Methodology

This page documents exactly how the calculator estimates your take-home pay, what data it uses, and what it intentionally leaves out. All figures are for the 2026 tax year.

What the calculator does

It estimates your annual and per-paycheck net (take-home) pay by subtracting four things from your gross salary: federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and state income tax. Any 401(k) or pre-tax contribution you enter is subtracted before income tax and excluded from take-home. All math runs entirely in your browser — nothing you type is sent to a server.

Federal income tax

We apply the 2026 federal income tax brackets (10%–37%) to your taxable income after the standard deduction ($16,100 single / $32,200 married filing jointly). Brackets are marginal — each rate applies only to the income within that band — and we use the bracket set matching your filing status.

FICA: Social Security & Medicare

• Social Security: 6.2% of wages up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500. Wages above that are not subject to Social Security tax.
• Medicare: 1.45% of all wages, plus an Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9% on wages over $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly).

State income tax

State tax is calculated for all 50 states and the District of Columbia and is filing-status-aware (single and married-filing-jointly use each state's own brackets and deductions). States fall into three groups:

• 9 jurisdictions with no wage income tax — your state line is $0.
• 16 flat-tax states — a single rate on taxable income.
• 26 graduated states (incl. DC) — progressive brackets.

For each state we apply its 2026 standard deduction (or, where a state uses a personal exemption instead, the equivalent amount) and then its rate schedule.

What we exclude

• Local taxes: city, county, and municipal income taxes (e.g., NYC, Maryland counties, many Ohio and Pennsylvania municipalities) are not included.
• Credits & most exemptions: child tax credits, EITC, dependent exemptions, and state-specific credits are not modeled.
• Pre-tax health/HSA: only the 401(k)/pre-tax field you enter is modeled; other pre-tax deductions are not.
• Simplified states: Alabama and Arkansas use simplified rate schedules, so low-income estimates there may be slightly high.
• Surtaxes: niche surtaxes (e.g., the Massachusetts 4% millionaire surtax) are noted but not applied.

Data sources

• Federal brackets, standard deduction, and FICA — IRS and the Social Security Administration.
• State brackets and deductions — the Tax Foundation's 2026 state income tax data, cross-checked against each state's Department of Revenue, including mid-year 2026 rate changes.

Updates & accuracy

Tax figures are refreshed each year as the IRS, SSA, and states publish updated numbers. We aim for accuracy but make no guarantee — inflation-indexed thresholds can shift slightly when states finalize figures. These are estimates for educational purposes only and not tax, legal, or financial advice. Verify with the IRS, your state tax authority, or a qualified professional before relying on them. Questions or a correction to report? Use the contact details listed on this website.