Estimate your net pay by calculating gross wages, federal and state taxes, and other common deductions. This calculator provides an estimate and should not be used for official tax or financial planning purposes, as actual payroll calculations can be complex and vary based on specific circumstances, state laws, and employer benefits.
Weekly
Bi-Weekly
Semi-Monthly
Monthly
Single
Married Filing Jointly
Head of Household
(For simplified calculation, primarily impacts standard deduction)
(Enter 0 for states with no income tax. This calculator uses a flat rate for state tax.)
(e.g., 401k contributions, health insurance premiums)
(e.g., Roth 401k, union dues, garnishments)
Your Estimated Paycheck
Gross Pay:
Federal Income Tax:
Social Security Tax:
Medicare Tax:
State Income Tax:
Pre-Tax Deductions:
Post-Tax Deductions:
Total Deductions:
Net Pay:
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// Function to toggle visibility of hourly vs. annual salary inputs
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var annualInputs = document.getElementById('annualInputs');
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annualInputs.style.display = 'none';
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annualInputs.style.display = 'flex';
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// Call on page load to set initial state
window.onload = function() {
toggleGrossPayInputs();
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function calculatePaycheck() {
// Constants for 2024 (simplified for calculator)
var SS_WAGE_BASE_LIMIT = 168600; // Social Security wage base limit
var SS_RATE = 0.062; // Social Security tax rate
var MEDICARE_RATE = 0.0145; // Medicare tax rate
// Federal Tax Brackets (2024, simplified for calculator)
var federalTaxBrackets = {
'single': [
{ min: 0, max: 11600, rate: 0.10 },
{ min: 11601, max: 47150, rate: 0.12 },
{ min: 47151, max: 100525, rate: 0.22 },
{ min: 100526, max: 191950, rate: 0.24 },
{ min: 191951, max: 243725, rate: 0.32 },
{ min: 243726, max: 609350, rate: 0.35 },
{ min: 609351, max: Infinity, rate: 0.37 }
],
'married': [ // Married Filing Jointly
{ min: 0, max: 23200, rate: 0.10 },
{ min: 23201, max: 94300, rate: 0.12 },
{ min: 94301, max: 201050, rate: 0.22 },
{ min: 201051, max: 383900, rate: 0.24 },
{ min: 383901, max: 487450, rate: 0.32 },
{ min: 487451, max: 731200, rate: 0.35 },
{ min: 731201, max: Infinity, rate: 0.37 }
],
'hoh': [ // Head of Household
{ min: 0, max: 16550, rate: 0.10 },
{ min: 16551, max: 63100, rate: 0.12 },
{ min: 63101, max: 100500, rate: 0.22 },
{ min: 100501, max: 191950, rate: 0.24 },
{ min: 191951, max: 243700, rate: 0.32 },
{ min: 243701, max: 609350, rate: 0.35 },
{ min: 609351, max: Infinity, rate: 0.37 }
]
};
// Standard Deductions (2024, simplified for calculator)
var federalStandardDeductions = {
'single': 14600,
'married': 29200,
'hoh': 21900
};
// Get input values
var payFrequencyValue = parseFloat(document.getElementById('payFrequency').value);
var grossPayTypeHourly = document.getElementById('grossPayTypeHourly').checked;
var hourlyRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('hourlyRate').value);
var hoursPerPayPeriod = parseFloat(document.getElementById('hoursPerPayPeriod').value);
var annualSalary = parseFloat(document.getElementById('annualSalary').value);
var federalFilingStatus = document.getElementById('federalFilingStatus').value;
var federalDependents = parseFloat(document.getElementById('federalDependents').value);
var stateTaxRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('stateTaxRate').value) / 100; // Convert to decimal
var preTaxDeductions = parseFloat(document.getElementById('preTaxDeductions').value);
var postTaxDeductions = parseFloat(document.getElementById('postTaxDeductions').value);
// Validate inputs
if (isNaN(payFrequencyValue) || payFrequencyValue <= 0) payFrequencyValue = 26; // Default to bi-weekly
if (isNaN(hourlyRate) || hourlyRate < 0) hourlyRate = 0;
if (isNaN(hoursPerPayPeriod) || hoursPerPayPeriod < 0) hoursPerPayPeriod = 0;
if (isNaN(annualSalary) || annualSalary < 0) annualSalary = 0;
if (isNaN(federalDependents) || federalDependents < 0) federalDependents = 0;
if (isNaN(stateTaxRate) || stateTaxRate < 0) stateTaxRate = 0;
if (isNaN(preTaxDeductions) || preTaxDeductions < 0) preTaxDeductions = 0;
if (isNaN(postTaxDeductions) || postTaxDeductions < 0) postTaxDeductions = 0;
var annualGrossPay;
var grossPayPerPeriod;
if (grossPayTypeHourly) {
grossPayPerPeriod = hourlyRate * hoursPerPayPeriod;
annualGrossPay = grossPayPerPeriod * payFrequencyValue;
} else {
annualGrossPay = annualSalary;
grossPayPerPeriod = annualSalary / payFrequencyValue;
}
// Annual Pre-Tax Deductions
var annualPreTaxDeductions = preTaxDeductions * payFrequencyValue;
// Taxable Income for Federal Tax (after pre-tax deductions and standard deduction)
var annualTaxableIncomeFederal = annualGrossPay – annualPreTaxDeductions;
var standardDeduction = federalStandardDeductions[federalFilingStatus];
// For simplicity, dependents are assumed to increase the effective standard deduction or reduce taxable income.
