Paycheck Calculator 2026
Estimate your US take-home pay for 2026 — federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and state tax for the 10 biggest states
California SDI is withheld at 1.3% of all wages in 2026 (no cap). A separate 1% behavioral-health surtax applies to taxable income above $1M. California exemption credits phase out at higher federal AGI; this calculator cannot determine AGI and may overstate the credit for high-income filers.
Estimates for the 2026 tax year using the standard deduction. Actual withholding depends on your W-4, benefits, credits, and local taxes. Not tax advice.
From salary to paycheck, with 2026 numbers
Enter your annual salary, pick your state, filing status and pay frequency, and you get the full breakdown: federal income tax using the 2026 brackets and standard deduction,Social Security and Medicare, and your state income tax — including quirks like California’s 1.3% SDI on all wages and Ohio’s tax-free first $26,050. Add traditional 401(k) or 403(b) contributions to see how retirement savings shrink your modeled income-tax bill without shrinking your paycheck as much as you’d think.
Same salary, ten different paychecks
State tax is where identical salaries diverge. Here is what a single filer earning $85,000 takes home per year in each state this tool covers (standard deduction, no traditional retirement contributions):
| State | State tax | Annual take-home | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $0 | $68,628 | $5,719 |
| Florida | $0 | $68,628 | $5,719 |
| Ohio | $1,555 | $67,072 | $5,589 |
| Pennsylvania | $2,610 + $60 UC | $65,959 | $5,497 |
| North Carolina | $2,883 | $65,745 | $5,479 |
| Michigan | $3,362 | $65,266 | $5,439 |
| Georgia | $3,493 | $65,135 | $5,428 |
| New York | $3,993 | $64,635 | $5,386 |
| Illinois | $4,063 | $64,565 | $5,380 |
| California | $3,516 + $1,105 SDI | $64,007 | $5,334 |
The modeled spread between Texas and California is about $4,621 a year on the same salary. Pick any of the ten states in the calculator above. New York also has adedicated New York page.
What this estimate includes — and what it doesn’t
Included: 2026 federal brackets, standard deduction, Social Security wage base ($184,500), the additional Medicare surtax, state brackets, state standard deductions and personal exemptions, and California SDI. Not included: local city taxes (New York City, Philadelphia wage tax, Ohio municipalities), itemized deductions, most credits such as the Child Tax Credit, New York disability/Paid Family Leave contributions, and benefit premiums. California's modeled personal exemption credit is included. Treat the result as a planning estimate — not tax advice — and rely on your W-2 and a tax professional for filing. Everything runsin your browser; your salary never leaves your device.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is my take-home pay calculated?
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Gross salary minus estimated federal and state income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and any traditional 401(k)/403(b) contribution entered. The retirement contribution reduces modeled income-tax wages but remains subject to Social Security and Medicare tax; actual state treatment can differ.What changed for the 2026 tax year?
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The standard deduction rose to $16,100 (single) and $32,200 (married filing jointly), all seven federal brackets were inflation-adjusted, and the Social Security wage base climbed to $184,500. Several states also cut rates — North Carolina fell to 3.99% and New York trimmed its bottom brackets to 3.9% and 4.4%.Why is my actual paycheck different from this estimate?
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This tool estimates annual tax liability with the standard deduction and splits it per paycheck. Your employer withholds based on your W-4 form, so the per-check amount can differ even when the annual total matches. Health insurance premiums, local city taxes and tax credits also shift the real number.Which states have no income tax?
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Of the ten states covered here, Texas and Florida levy no state income tax at all. Nationally the no-income-tax list also includes Alaska, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington and Wyoming (New Hampshire no longer taxes interest and dividends as of 2025).What are FICA taxes?
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FICA covers Social Security and Medicare. In 2026 you pay 6.2% Social Security on wages up to $184,500 (a maximum of $11,439) and 1.45% Medicare on every dollar, plus an additional 0.9% Medicare surtax on wages above $200,000 ($250,000 for joint filers). Your employer pays a matching share.Does contributing to a 401(k) really lower my taxes?
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Traditional 401(k) and 403(b) elective deferrals generally reduce current federal taxable wages while remaining subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes. Pennsylvania still taxes employee retirement deferrals; this calculator keeps them in PA state taxable wages. Other state treatment and actual payroll withholding can differ. Do not enter HSA contributions here because their FICA treatment depends on how they are made.Is my salary information stored anywhere?
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No. Every calculation runs as JavaScript in your browser — nothing you type is uploaded, logged or stored on any server, and the tool keeps working offline once the page has loaded.