Paycheck Calculator
Estimate your 2026 take-home pay per paycheck
| Item | Per paycheck | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,500.00 | $65,000.00 |
| Pre-tax deductions | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Federal income tax | -$216.15 | -$5,620.00 |
| Social Security | -$155.00 | -$4,030.00 |
| Medicare | -$36.25 | -$942.50 |
| State tax | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Post-tax deductions | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Take-home pay | $2,092.60 | $54,407.50 |
Paycheck Calculator: Estimate Your 2026 Take-Home Pay
A paycheck calculator shows how much of your gross pay lands in your bank account after taxes and deductions. Enter your pay per paycheck, your annual salary or your hourly rate, choose how often you are paid, and the tool works out federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state tax and the deductions you add. You see your net pay for each paycheck, plus the yearly, monthly, weekly and hourly equivalents, so it is easy to compare job offers, plan a budget or check a pay stub.
Quick answer: a single filer earning $65,000 and paid every two weeks has a gross paycheck of $2,500.00 and an estimated take-home pay of $2,092.60 with no state tax. That is $54,408 a year, or about 83.7% of gross pay.
How Your Paycheck Is Calculated
The calculator annualizes your pay, applies each tax and deduction for the year, and divides the result by the number of paychecks. Pre-tax deductions reduce the income used for federal and state tax, but not Social Security and Medicare.
Here is the same $65,000 example broken down.
| $65,000, bi-weekly, single | Per paycheck | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,500.00 | $65,000 |
| Federal income tax | $216.15 | $5,620 |
| Social Security | $155.00 | $4,030 |
| Medicare | $36.25 | $942 |
| Take-home pay | $2,092.60 | $54,408 |
Federal Income Tax Withholding
Federal income tax is progressive, so each slice of your taxable income is taxed at its own rate, from 10% to 37%. Taxable income is your yearly pay minus pre-tax deductions and the 2026 standard deduction of $16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married couples filing jointly and $24,150 for heads of household. The estimate does not use W-4 extras such as credits or extra withholding, so your employer may withhold a little more or less. For a full-year view with credits and itemized deductions, use the tax calculator.
Social Security and Medicare (FICA)
FICA is the payroll tax that funds Social Security and Medicare. Social Security is 6.2% of pay up to the 2026 wage limit of $184,500, and Medicare is 1.45% of all pay. Pay above $200,000 also faces an extra 0.9% Medicare tax. Your employer pays a matching share, which does not come out of your check.
Take-Home Pay at Different Salaries
The table assumes a single filer paid every two weeks, with no state tax and no deductions.
| Annual salary | Gross per check | Net per check | Net per month | Take-home rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $35,000 | $1,346 | $1,165 | $2,525 | 86.6% |
| $50,000 | $1,923 | $1,629 | $3,530 | 84.7% |
| $65,000 | $2,500 | $2,093 | $4,534 | 83.7% |
| $80,000 | $3,077 | $2,504 | $5,426 | 81.4% |
| $100,000 | $3,846 | $3,045 | $6,598 | 79.2% |
| $150,000 | $5,769 | $4,377 | $9,483 | 75.9% |
Weekly, Bi-Weekly, Semi-Monthly and Monthly Pay
Pay frequency changes the size of each check, not the yearly total. These figures use a $65,000 salary. Semi-monthly pay means twice a month, which gives 24 checks, while bi-weekly pay means every other week, which gives 26.
| Pay frequency | Checks a year | Gross per check | Net per check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 52 | $1,250.00 | $1,046.30 |
| Bi-weekly | 26 | $2,500.00 | $2,092.60 |
| Semi-monthly | 24 | $2,708.33 | $2,266.98 |
| Monthly | 12 | $5,416.67 | $4,533.96 |
Pre-Tax and Post-Tax Deductions
Traditional 401(k) contributions, health savings account deposits and some insurance premiums are usually pre-tax, so they cut your income tax. Add a $125 pre-tax deduction and a 5% state rate to the $65,000 example and take-home pay becomes $1,863.85 per check. Roth contributions, union dues and wage garnishments are post-tax, so enter them in the post-tax box. To see how retirement savings grow over time, try the retirement calculator.
Hourly Pay and Salary
For hourly work, the calculator multiplies your rate by the hours you work each week and by 52 weeks. At $32 an hour for 40 hours, gross pay is $66,560 a year and estimated net pay is $55,655. If you only know your yearly figure, the salary calculator can convert it to monthly, weekly and hourly pay, and the work hours calculator helps you total the hours you worked.
Limits of This Calculator
The results are estimates for the 2026 tax year. State tax is a single flat rate that you enter, and local taxes, overtime rules, bonuses and benefit plans are not modeled. Check your actual pay stub and talk to your payroll team or a tax professional for exact withholding.
How to Use This Paycheck Calculator
Choose filing status and pay frequency
Pick your tax filing status and how often you are paid, from weekly to monthly.
Enter your gross pay
Type your pay per paycheck, your annual salary or your hourly rate and weekly hours, or use the sliders.
Add deductions and state tax
Enter pre-tax and post-tax deductions per paycheck and a state tax rate, or leave them at zero.
Read your net pay
Press Calculate Paycheck to see take-home pay, the taxes taken out and a full breakdown.