// A very basic approach: add a small amount per dependent to the standard deduction.
// In reality, dependents often lead to credits, not direct deduction from taxable income in this way.
// This is a simplification for a calculator.
standardDeduction += (federalDependents * 500); // Arbitrary small adjustment per dependent
annualTaxableIncomeFederal = Math.max(0, annualTaxableIncomeFederal – standardDeduction);
// Calculate Annual Federal Income Tax
var annualFederalTax = 0;
var incomeRemaining = annualTaxableIncomeFederal;
var brackets = federalTaxBrackets[federalFilingStatus];
for (var i = 0; i < brackets.length; i++) {
var bracket = brackets[i];
if (incomeRemaining 0) { // Adjust for min value of current bracket
taxableInBracket = Math.min(incomeRemaining, bracket.max – brackets[i-1].max);
} else { // First bracket starts from 0
taxableInBracket = Math.min(incomeRemaining, bracket.max – bracket.min + 1);
}
}
// Corrected logic for progressive tax calculation
var lowerBound = (i === 0) ? 0 : brackets[i-1].max + 1;
var upperLimit = bracket.max;
var amountInBracket = Math.min(annualTaxableIncomeFederal, upperLimit) – lowerBound + 1;
if (amountInBracket > 0) {
annualFederalTax += amountInBracket * bracket.rate;
}
if (annualTaxableIncomeFederal <= upperLimit) {
break;
}
}
// Re-calculate federal tax using a more standard progressive method
annualFederalTax = 0;
var taxableIncomeForBrackets = annualTaxableIncomeFederal;
for (var i = 0; i lowerBound) {
var amountInThisBracket = Math.min(taxableIncomeForBrackets, upperLimit) – lowerBound;
annualFederalTax += amountInThisBracket * bracket.rate;
} else {
break;
}
}
annualFederalTax = Math.max(0, annualFederalTax); // Ensure tax is not negative
// Calculate Annual Social Security Tax
var annualSSTax = Math.min(annualGrossPay, SS_WAGE_BASE_LIMIT) * SS_RATE;
// Calculate Annual Medicare Tax
var annualMedicareTax = annualGrossPay * MEDICARE_RATE;
// Calculate Annual State Income Tax (simplified flat rate on gross after pre-tax deductions)
var annualTaxableIncomeState = annualGrossPay – annualPreTaxDeductions;
var annualStateTax = annualTaxableIncomeState * stateTaxRate;
annualStateTax = Math.max(0, annualStateTax); // Ensure state tax is not negative
// Annual Post-Tax Deductions
var annualPostTaxDeductions = postTaxDeductions * payFrequencyValue;
// Convert annual amounts to per-pay-period amounts
var federalTaxPerPeriod = annualFederalTax / payFrequencyValue;
var ssTaxPerPeriod = annualSSTax / payFrequencyValue;
var medicareTaxPerPeriod = annualMedicareTax / payFrequencyValue;
var stateTaxPerPeriod = annualStateTax / payFrequencyValue;
var totalDeductionsPerPeriod = federalTaxPerPeriod + ssTaxPerPeriod + medicareTaxPerPeriod + stateTaxPerPeriod + preTaxDeductions + postTaxDeductions;
var netPayPerPeriod = grossPayPerPeriod – totalDeductionsPerPeriod;
// Display results
document.getElementById('resultGrossPay').innerText = '$' + grossPayPerPeriod.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resultFederalTax').innerText = '$' + federalTaxPerPeriod.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resultSSTax').innerText = '$' + ssTaxPerPeriod.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resultMedicareTax').innerText = '$' + medicareTaxPerPeriod.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resultStateTax').innerText = '$' + stateTaxPerPeriod.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resultPreTaxDeductions').innerText = '$' + preTaxDeductions.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resultPostTaxDeductions').innerText = '$' + postTaxDeductions.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resultTotalDeductions').innerText = '$' + totalDeductionsPerPeriod.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resultNetPay').innerText = '$' + netPayPerPeriod.toFixed(2);
}
Understanding Your Paycheck: A Comprehensive Guide
Your paycheck is more than just a number; it's a detailed breakdown of your earnings and the various deductions taken out before you receive your net pay. Understanding each component can help you manage your finances better and ensure accuracy.
