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Paycheck Calculator 2026 | Federal Take-Home Pay Estimator

Estimate your 2026 federal take-home pay with our free paycheck calculator. See how federal income tax and FICA reduce your paycheck. Worked examples, bracket tables, and FAQs included.

Tax Year 2026Updated July 13, 2026

Paycheck Calculator 2026: Federal Take-Home Pay Estimator

This calculator estimates your federal take-home pay per paycheck after federal income tax (7 brackets, 10%-37%) and FICA (Social Security at 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare at 1.45%). Enter your annual gross salary, pay frequency, and filing status to see a per-period breakdown. For state withholding, use our state-specific paycheck calculators.

How Federal Paycheck Deductions Work

Every paycheck you receive has two categories of federal deductions: federal income tax and FICA taxes. Here is how each works:

  1. Gross pay: Your annual salary divided by the number of pay periods (e.g., 26 for biweekly, 12 for monthly).
  2. Federal income tax: Calculated using 2026 progressive brackets (10%–37%) after subtracting the standard deduction of $16,100 (single) or $32,200 (MFJ). Your employer withholds an approximation each period.
  3. Social Security (FICA): 6.20%on wages up to $184,500. Once you hit the wage base, no more Social Security tax is withheld for the rest of the year.
  4. Medicare (FICA): 1.45% on all wages, with no cap. An additional 0.90% applies to wages above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (MFJ).

Not included in this estimate: State and local income taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, health insurance, HSA/FSA), post-tax deductions, and any additional W-4 withholding you may have elected. For state-specific estimates, see our state paycheck calculators.

2026 Federal Income Tax Brackets (Single)

The standard deduction of $16,100 is subtracted from your gross income first. The remaining taxable income is then taxed at these progressive rates:

Taxable IncomeRate
$0 – $12,40010%
$12,400 – $50,40012%
$50,400 – $105,70022%
$105,700 – $201,77524%
$201,775 – $256,22532%
$256,225 – $640,60035%
Over $640,60037%

FICA Tax Summary

Social Security Rate6.20%
SS Wage Base$184,500
Medicare Rate1.45%
Additional Medicare0.90%

Worked Examples

Example 1: $65,000/year, Single, Biweekly

Profile: $65,000 annual salary, single filer, paid biweekly (26 paychecks/year)

Gross per paycheck: $2,500.00
Federal income tax: −$216.15
Social Security: −$155.00
Medicare: −$36.25
Net take-home pay: $2,092.60 per paycheck ($54,407.60/year)
Effective total tax rate: 16.30%

Example 2: $100,000/year, Married Filing Jointly, Monthly

Profile: $100,000 annual salary, MFJ filer, paid monthly (12 paychecks/year)

Gross per paycheck: $8,333.33
Federal income tax: −$636.67
Social Security: −$516.67
Medicare: −$120.83
Net take-home pay: $7,059.16 per paycheck ($84,709.92/year)
Effective total tax rate: 15.29%

Example 3: $45,000/year, Single, Weekly

Profile: $45,000 annual salary, single filer, paid weekly (52 paychecks/year)

Gross per paycheck: $865.38
Federal income tax: −$61.92
Social Security: −$53.65
Medicare: −$12.55
Net take-home pay: $737.26 per paycheck ($38,337.52/year)
Effective total tax rate: 14.81%

These effective rates include Social Security and Medicare. To see your federal income tax rate on its own, effective vs marginal, use the effective tax rate calculator.

State-Specific Paycheck Calculators

This calculator covers federal deductions only. If your state imposes an income tax, your actual take-home pay will be lower. Use your state's paycheck calculator for a combined federal-plus-state estimate.

See our state tax guide to find your state's paycheck calculator and other state-specific tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is taken out of my paycheck?
At the federal level, your paycheck is reduced by federal income tax (progressive brackets from 10% to 37%) and FICA taxes: Social Security at 6.20% on wages up to $184,500, plus Medicare at 1.45% on all wages (with an additional 0.90% above $200,000 for single filers). State income taxes, if any, are additional deductions not included in this federal-only estimate.
What is the standard deduction for 2026?
The 2026 federal standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers and $32,200 for married filing jointly. This amount is subtracted from your gross income before federal income tax brackets apply, reducing your taxable income dollar-for-dollar.
How do federal tax brackets work on my paycheck?
Federal income tax uses progressive (marginal) brackets. Your taxable income (gross minus the standard deduction) is divided into segments, and each segment is taxed at its bracket rate. Only the income within each bracket is taxed at that rate, not your entire income. Your employer withholds an approximation of this tax from each paycheck.
Does this calculator include state income tax?
No. This is a federal-only paycheck calculator covering federal income tax and FICA (Social Security + Medicare). If your state has an income tax, your actual take-home pay will be lower. Use our state-specific paycheck calculators for a complete estimate including state withholding.
What is FICA and how much is it?
FICA stands for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It funds Social Security and Medicare. In 2026, employees pay 6.20% for Social Security on wages up to $184,500, plus 1.45% for Medicare on all wages. High earners pay an additional 0.90% Medicare surtax above the threshold.
How does pay frequency affect my take-home pay?
Your pay frequency (weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, or monthly) determines how many pay periods you have per year and the size of each paycheck, but it does not change your total annual tax. The same annual salary produces the same annual net pay regardless of frequency. However, each individual paycheck will be larger or smaller depending on how many periods there are.
Why is my actual paycheck different from this estimate?
This calculator models federal income tax (using the standard deduction) and FICA only. Your actual paycheck may differ due to: pre-tax deductions (401k, health insurance, HSA), state and local income taxes, additional withholding you've elected on your W-4, or itemized deductions. Use your pay stub for exact figures.