Use this calculator to estimate your net pay (take-home pay) after common deductions and taxes are applied to your gross earnings for a specific pay period. This tool helps you understand how your W2 paycheck is broken down.
function calculatePayroll() {
var grossPay = parseFloat(document.getElementById('grossPay').value);
var federalWithholding = parseFloat(document.getElementById('federalWithholding').value);
var stateWithholding = parseFloat(document.getElementById('stateWithholding').value);
var preTaxDeductions = parseFloat(document.getElementById('preTaxDeductions').value);
var postTaxDeductions = parseFloat(document.getElementById('postTaxDeductions').value);
// Validate inputs
if (isNaN(grossPay) || grossPay < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid Gross Pay.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(federalWithholding) || federalWithholding < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid Federal Income Tax Withholding.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(stateWithholding) || stateWithholding < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid State Income Tax Withholding.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(preTaxDeductions) || preTaxDeductions < 0) {
alert("Please enter valid Pre-Tax Deductions.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(postTaxDeductions) || postTaxDeductions < 0) {
alert("Please enter valid Post-Tax Deductions.");
return;
}
// FICA Tax Rates
var socialSecurityRate = 0.062; // 6.2%
var medicareRate = 0.0145; // 1.45%
// Calculate FICA Taxes
var socialSecurityTax = grossPay * socialSecurityRate;
var medicareTax = grossPay * medicareRate;
// Calculate Total Deductions
var totalDeductions = socialSecurityTax + medicareTax + federalWithholding + stateWithholding + preTaxDeductions + postTaxDeductions;
// Calculate Net Pay
var netPay = grossPay – totalDeductions;
// Display Results
document.getElementById('resultGrossPay').innerText = '$' + grossPay.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resultSocialSecurity').innerText = '$' + socialSecurityTax.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resultMedicare').innerText = '$' + medicareTax.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resultFederalTax').innerText = '$' + federalWithholding.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resultStateTax').innerText = '$' + stateWithholding.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resultPreTaxDeductions').innerText = '$' + preTaxDeductions.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resultPostTaxDeductions').innerText = '$' + postTaxDeductions.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resultTotalDeductions').innerText = '$' + totalDeductions.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resultNetPay').innerText = '$' + netPay.toFixed(2);
}
// Run calculation on page load with default values
window.onload = calculatePayroll;
.calculator-container {
font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Geneva, Verdana, sans-serif;
background-color: #f9f9f9;
padding: 25px;
border-radius: 10px;
box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
max-width: 700px;
margin: 30px auto;
border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;
}
.calculator-container h2 {
color: #2c3e50;
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 20px;
font-size: 1.8em;
}
.calculator-container p {
color: #555;
line-height: 1.6;
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.calc-input-group {
margin-bottom: 18px;
display: flex;
flex-direction: column;
}
.calc-input-group label {
margin-bottom: 8px;
color: #333;
font-weight: bold;
font-size: 0.95em;
}
.calc-input-group input[type="number"],
.calc-input-group select {
width: 100%;
padding: 10px 12px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
border-radius: 5px;
font-size: 1em;
box-sizing: border-box;
transition: border-color 0.3s ease;
}
.calc-input-group input[type="number"]:focus,
.calc-input-group select:focus {
border-color: #007bff;
outline: none;
box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(0, 123, 255, 0.25);
}
.input-hint {
font-size: 0.85em;
color: #777;
margin-top: 5px;
}
.calculate-button {
display: block;
width: 100%;
padding: 12px 20px;
background-color: #007bff;
color: white;
border: none;
border-radius: 5px;
font-size: 1.1em;
font-weight: bold;
cursor: pointer;
transition: background-color 0.3s ease, transform 0.2s ease;
margin-top: 25px;
}
.calculate-button:hover {
background-color: #0056b3;
transform: translateY(-2px);
}
.calc-results {
background-color: #e9f7ff;
border: 1px solid #cce5ff;
border-radius: 8px;
padding: 20px;
margin-top: 30px;
}
.calc-results h3 {
color: #0056b3;
margin-top: 0;
margin-bottom: 15px;
font-size: 1.5em;
text-align: center;
}
.calc-results p {
display: flex;
justify-content: space-between;
margin-bottom: 8px;
font-size: 1em;
color: #333;
}
.calc-results p strong {
color: #000;
font-size: 1.1em;
}
.calc-results p span {
font-weight: normal;
color: #000;
}
Understanding Your W2 Payroll
A W2 payroll calculator helps you estimate your net pay, which is the amount of money you actually take home after all deductions and taxes are subtracted from your gross earnings. Understanding these components is crucial for personal financial planning.
What is Gross Pay?
Gross pay is your total earnings before any deductions are taken out. If you're an hourly employee, it's your hourly rate multiplied by the number of hours worked. For salaried employees, it's your fixed salary amount for the pay period.
Mandatory Deductions: FICA Taxes
FICA stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act, and it funds Social Security and Medicare. These are mandatory federal taxes:
- Social Security Tax: This is typically 6.2% of your gross pay, up to an annual wage base limit (which changes yearly). It funds retirement, disability, and survivor benefits.
- Medicare Tax: This is 1.45% of your gross pay, with no wage base limit. It funds hospital insurance for the elderly and disabled.
Your employer also pays an equal amount of FICA taxes on your behalf.
Income Tax Withholding
Both federal and state governments (in most states) require employers to withhold income tax from your paycheck. The amount withheld depends on the information you provide on your W-4 form (for federal) and equivalent state forms, including your filing status, number of dependents, and any additional withholding you request. This calculator uses your estimated withholding amounts for simplicity, as actual withholding calculations can be complex and vary based on tax brackets and specific W-4 elections.
Pre-Tax vs. Post-Tax Deductions
- Pre-Tax Deductions: These are deductions taken from your gross pay *before* income taxes are calculated. Common examples include contributions to a 401(k) or 403(b) retirement plan, health insurance premiums, and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) contributions. Because they reduce your taxable income, they can lower your overall tax liability.
- Post-Tax Deductions: These are deductions taken from your pay *after* all taxes have been calculated and withheld. Examples include Roth 401(k) contributions, union dues, garnishments, or certain charitable contributions. These do not reduce your taxable income for the current year.
Why Use This Calculator?
This W2 payroll calculator provides a quick estimate of your take-home pay. It's useful for:
- Budgeting and financial planning.
- Understanding the impact of raises or changes in deductions.
- Verifying your paycheck against expected amounts.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides an estimate based on the inputs provided and standard FICA rates. It does not account for all possible deductions, state-specific nuances (like local taxes or specific state disability insurance), or the annual Social Security wage base limit. For exact figures, always refer to your official pay stub or consult with a payroll professional or tax advisor.
Example Calculation
Let's consider an employee with the following bi-weekly payroll details:
- Gross Pay: $2,500
- Estimated Federal Income Tax Withholding: $300
- Estimated State Income Tax Withholding: $75
- Pre-Tax Deductions (e.g., 401k, Health Insurance): $180
- Post-Tax Deductions (e.g., Roth 401k): $30
Here's how the calculation breaks down:
- Social Security Tax: $2,500 * 0.062 = $155.00
- Medicare Tax: $2,500 * 0.0145 = $36.25
- Total Deductions: $155.00 (SS) + $36.25 (Medicare) + $300 (Federal) + $75 (State) + $180 (Pre-Tax) + $30 (Post-Tax) = $776.25
- Net Pay: $2,500 (Gross) – $776.25 (Total Deductions) = $1,723.75
This means the employee would take home approximately $1,723.75 for that bi-weekly pay period.