay, regardless of filing status or allowances.
Post-tax deductions (like Roth 401(k), life insurance, or wage garnishments) are subtracted after all taxes are applied.
What's left is your net pay — the amount deposited to your bank account or printed on your check.
For example, if you earn $25/hour and work 80 hours biweekly:
Every paycheck is reduced by several mandatory and optional deductions. Here's a clear breakdown of each component so nothing on your pay stub surprises you.
FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) taxes fund Social Security and Medicare. These rates are the same for all workers regardless of income level (up to the Social Security wage base):
| Tax | Rate | Wage Base (2026) | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Security | 6.2% | $176,100 | Retirement & disability benefits |
| Medicare | 1.45% | No limit | Health coverage for seniors |
| Additional Medicare | 0.9% | $200k+ income | High earner surcharge |
Federal income tax is progressive — higher income is taxed at higher rates, but only the income within each bracket is taxed at that rate.
| Rate | Single Filer | Married Filing Jointly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $11,925 | $0 – $23,850 |
| 12% | $11,926 – $48,475 | $23,851 – $96,950 |
| 22% | $48,476 – $103,350 | $96,951 – $206,700 |
| 24% | $103,351 – $197,300 | $206,701 – $394,600 |
| 32% | $197,301 – $250,525 | $394,601 – $501,050 |
| 35% | $250,526 – $626,350 | $501,051 – $751,600 |
| 37% | Over $626,350 | Over $751,600 |
Reduce taxable income before taxes are calculated. Examples: 401(k), 403(b), HSA, FSA, traditional health insurance premiums. These lower your current tax bill.
Applied after taxes are calculated. Examples: Roth 401(k), life insurance, union dues, wage garnishments, charitable payroll deductions.
Whether you're an employee verifying a pay stub, a freelancer estimating quarterly taxes, or an HR manager helping staff — this hourly paycheck calculator covers every scenario.
Verify your expected take-home pay before payday. Understand exactly how your gross wage translates to net pay after taxes and deductions.
Estimate self-employment income. Factor in self-employment tax (15.3%) and set aside the right amount for quarterly IRS payments.
Give new hires a quick, transparent estimate of their take-home pay during onboarding and compensation discussions.
Evaluating a job offer? Convert the hourly rate to an estimated net paycheck so you can budget accurately before accepting.
Build a realistic monthly budget based on actual take-home pay rather than gross salary figures that don't reflect your real income.
See how switching from biweekly to monthly pay affects per-period withholding amounts and plan accordingly.
Clear answers to the most common questions about paycheck calculations, tax deductions, and take-home pay.
Multiply your hourly rate by hours worked in the pay period to get gross pay. Then subtract pre-tax deductions to get taxable income. Apply federal income tax withholding based on your filing status. Subtract Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%). Finally subtract any post-tax deductions. The result is your net (take-home) pay.
FICA taxes are fixed: 6.2% for Social Security (up to the wage base) and 1.45% for Medicare — totaling 7.65%. Federal income tax varies by your annual income bracket and filing status — typically 10–22% for most hourly workers. State income tax depends on where you live (0%–13.3%). Combined, most workers see 20–30% of gross pay withheld in taxes.
Gross pay is your total earnings before any deductions — simply hourly rate × hours worked. Net pay (also called take-home pay) is what you actually receive after federal income taxes, FICA payroll taxes, and any voluntary or mandatory deductions have been subtracted. The gap between the two can be 20–35% for most workers.
This calculator uses 2026 federal tax brackets, current FICA rates, and standard IRS withholding methodology. Results are accurate estimates for most W-2 employees. Actual withholding may vary based on additional income, tax credits, state taxes, or special circumstances on your W-4. For payroll-critical accuracy, use a certified payroll provider or consult a tax professional.
Yes, but with adjustments. Self-employed individuals pay both the employee and employer portions of FICA — 12.4% Social Security and 2.9% Medicare (15.3% total). Enter your hourly consulting rate and hours, then add 7.65% to the deductions field to account for the employer portion. You'll also want to estimate quarterly estimated tax payments to the IRS.
Pay frequency does not change your annual tax liability — you owe the same total taxes regardless of how often you're paid. However, it does affect how much is withheld each period. Monthly paychecks will have larger per-check withholding amounts than weekly ones, even though the annual total is the same. Some workers prefer biweekly pay for cash-flow predictability.
This calculator focuses on federal taxes and FICA. State income taxes vary significantly — from 0% in states like Texas and Florida to over 13% in California. To account for state taxes, estimate your state tax rate and enter the per-paycheck amount in the "Post-Tax Deductions" field. A full state-by-state paycheck calculator is coming soon.
Beyond the hourly paycheck calculator, these free tools help you fully understand your compensation and tax obligations.
Our guides cover everything from understanding your W-4 to maximizing pre-tax deductions and reducing your effective tax rate.
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