How to Use This Calculator
This page estimates how much of a U.S. paycheck you actually keep after taxes. Pick the tab that matches your starting figure and fill in the required fields. Results update as you type.
- Annual Salary ??start from your gross annual W-2 salary.
- Monthly Salary ??start from your gross monthly pay; the calculator multiplies by 12.
- Hourly Wage ??start from an hourly rate plus hours per week and weeks per year.
- Bracket Comparison ??see take-home pay across a range of salary levels under identical assumptions.
All four tabs apply the same tax model: 2024 federal brackets with the standard deduction, a user-supplied state effective rate, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare). Pre-tax deductions reduce federal and state taxable income but do not reduce the FICA base.
Gross vs. Net Pay
Gross pay is your salary before any deductions. Net pay (sometimes called take-home pay) is what lands in your bank account after federal income tax, state income tax, FICA, and any pre-tax benefit contributions are subtracted.[1] Employers must report wages and withholdings on Form W-2 at year-end, and you reconcile the amount actually owed when you file your tax return.
Federal Income Tax
The United States uses a progressive income tax with seven brackets. Only the income that falls inside each bracket is taxed at that rate ??moving into a higher bracket does not retroactively raise the rate on lower earnings. The brackets are indexed for inflation each year; the values below apply to tax year 2024.[2]
2024 Federal Tax Brackets ??Single Filer
| Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 ??$11,600 | 10% |
| $11,600 ??$47,150 | 12% |
| $47,150 ??$100,525 | 22% |
| $100,525 ??$191,950 | 24% |
| $191,950 ??$243,725 | 32% |
| $243,725 ??$609,350 | 35% |
| $609,350 + | 37% |
2024 Federal Tax Brackets ??Married Filing Jointly
| Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 ??$23,200 | 10% |
| $23,200 ??$94,300 | 12% |
| $94,300 ??$201,050 | 22% |
| $201,050 ??$383,900 | 24% |
| $383,900 ??$487,450 | 32% |
| $487,450 ??$731,200 | 35% |
| $731,200 + | 37% |
2024 Federal Tax Brackets ??Head of Household
| Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 ??$16,550 | 10% |
| $16,550 ??$63,100 | 12% |
| $63,100 ??$100,500 | 22% |
| $100,500 ??$191,950 | 24% |
| $191,950 ??$243,700 | 32% |
| $243,700 ??$609,350 | 35% |
| $609,350 + | 37% |
Standard Deduction
Most taxpayers take the standard deduction instead of itemizing. The standard deduction reduces taxable income before brackets apply.[3]
- Single: $14,600 (2024)
- Married Filing Jointly: $29,200 (2024)
- Head of Household: $21,900 (2024)
If your itemized deductions (mortgage interest, state and local taxes capped at $10,000, charitable gifts, etc.) exceed the standard deduction, you can itemize instead. This calculator uses the standard deduction for simplicity.
FICA: Social Security and Medicare
FICA is the payroll tax that funds Social Security and Medicare. Every W-2 employee pays it, and the employer pays a matching amount that is not reflected on your paycheck.[4]
The Social Security wage base rises with average wages each year. Above the cap, no further Social Security tax is owed, so the effective FICA rate falls slightly for very high earners. The Additional Medicare Tax was introduced in 2013 and applies above filing-status-specific thresholds; this calculator uses the single-filer threshold of $200,000 as a simplification.
State Income Tax
Forty-one U.S. states levy a broad-based income tax, and the rates vary widely. Nine states have no wage income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.[5] Among the taxing states, structures range from a flat 3% (Pennsylvania, Indiana) to a graduated rate that exceeds 13% at the top (California).
Because every state's rules differ, this calculator asks for a single effective rate ??your average state tax burden as a percentage of gross pay. To estimate it, divide your prior-year state tax liability by your prior-year gross pay, or look up your state's tax tables. Enter 0 if you live in a no-tax state.
Pre-Tax Deductions
Pre-tax deductions reduce the income subject to federal and state income tax ??but most do not reduce the FICA base. Common examples:[6]
- 401(k) / 403(b) traditional contributions ??federal limit $23,000 (under 50) or $30,500 (50+) for 2024.
- Health Savings Account (HSA) ??federal limit $4,150 (self-only) or $8,300 (family) for 2024. When contributed via payroll, also reduces FICA. This calculator does not separate these cases.
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA) ??health-care FSA limit $3,200 for 2024.
Enter the total annual pre-tax amount in the input field. Note that Roth 401(k) and Roth IRA contributions are after-tax and should not be entered here.
Filing Status
Your filing status determines which bracket table and standard deduction apply. The three options exposed by this calculator are the most common:[7]
- Single ??unmarried, not a qualifying surviving spouse.
- Married Filing Jointly ??you and your spouse combine income on one return. Most married couples save tax this way.
- Head of Household ??unmarried but maintaining a household for a qualifying person (usually a child).
Effective vs. Marginal Tax Rate
Your marginal rate is the rate on the next dollar you earn ??the rate of your highest bracket. Your effective rate is total tax divided by total income, which is always lower than the marginal rate in a progressive system. The "effective tax" displayed in the headline summarizes total deductions (federal + state + FICA + pre-tax) as a share of gross pay, not federal income tax alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this match the take-home on my paystub?
Approximately. Employers withhold based on the W-4 you filed, which may not equal your final tax liability. They also withhold for benefits (medical, dental, vision) and possibly local taxes that this calculator does not model. The final reconciliation happens when you file Form 1040.
What about local (city / county) income taxes?
Not modeled directly. Cities like New York City and Philadelphia levy meaningful additional income tax. If you live in one of those, add the local rate to the state field.
Does it include the Earned Income Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit?
No. Credits like the EITC, Child Tax Credit, Saver's Credit, and education credits depend on dependents and other variables outside the inputs here. Your actual tax owed at filing time may be lower than this estimate as a result.
What if my state has graduated brackets like California?
Enter your effective state rate, not the marginal rate. For example, a California single filer earning $100,000 has a marginal rate around 9.3% but an effective state rate closer to 6%.
Why does the Social Security tax stop above $168,600?
Social Security is funded by a payroll tax on wages up to an annual cap (the "wage base"). Above that cap, no more Social Security tax is owed for the year. Medicare has no cap.
References
- [1] U.S. Internal Revenue Service ??Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax. irs.gov/publications/p17
- [2] IRS Revenue Procedure 2023-34 ??2024 Inflation Adjustments. irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-23-34.pdf
- [3] IRS Topic No. 551 ??Standard Deduction. irs.gov/taxtopics/tc551
- [4] U.S. Social Security Administration ??Contribution and Benefit Base. ssa.gov/oact/cola/cbb.html
- [5] Wikipedia, "State income tax" (CC BY-SA 4.0). en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_income_tax
- [6] IRS Publication 15-B ??Employer's Tax Guide to Fringe Benefits. irs.gov/publications/p15b
- [7] IRS Publication 501 ??Dependents, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information. irs.gov/publications/p501
Educational content on this page is original prose written for MODOO. Material referenced from Wikipedia is used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license. Always consult a tax professional for filing decisions.