Question 1

How do I calculate my take-home pay?

Accepted Answer

Take-home pay is your gross pay minus federal income tax, Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%), and any additional withholding or benefit deductions. This calculator estimates federal income tax based on your filing status, allowances, and the 2024 standard deduction, then subtracts the flat FICA rates to return an estimated per-paycheck and annual take-home figure.

Question 2

What is the difference between gross pay and net pay?

Accepted Answer

Gross pay is the total amount you earn before any deductions — your full salary or hourly wages. Net pay, also called take-home pay, is what lands in your bank account after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and any other withholdings are removed. The gap between gross and net is typically 20% to 35% for US workers, depending on income and filing status.

Question 3

How much federal tax is taken out of my paycheck?

Accepted Answer

Federal income tax depends on your annual income, filing status, and W-4 allowances. The US uses a progressive system with seven brackets for 2024, from 10% on the first dollars of taxable income up to 37% on income above the top threshold. The effective rate — total federal tax divided by gross income — is usually well below the top marginal bracket because only the portion of income inside each bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate.

Question 4

What are FICA taxes?

Accepted Answer

FICA stands for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act and refers to the two payroll taxes that fund Social Security and Medicare. The employee share is 6.2% for Social Security on wages up to the annual wage base ($168,600 in 2024) and 1.45% for Medicare on all wages, with no income cap. Employers pay a matching amount on your behalf that does not reduce your take-home pay.

Question 5

What is Social Security tax?

Accepted Answer

Social Security tax is a 6.2% payroll tax that funds retirement, disability, and survivor benefits under the federal Social Security program. It is withheld from your gross wages up to the annual wage base — $168,600 in 2024 — after which no further Social Security tax is collected for the rest of the year. Self-employed workers pay both the employee and employer share, totalling 12.4%.

Question 6

What does filing status mean for my paycheck?

Accepted Answer

Filing status determines which set of federal tax brackets and standard deduction applies to your income. The four common statuses are Single, Married filing jointly, Married filing separately, and Head of household. Married filing jointly generally has the widest brackets and largest standard deduction, while Single and Married filing separately use the narrowest. Filing status is set on your W-4 and can be updated with your employer at any time.

Question 7

How do federal tax brackets work?

Accepted Answer

Federal tax brackets are progressive, which means each portion of your taxable income is taxed at the rate for that bracket, not your top bracket alone. If you fall in the 22% bracket, only the income inside that bracket pays 22% — everything below is taxed at 10% and 12%. This is why your effective tax rate is almost always lower than your marginal bracket.

Question 8

Why is my actual paycheck different from this estimate?

Accepted Answer

This calculator covers federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare only. Your real paycheck may also include state and local income tax, health insurance premiums, retirement contributions like 401(k), HSA or FSA contributions, garnishments, or post-tax benefits. Employer-specific deductions vary widely, so use this estimate as a baseline rather than an exact match for your pay stub.

Question 9

What is an effective tax rate?

Accepted Answer

Your effective federal tax rate is the percentage of your gross income that goes to federal income tax, calculated as total federal income tax divided by gross income. It differs from your marginal tax bracket, which is only the rate applied to your last dollar earned. Because the US system is progressive, your effective rate is always lower than your marginal rate.

Question 10

How much of my paycheck goes to taxes?

Accepted Answer

For most US workers, federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare together account for roughly 20% to 30% of gross pay, depending on income, filing status, and W-4 allowances. Higher earners pay a larger share because federal income tax is progressive, while FICA stays at a flat 7.65% on most wages. State income tax, where applicable, can add another 0% to 13%+ on top of the federal total.

Bracket	Rate	Income range
#1	10%	$0 – $11,600
#2	12%	$11,600 – $47,150
#3	22%	$47,150 – $100,525
#4	24%	$100,525 – $191,950
#5	32%	$191,950 – $243,725
#6	35%	$243,725 – $609,350
#7	37%	Over $609,350

Deduction	Rate	Notes
Federal income tax	Varies by bracket	Based on filing status and allowances
Social Security	6.2%	Up to wage base of $168,600 (2024)
Medicare	1.45%	No income limit
Additional Medicare	0.9%	On income over $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly)
State income tax	0%–13%+	Varies by state — not included here

Paycheck Calculator — Free US Take-Home Pay Estimate

Standard US Payroll Deductions

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Common questions