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Paycheck Calculator.

US take-home pay after federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare — supports all pay frequencies and 2024 tax brackets.

$

Take-Home Per Paycheck

Annual Take-Home

Annual Breakdown

Gross Income
401(k) Contribution
Federal Income Tax
Social Security (6.2%)
Medicare (1.45%)
Effective Tax Rate

Federal estimates only. State/local taxes, health insurance, and other deductions are not included. Not tax advice.

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FICA Taxes: Social Security & Medicare

FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) taxes are flat-rate deductions from every paycheck. Unlike income tax, they do not use brackets — they apply at a fixed rate up to defined limits.

Social Security: 6.2% on wages up to $168,600 (2024 wage base)
Medicare: 1.45% on all wages
Additional Medicare: 0.9% on wages over $200,000 (single) / $250,000 (married)

2024 Federal Income Tax Brackets

Rate Single Married Filing Jointly
10%$0 – $11,600$0 – $23,200
12%$11,601 – $47,150$23,201 – $94,300
22%$47,151 – $100,525$94,301 – $201,050
24%$100,526 – $191,950$201,051 – $383,900
32%$191,951 – $243,725$383,901 – $487,450
35%$243,726 – $609,350$487,451 – $731,200
37%$609,351+$731,201+

Standard deduction 2024: $14,600 (single), $29,200 (married filing jointly).

Internal Navigation

Knowledge Base

How US Paycheck Deductions Work Methodology.

Every US paycheck has three mandatory federal deductions before you receive your net pay: federal income tax (progressive brackets), Social Security (6.2% flat), and Medicare (1.45% flat). State taxes and voluntary deductions like 401(k) or health insurance reduce take-home pay further.

The Calculation Branch

Federal income tax = progressive rate on taxable income (gross − standard deduction − pre-tax contributions) | Social Security = 6.2% × min(gross, $168,600) | Medicare = 1.45% × gross | Net pay = gross − fed tax − SS − Medicare − other deductions

Industrial Standards.

Federal income tax is marginal — only the income in each bracket is taxed at that rate. A $60,000 salary does not pay 22% on the full amount; it pays 10% on the first $11,600, 12% on the next $35,550, and 22% only on the remaining $12,850. The effective rate is always lower than the marginal rate.

In-Depth Analysis & Reference Data

Pre-tax 401(k) contributions reduce your federal taxable income dollar-for-dollar. Contributing 6% of a $78,000 salary puts $4,680 into retirement and reduces your federal taxable income by the same amount. At a 22% marginal rate, that saves $1,030 in federal income tax — meaning the government effectively pays for $1,030 of your $4,680 retirement contribution. This is the key benefit of traditional pre-tax 401(k) accounts.

Registry Questions & FAQ.

Why does my paycheck not match this estimate?

This calculator covers only federal taxes using the standard deduction. Your actual paycheck may differ due to: state/local income taxes, health insurance premiums, HSA contributions, life insurance, union dues, wage garnishments, or a W-4 claiming additional withholding. Employees who itemize deductions or claim dependents on their W-4 will also see different results.

What is the difference between gross and net pay?

Gross pay is your total earnings before any deductions. Net pay (take-home pay) is what appears in your bank account after taxes and other withholdings are subtracted. For most full-time US workers earning $50,000–$100,000, net pay is roughly 70–78% of gross pay, depending on state taxes and benefit elections.

Estimates for planning. Always confirm against an authoritative source.