2026 U.S. W-2 payroll estimator

Paycheck Take-Home Pay Calculator

Estimate what a regular paycheck leaves after federal withholding, Social Security, Medicare, payroll deductions and the state and local withholding you enter.

Pay and withholding inputs

Pay typePay frequencyAnnual gross salary ($)Federal W-4 statusWork stateState income tax override per paycheck ($)Local income tax per paycheck ($)

State and local payroll rules depend on where you work and live. Use your paystub or employer’s estimate to override. A blank local amount assumes zero. Other state payroll premiums are not automatically calculated.

Deductions and W-4 adjustments

Traditional 401(k) per paycheck ($)Qualified payroll HSA per paycheck ($)Qualified health FSA per paycheck ($)Qualified pre-tax health premium per paycheck ($)After-tax deductions per paycheck ($)Year-to-date FICA wages before this check ($)W-4 Step 3: annual credits ($)W-4 Step 4(a): annual other income ($)W-4 Step 4(b): annual deductions ($)W-4 Step 4(c): extra tax per paycheck ($)

Use the checked Step 2(c) schedule from my W-4

Estimated pay before state withholding

$2,368.94

Enter state withholding to include it. This is not your final deposit.

Gross pay: $2,884.62
Federal income tax: $295.00
Social Security: $178.85
Medicare: $41.83
Additional Medicare withholding: $0.00
State income tax: Not included
Local income tax: $0.00
Payroll deductions: $0.00

How is take-home pay calculated?

Subtract withholding and payroll deductions from gross pay. This tool applies IRS Publication 15-T Worksheet 1A to regular wages and uses same-employer year-to-date FICA wages for Social Security and Additional Medicare thresholds.

Hourly pay assumes the entered hours for 52 paid weeks, without overtime or unpaid leave. A traditional 401(k) reduces modeled federal income-tax wages, but not FICA wages. The tool assumes eligible Section 125 HSA, health FSA and health premiums reduce both wage bases. It does not enforce plan contribution limits or calculate bonuses, self-employment taxes, state benefits, reciprocity or final tax liability.

Official sources: IRS Publication 15-T, Publication 15 and Publication 15-B. For a different planning question, use the federal income tax calculator or the monthly budget calculator.

Not sure what to enter for federal withholding? See the Form W-4 and paycheck withholding guide for where to find these amounts and when to review your form.

Educational estimate, not payroll, tax or legal advice. Check your actual withholding with your employer or a tax professional.