Gross Pay: Your Total Earnings Before Deductions
Gross pay is the total amount of money you earn before any taxes or other deductions are withheld. It's calculated based on your hourly wage and hours worked, or your annual salary. For hourly employees, it's typically (Hourly Rate × Hours Worked). For salaried employees, it's your annual salary divided by the number of pay periods in a year.
Hourly Wage: If you're paid by the hour, your gross pay depends directly on the number of hours you log. Overtime hours are often paid at a higher rate (e.g., 1.5 times your regular rate).
Annual Salary: If you're salaried, your gross pay per pay period is a fixed amount, regardless of the exact hours worked, as long as you fulfill your job responsibilities.
Deductions: What Comes Out of Your Gross Pay?
Deductions are amounts subtracted from your gross pay. They fall into two main categories: mandatory deductions (like taxes) and voluntary deductions (like health insurance or retirement contributions).
1. Federal Income Tax
This is a mandatory tax levied by the U.S. government on your earnings. The amount withheld depends on several factors:
Gross Pay: Higher earnings generally mean higher tax.
Filing Status: Your marital status (Single, Married Filing Jointly, Head of Household) affects your tax brackets and standard deduction.
Number of Dependents: While not directly reducing taxable income in the same way as a deduction, dependents can influence tax credits and overall tax liability.
Pre-Tax Deductions: Contributions to certain accounts (like a traditional 401(k) or health insurance premiums) are subtracted from your gross pay *before* federal income tax is calculated, reducing your taxable income.
Federal income tax is progressive, meaning higher income levels are taxed at higher marginal rates. Our calculator uses simplified 2024 federal tax brackets and standard deductions for estimation.
2. FICA Taxes (Social Security and Medicare)
FICA stands for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act. These are mandatory payroll taxes that fund Social Security and Medicare programs.
Social Security Tax: This funds benefits for retirees, the disabled, and survivors. The current rate is 6.2% of your gross wages, up to an annual wage base limit (e.g., $168,600 for 2024). Once you earn above this limit in a year, you no longer pay Social Security tax on additional earnings.
Medicare Tax: This funds healthcare for individuals aged 65 or older, and certain younger people with disabilities. The current rate is 1.45% of all your gross wages, with no wage base limit.
Together, FICA taxes total 7.65% of your income up to the Social Security limit, and 1.45% thereafter.
3. State Income Tax
Most states (but not all) levy their own income tax. The rates and rules vary significantly by state. Some states have a flat tax rate, while others use a progressive system similar to federal taxes. Our calculator uses a simplified flat rate for state income tax for estimation purposes.
4. Pre-Tax Deductions
These are deductions taken from your gross pay *before* taxes (federal, state, and sometimes FICA) are calculated. This reduces your taxable income, potentially lowering your overall tax liability. Common pre-tax deductions include:
Traditional 401(k) or 403(b) contributions
Health, dental, and vision insurance premiums
Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions
Flexible Spending Account (FSA) contributions
5. Post-Tax Deductions
These deductions are taken from your pay *after* all applicable taxes have been calculated and withheld. They do not reduce your taxable income. Examples include:
After all mandatory and voluntary deductions are subtracted from your gross pay, the remaining amount is your net pay, also known as your take-home pay. This is the amount that is deposited into your bank account or paid to you by check.
Net Pay = Gross Pay – Total Deductions
Why Use a Paycheck Calculator?
A paycheck calculator helps you:
Budget Effectively: Know your actual take-home pay to plan your expenses and savings.
Understand Deductions: See how different taxes and benefits impact your earnings.
Plan for Changes: Estimate the impact of a raise, a change in benefits, or adjusting your 401(k) contributions.
Verify Accuracy: Compare your estimated paycheck to your actual pay stub to catch potential errors.
While this calculator provides a good estimate, remember that actual payroll calculations can involve more complex factors like local taxes, specific state deductions, and various tax credits. Always refer to your official pay stub for precise figures.