Estimate your net pay in Pennsylvania by factoring in federal, state, and local taxes, as well as common deductions. This calculator provides an approximation based on 2024 tax rates and standard deductions.
Bi-weekly (26x per year)
Weekly (52x per year)
Semi-monthly (24x per year)
Monthly (12x per year)
Single
Married Filing Jointly
Enter your specific local tax rate (e.g., 1.0 for 1%). Many PA municipalities have local income taxes.
Estimated Paycheck Breakdown:
Gross Pay:
Federal Income Tax:
Social Security Tax:
Medicare Tax:
PA State Income Tax:
Local Income Tax:
Total Pre-Tax Deductions:
Total Post-Tax Deductions:
Net Pay:
function calculatePay() {
var grossPayInput = document.getElementById("grossPay").value;
var payFrequency = document.getElementById("payFrequency").value;
var federalFilingStatus = document.getElementById("federalFilingStatus").value;
var preTaxDeductionsInput = document.getElementById("preTaxDeductions").value;
var postTaxDeductionsInput = document.getElementById("postTaxDeductions").value;
var localTaxRateInput = document.getElementById("localTaxRate").value;
var errorDiv = document.getElementById("errorMessages");
errorDiv.innerHTML = ""; // Clear previous errors
var grossPay = parseFloat(grossPayInput);
var preTaxDeductions = parseFloat(preTaxDeductionsInput);
var postTaxDeductions = parseFloat(postTaxDeductionsInput);
var localTaxRate = parseFloat(localTaxRateInput) / 100; // Convert percentage to decimal
if (isNaN(grossPay) || grossPay < 0) {
errorDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid positive number for Gross Pay.";
return;
}
if (isNaN(preTaxDeductions) || preTaxDeductions < 0) {
errorDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid positive number for Pre-Tax Deductions.";
return;
}
if (isNaN(postTaxDeductions) || postTaxDeductions < 0) {
errorDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid positive number for Post-Tax Deductions.";
return;
}
if (isNaN(localTaxRate) || localTaxRate 1) {
errorDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid Local Tax Rate between 0 and 100.";
return;
}
var payPeriodsPerYear;
switch (payFrequency) {
case "weekly":
payPeriodsPerYear = 52;
break;
case "bi-weekly":
payPeriodsPerYear = 26;
break;
case "semi-monthly":
payPeriodsPerYear = 24;
break;
case "monthly":
payPeriodsPerYear = 12;
break;
default:
payPeriodsPerYear = 26; // Default to bi-weekly
}
// — Federal Taxes (2024 rates and standard deductions) —
var annualGrossPay = grossPay * payPeriodsPerYear;
var annualPreTaxDeductions = preTaxDeductions * payPeriodsPerYear;
var annualTaxableGross = annualGrossPay – annualPreTaxDeductions;
var standardDeduction;
if (federalFilingStatus === "single") {
standardDeduction = 14600; // 2024 Single Standard Deduction
} else { // married
standardDeduction = 29200; // 2024 Married Filing Jointly Standard Deduction
}
var annualWithholdingTaxableIncome = Math.max(0, annualTaxableGross – standardDeduction);
var annualFederalTax = 0;
if (federalFilingStatus === "single") {
if (annualWithholdingTaxableIncome <= 11600) {
annualFederalTax = annualWithholdingTaxableIncome * 0.10;
} else if (annualWithholdingTaxableIncome <= 47150) {
annualFederalTax = 11600 * 0.10 + (annualWithholdingTaxableIncome – 11600) * 0.12;
