Free Salary Calculator 2026

Frequency	Gross Pay	Federal Tax	State Tax	FICA	Take Home
Annually	$75 000,00	-$8114,00	-$6975,00	-$5737,50	$54 173,50
Monthly	$6250,00	-$676,17	-$581,25	-$478,13	$4514,46
Semi-Monthly	$3125,00	-$338,08	-$290,63	-$239,06	$2257,23
Bi-Weekly	$2884,62	-$312,08	-$268,27	-$220,67	$2083,60
Weekly	$1442,31	-$156,04	-$134,13	-$110,34	$1041,80

About This Tool

Earning a $75,000 salary sounds great, but how much of that actually lands in your bank account? Between federal income tax, state taxes, Social Security, Medicare, and benefit deductions, your "take-home pay" can be significantly lower than your gross salary. Our Free Salary Calculator (updated for 2026 estimates) cuts through the confusion to show you exactly what your paycheck will look like. Simply enter your gross income (annual, monthly, or hourly), select your filing status and state, and add any pre-tax deductions like 401(k) or health insurance. The tool instantly calculates your net pay for every pay period: Weekly, Bi-Weekly, Semi-Monthly, and Monthly. Stop guessing about your budget and see your real numbers today. The calculator applies progressive federal tax brackets, meaning different portions of your income are taxed at different rates. It also factors in your state income tax rate and FICA contributions for Social Security and Medicare. You can model the impact of increasing your 401(k) contribution to see how pre-tax deductions lower your tax burden while building retirement savings. Each result is broken down into annual, monthly, semi-monthly, bi-weekly, and weekly amounts so you can match the output to your actual pay schedule.

Gross Pay vs. Net Pay

Gross pay is the total amount your employer pays you before any deductions. Net pay (or "take-home pay") is what you actually receive. The difference is made up of mandatory taxes (Federal, State, FICA) and voluntary deductions (Retirement, Health, FSA). Understanding this gap is critical for accurate personal budgeting. Many first-time employees are surprised to find that 25-35% of their gross pay never reaches their bank account.

Understanding FICA Taxes

FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) taxes fund Social Security and Medicare. Regardless of your income tax bracket, you pay a flat 6.2% for Social Security (up to a wage limit of approximately $168,600) and 1.45% for Medicare (with no cap). High earners above $200,000 ($250,000 for married filing jointly) pay an additional 0.9% Medicare surtax. Self-employed individuals must pay both the employee and employer portions, totaling 15.3%.

How 401(k) Reduces Your Taxes

Contributions to a traditional 401(k) or 403(b) are "pre-tax," meaning they are deducted from your gross income before federal and state income taxes are calculated. This lowers your taxable income, effectively reducing your tax bill while saving for your future. Our calculator demonstrates this benefit when you enter a contribution percentage. For 2026, the employee contribution limit is approximately $23,500, with an additional $7,500 catch-up contribution for employees age 50 and older.

How the Formula Works

The calculator follows a specific order of operations. First, it converts your input (hourly, monthly, or annual) into an annual gross figure. Then it subtracts pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions and health insurance premiums. Next, it applies the standard deduction for your filing status to arrive at taxable income. Federal tax is calculated using progressive brackets, where only the income within each bracket is taxed at that rate. Finally, state tax and FICA are computed separately and all deductions are summed to produce your net pay.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The most frequent mistake is using the marginal tax bracket as your overall rate. If you fall in the 22% bracket, only the income above the 12% threshold is taxed at 22%, not your entire salary. Another common error is ignoring FICA when budgeting. Social Security and Medicare taxes are flat-rate and apply from the first dollar earned, adding 7.65% to your effective rate before any income tax. Finally, many people forget to account for state taxes, which can range from 0% in states like Texas and Florida to nearly 10% in California and Oregon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my paycheck different from this calculation?

This calculator provides a close estimate, but exact paychecks vary due to specific payroll schedules, local (city/county) taxes, specific benefit costs, and your precise W-4 withholdings. Employers may also round numbers differently. Additionally, some employers deduct benefits on a pre-tax basis while others use post-tax, which affects the final amount.

What is the difference between Bi-Weekly and Semi-Monthly?

Bi-Weekly means you get paid every two weeks (e.g., every other Friday), resulting in 26 paychecks per year. Semi-Monthly means you get paid twice a month (e.g., 1st and 15th), resulting in 24 paychecks per year. Bi-Weekly checks are slightly smaller but you get two "extra" 3-paycheck months per year.

Does this calculator include 2026 tax brackets?

Yes, we use projected 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions to provide the most accurate forward-looking estimate for your planning. These brackets are adjusted annually for inflation by the IRS, so the thresholds shift slightly each year.

How does filing status affect my take-home pay?

Filing status determines your standard deduction amount and the income thresholds for each tax bracket. Married Filing Jointly generally provides the largest standard deduction and wider brackets, which can result in a lower effective tax rate compared to filing as Single. Head of Household offers a middle ground with a higher deduction and wider brackets than Single filers.

Income Details

Deductions

Tax Breakdown (Annual)