Paycheck calculator: federal take-home pay 2026

See what you keep from each paycheck after federal income tax, Social Security (6.2% up to $184,500) and Medicare (1.45% plus 0.9% over $200,000).

Figures last checked 21 Oct 2026

Estimates only, not tax advice. Results are for general information. Your actual tax depends on your full return; check with the IRS or a qualified tax professional.

Before any deductions.
Lowers income tax, but Social Security and Medicare still apply.
For example employer health insurance through a section 125 plan, which also lowers Social Security and Medicare wages.
Enter your numbers to see the estimate.

What comes out of a US paycheck

  1. Social Security tax: 6.2% of your wages, up to the yearly wage base: $184,500 for 2026 ($176,100 for 2025). Once your wages for the year pass it, Social Security stops for the rest of the year. Your employer pays another 6.2%.
  2. Medicare tax: 1.45% of all wages, with no limit. Your employer pays another 1.45%.
  3. Additional Medicare tax: 0.9% on wages over $200,000 in the year. Employers start withholding it once your wages pass $200,000, whatever your filing status. What you actually owe depends on your status: over $250,000 if married filing jointly, $125,000 if married filing separately, $200,000 otherwise. There is no employer match.
  4. Federal income tax. This calculator estimates the year's tax on your pay (wages minus pre-tax deductions minus the standard deduction, through the tax brackets) and spreads it evenly across your paychecks.

State and local income tax, and state programs such as disability insurance, are not included. Real withholding is set from your Form W-4 using IRS Publication 15-T, so your paycheck can differ. To fine-tune your W-4, use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator.

Worked example: $5,000 every two weeks, single, 2026

Gross pay per paycheck$5,000.00
Social Security 6.2%− $310.00
Medicare 1.45%− $72.50
Federal income tax: year $130,000 − $16,100 = $113,900 taxable; $17,966 + 24% × $8,200 = $19,934; ÷ 26− $766.69
Take-home per paycheck$3,850.81

$130,000 a year is under the $184,500 wage base, so Social Security comes out of every paycheck. At $10,000 every two weeks, wages pass the base in pay period 19 and the last 8 paychecks have no Social Security tax.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my paycheck bigger late in the year?

If you earn more than the Social Security wage base ($184,500 in 2026), Social Security tax stops once you reach it, so the remaining paychecks of the year are larger.

Does my 401(k) contribution lower Social Security and Medicare?

No. Traditional 401(k) deferrals are generally exempt from income tax withholding but still subject to Social Security and Medicare (IRS Publication 15).

Does this include the new tips and overtime deductions?

No. Those are claimed on your tax return. If you expect them, you can account for them on your Form W-4; use our federal income tax calculator to see the effect on your yearly tax.

Why might my employer withhold a different amount?

Withholding follows your Form W-4 and the IRS Publication 15-T tables, which can differ from a simple yearly estimate, especially with bonuses or a second job.

Is state tax included?

No. This is federal only.

Official sources

Every figure on this page was checked against these official pages on 21 Oct 2026.