} else if (annualWithholdingTaxableIncome <= 100525) {
annualFederalTax = 11600 * 0.10 + (47150 – 11600) * 0.12 + (annualWithholdingTaxableIncome – 47150) * 0.22;
} else if (annualWithholdingTaxableIncome <= 191950) {
annualFederalTax = 11600 * 0.10 + (47150 – 11600) * 0.12 + (100525 – 47150) * 0.22 + (annualWithholdingTaxableIncome – 100525) * 0.24;
} else if (annualWithholdingTaxableIncome <= 243725) {
annualFederalTax = 11600 * 0.10 + (47150 – 11600) * 0.12 + (100525 – 47150) * 0.22 + (191950 – 100525) * 0.24 + (annualWithholdingTaxableIncome – 191950) * 0.32;
} else if (annualWithholdingTaxableIncome <= 609350) {
annualFederalTax = 11600 * 0.10 + (47150 – 11600) * 0.12 + (100525 – 47150) * 0.22 + (191950 – 100525) * 0.24 + (243725 – 191950) * 0.32 + (annualWithholdingTaxableIncome – 243725) * 0.35;
} else {
annualFederalTax = 11600 * 0.10 + (47150 – 11600) * 0.12 + (100525 – 47150) * 0.22 + (191950 – 100525) * 0.24 + (243725 – 191950) * 0.32 + (609350 – 243725) * 0.35 + (annualWithholdingTaxableIncome – 609350) * 0.37;
}
} else { // Married Filing Jointly
if (annualWithholdingTaxableIncome <= 23200) {
annualFederalTax = annualWithholdingTaxableIncome * 0.10;
} else if (annualWithholdingTaxableIncome <= 94300) {
annualFederalTax = 23200 * 0.10 + (annualWithholdingTaxableIncome – 23200) * 0.12;
} else if (annualWithholdingTaxableIncome <= 201050) {
annualFederalTax = 23200 * 0.10 + (94300 – 23200) * 0.12 + (annualWithholdingTaxableIncome – 94300) * 0.22;
} else if (annualWithholdingTaxableIncome <= 383900) {
annualFederalTax = 23200 * 0.10 + (94300 – 23200) * 0.12 + (201050 – 94300) * 0.22 + (annualWithholdingTaxableIncome – 201050) * 0.24;
} else if (annualWithholdingTaxableIncome <= 487450) {
annualFederalTax = 23200 * 0.10 + (94300 – 23200) * 0.12 + (201050 – 94300) * 0.22 + (383900 – 201050) * 0.24 + (annualWithholdingTaxableIncome – 383900) * 0.32;
} else if (annualWithholdingTaxableIncome <= 731200) {
annualFederalTax = 23200 * 0.10 + (94300 – 23200) * 0.12 + (201050 – 94300) * 0.22 + (383900 – 201050) * 0.24 + (487450 – 383900) * 0.32 + (annualWithholdingTaxableIncome – 487450) * 0.35;
} else {
annualFederalTax = 23200 * 0.10 + (94300 – 23200) * 0.12 + (201050 – 94300) * 0.22 + (383900 – 201050) * 0.24 + (487450 – 383900) * 0.32 + (731200 – 487450) * 0.35 + (annualWithholdingTaxableIncome – 731200) * 0.37;
}
}
var federalTax = annualFederalTax / payPeriodsPerYear;
// — FICA Taxes (Social Security & Medicare – 2024 rates) —
var socialSecurityWageBase = 168600; // 2024 Social Security wage base limit
var socialSecurityRate = 0.062;
var medicareRate = 0.0145;
var taxableForFICA = grossPay; // FICA is on gross pay, before pre-tax deductions
var socialSecurityTax = Math.min(taxableForFICA, (socialSecurityWageBase / payPeriodsPerYear)) * socialSecurityRate;
// This simplified SS calculation assumes the wage base is not hit within a single pay period.
// A more accurate calculation would track cumulative earnings. For a per-pay-period estimate, this is common.
// If annualGrossPay exceeds socialSecurityWageBase, then the annual SS tax is capped.
// For a per-period calculator, we'll apply the rate up to the per-period equivalent of the annual cap.
// A more robust calculator would need to track year-to-date earnings.
