Payroll Calculator
Calculate US gross-to-net pay with federal withholding, Social Security, Medicare, state tax, 401(k), and health insurance deductions per paycheck.
Frequently Asked Questions
What taxes are deducted from a US paycheck?
Federal income tax (withheld per your W-4 and tax bracket), Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%), state income tax (0–13.3% depending on state), and local income tax where applicable. Total deductions can range from 20–35%+ of gross pay depending on income level and location.
What is FICA tax?
FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) covers Social Security (6.2% on wages up to $168,600 in 2024) and Medicare (1.45% on all wages, with an extra 0.9% over $200,000). Your employer matches both contributions. Self-employed workers pay the full 15.3% combined rate (though they deduct half).
How does a 401(k) contribution reduce my take-home pay?
Traditional 401(k) contributions are pre-tax — they reduce taxable income before federal and state withholding is calculated. A $500/month contribution only reduces take-home pay by roughly $375 if you are in the 22% bracket ($500 × (1 − 0.22 − 0.0765 state/FICA ≈ 0.75)). The tax savings effectively subsidise your retirement savings.
What is the difference between biweekly and semimonthly pay?
Biweekly pay = 26 paychecks per year (every 2 weeks). Semimonthly = 24 paychecks per year (twice a month, e.g., 1st and 15th). Annual gross is the same, but per-paycheck amounts differ: $60,000/year is $2,307.69 biweekly but $2,500 semimonthly. Biweekly workers receive 2 extra paychecks in months with 3 pay periods.
What is the Additional Medicare Tax?
High earners pay an extra 0.9% Medicare surtax on wages above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly). Unlike regular Medicare tax, there is no employer match for this. Employers withhold it automatically once wages exceed $200,000 per employee, regardless of filing status.