// For simplicity, we'll cap the *annual* SS tax and then divide by pay periods.
var annualSocialSecurityTaxable = Math.min(annualGrossPay, socialSecurityWageBase);
var annualSocialSecurityTax = annualSocialSecurityTaxable * socialSecurityRate;
socialSecurityTax = annualSocialSecurityTax / payPeriodsPerYear;
var medicareTax = taxableForFICA * medicareRate; // No wage base limit for Medicare
// — Pennsylvania State Income Tax (2024 rate) —
var paStateTaxRate = 0.0307; // 3.07% flat rate
var paTaxableIncome = grossPay – preTaxDeductions; // PA taxes income after pre-tax deductions
var paStateTax = paTaxableIncome * paStateTaxRate;
// — Local Income Tax —
var localTaxableIncome = grossPay – preTaxDeductions; // Local taxes often on income after pre-tax deductions
var localTax = localTaxableIncome * localTaxRate;
// — Total Deductions and Net Pay —
var totalDeductions = federalTax + socialSecurityTax + medicareTax + paStateTax + localTax + preTaxDeductions + postTaxDeductions;
var netPay = grossPay – totalDeductions;
// — Display Results —
document.getElementById("grossPayOutput").innerText = "$" + grossPay.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("federalTaxOutput").innerText = "$" + federalTax.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("socialSecurityTaxOutput").innerText = "$" + socialSecurityTax.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("medicareTaxOutput").innerText = "$" + medicareTax.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("paStateTaxOutput").innerText = "$" + paStateTax.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("localTaxOutput").innerText = "$" + localTax.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("preTaxDeductionsOutput").innerText = "$" + preTaxDeductions.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("postTaxDeductionsOutput").innerText = "$" + postTaxDeductions.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("netPayOutput").innerText = "$" + netPay.toFixed(2);
}
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Understanding Your Pennsylvania Paycheck
Navigating your paycheck can be complex, especially with various federal, state, and local taxes, plus deductions. This guide breaks down the components of a typical Pennsylvania paycheck, helping you understand where your money goes.
Gross Pay vs. Net Pay
Your Gross Pay is the total amount of money you earn before any taxes or deductions are taken out. This is the figure your employer typically quotes as your salary or hourly wage. Net Pay, often referred to as "take-home pay," is the amount you actually receive after all deductions have been subtracted from your gross pay.
Federal Income Tax
Federal income tax is a progressive tax, meaning higher earners pay a larger percentage of their income in taxes. The amount withheld from your paycheck depends on your gross income, filing status (e.g., Single, Married Filing Jointly), and any adjustments you've made on your W-4 form. The calculator uses simplified 2024 federal tax brackets and standard deductions to estimate this amount.
FICA Taxes: Social Security and Medicare
FICA stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act, which funds Social Security and Medicare. These are mandatory payroll taxes:
Social Security: As of 2024, employees contribute 6.2% of their gross wages up to an annual wage base limit of $168,600. This tax funds retirement, disability, and survivor benefits.
Medicare: Employees contribute 1.45% of all gross wages, with no wage base limit. This tax helps fund health care for individuals aged 65 or older, and certain younger people with disabilities.
Pennsylvania State Income Tax
Pennsylvania stands out with a flat state income tax rate. As of 2024, the rate is 3.07% of your taxable income. Unlike federal taxes, PA does not have different tax brackets or personal exemptions; it's a straightforward percentage applied to your income after certain pre-tax deductions.
Local Income Taxes in Pennsylvania
One of the unique aspects of Pennsylvania's tax landscape is the prevalence of local income taxes. Many cities, boroughs, townships, and school districts levy their own income taxes, which can vary significantly by location. These taxes are typically collected by a local tax collector or a designated agency. It's crucial to know your specific municipality's tax rate, as it can impact your net pay. The calculator allows you to input your local tax rate to get a more accurate estimate.
Deductions
Deductions are amounts subtracted from your gross pay. They fall into two main categories:
Pre-Tax Deductions: These are taken out of your pay before 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. Pre-tax deductions reduce your taxable income, lowering your federal, state, and sometimes local tax liability.
Post-Tax Deductions: These are taken out after taxes have been calculated and withheld. Examples include Roth 401(k) contributions, union dues, charitable contributions, or garnishments. Post-tax deductions do not reduce your taxable income.
Example Paycheck Calculation (Bi-weekly)
Let's consider an example using the calculator's default values:
Gross Pay (Bi-weekly): $2,000
Pay Frequency: Bi-weekly (26 pay periods/year)
Federal Filing Status: Single
Pre-Tax Deductions: $100 (e.g., health insurance, 401k)
Post-Tax Deductions: $50 (e.g., Roth 401k)
Local Tax Rate: 1.0%
Based on these inputs, the calculator would perform the following approximate steps: