Use this calculator to estimate your net pay based on your gross earnings and various deductions. A pay stub provides a detailed breakdown of your earnings and deductions for a specific pay period. Understanding each component, from gross pay to pre-tax deductions, taxes, and post-tax deductions, is crucial for managing your personal finances.
Pre-Tax Deductions
Tax Withholding (as % of Taxable Income)
Post-Tax Deductions
Your Pay Stub Summary
Net Pay: $0.00
Gross Pay:
$0.00
Total Pre-Tax Deductions:
$0.00
Taxable Income:
$0.00
Social Security Tax (6.2%):
$0.00
Medicare Tax (1.45%):
$0.00
Federal Income Tax:
$0.00
State Income Tax:
$0.00
Local Income Tax:
$0.00
Total Post-Tax Deductions:
$0.00
Total Deductions:
$0.00
Understanding Your Pay Stub
A pay stub is more than just a piece of paper showing your earnings; it's a detailed record of how your gross pay is transformed into your net pay. Understanding each line item can help you verify accuracy, plan your budget, and make informed financial decisions.
Key Components of a Pay Stub:
Gross Pay: This is your total earnings before any deductions are taken out. It includes your regular wages, overtime pay, bonuses, and commissions.
Pre-Tax Deductions: These are amounts subtracted from your gross 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. Because these deductions reduce your taxable income, they can lower your overall tax liability.
Taxable Income: This is the amount of your gross pay remaining after pre-tax deductions have been applied. Your income taxes (federal, state, local) are calculated based on this amount.
FICA Taxes (Social Security & Medicare): These are mandatory federal taxes that fund Social Security and Medicare programs. Social Security tax is typically 6.2% of your gross pay (up to an annual wage base limit), and Medicare tax is 1.45% of all gross pay. These are generally not reduced by pre-tax deductions.
Income Tax Withholding: This includes federal, state, and sometimes local income taxes. The amount withheld depends on your taxable income, filing status, and the allowances you claimed on your W-4 form (for federal) or equivalent state forms.
Post-Tax Deductions: These are amounts subtracted 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 deductions do not reduce your taxable income.
Net Pay: Also known as "take-home pay," this is the amount you actually receive after all deductions (pre-tax, taxes, and post-tax) have been subtracted from your gross pay.
Why Use a Pay Stub Calculator?
A pay stub calculator helps you:
Estimate Earnings: Get a clear picture of your take-home pay before you even receive your official pay stub.
Budget Planning: Accurately plan your monthly budget based on your net income.
Verify Accuracy: Compare the calculator's results with your actual pay stub to ensure there are no errors in deductions or calculations.
Understand Deductions: See how different deductions (like increasing your 401(k) contribution) impact your net pay.
While this calculator provides a good estimate, actual tax withholdings can vary based on specific state laws, local ordinances, and individual tax situations (e.g., specific tax credits, additional withholdings). Always refer to your official pay stub for exact figures.
function calculatePayStub() {
// Get input values
var grossPay = parseFloat(document.getElementById('grossPay').value) || 0;
var preTax401kPercent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('preTax401kPercent').value) || 0;
var preTaxHealthInsurance = parseFloat(document.getElementById('preTaxHealthInsurance').value) || 0;
var otherPreTax = parseFloat(document.getElementById('otherPreTax').value) || 0;
var federalTaxPercent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('federalTaxPercent').value) || 0;
var stateTaxPercent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('stateTaxPercent').value) || 0;
var localTaxPercent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('localTaxPercent').value) || 0;
var postTaxRoth401kPercent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('postTaxRoth401kPercent').value) || 0;
var unionDues = parseFloat(document.getElementById('unionDues').value) || 0;
var otherPostTax = parseFloat(document.getElementById('otherPostTax').value) || 0;
// Ensure percentages are within valid range
preTax401kPercent = Math.max(0, Math.min(100, preTax401kPercent));
federalTaxPercent = Math.max(0, Math.min(100, federalTaxPercent));
stateTaxPercent = Math.max(0, Math.min(100, stateTaxPercent));
localTaxPercent = Math.max(0, Math.min(100, localTaxPercent));
postTaxRoth401kPercent = Math.max(0, Math.min(100, postTaxRoth401kPercent));
// 1. Calculate Pre-Tax Deductions
var preTax401kAmount = grossPay * (preTax401kPercent / 100);
var totalPreTaxDeductions = preTax401kAmount + preTaxHealthInsurance + otherPreTax;
totalPreTaxDeductions = Math.min(totalPreTaxDeductions, grossPay); // Cannot deduct more than gross pay
// 2. Calculate Taxable Income (for income taxes)
var taxableIncome = grossPay – totalPreTaxDeductions;
taxableIncome = Math.max(0, taxableIncome); // Taxable income cannot be negative
// 3. Calculate FICA Taxes (Social Security and Medicare)
// FICA is generally calculated on gross pay, not reduced by pre-tax deductions.
// Simplified: ignoring annual wage base limits for Social Security for this calculator.
var socialSecurityTaxRate = 0.062; // 6.2%
var medicareTaxRate = 0.0145; // 1.45%
var socialSecurityTax = grossPay * socialSecurityTaxRate;
var medicareTax = grossPay * medicareTaxRate;
var totalFicaTax = socialSecurityTax + medicareTax;
// 4. Calculate Income Taxes (based on taxable income)
var federalTaxAmount = taxableIncome * (federalTaxPercent / 100);
var stateTaxAmount = taxableIncome * (stateTaxPercent / 100);
var localTaxAmount = taxableIncome * (localTaxPercent / 100);
var totalIncomeTax = federalTaxAmount + stateTaxAmount + localTaxAmount;
// 5. Calculate Post-Tax Deductions
var postTaxRoth401kAmount = grossPay * (postTaxRoth401kPercent / 100);
var totalPostTaxDeductions = postTaxRoth401kAmount + unionDues + otherPostTax;
// 6. Calculate Total Deductions
var totalDeductions = totalPreTaxDeductions + totalFicaTax + totalIncomeTax + totalPostTaxDeductions;
// 7. Calculate Net Pay
var netPay = grossPay – totalDeductions;
// Format results to currency
var formatter = new Intl.NumberFormat('en-US', {
style: 'currency',
currency: 'USD',
minimumFractionDigits: 2,
maximumFractionDigits: 2,
});
// Display results
document.getElementById('grossPayResult').innerText = formatter.format(grossPay);
document.getElementById('totalPreTaxDeductionsResult').innerText = formatter.format(totalPreTaxDeductions);
document.getElementById('taxableIncomeResult').innerText = formatter.format(taxableIncome);
document.getElementById('socialSecurityTaxResult').innerText = formatter.format(socialSecurityTax);
document.getElementById('medicareTaxResult').innerText = formatter.format(medicareTax);
document.getElementById('federalTaxResult').innerText = formatter.format(federalTaxAmount);
document.getElementById('stateTaxResult').innerText = formatter.format(stateTaxAmount);
document.getElementById('localTaxResult').innerText = formatter.format(localTaxAmount);
document.getElementById('totalPostTaxDeductionsResult').innerText = formatter.format(totalPostTaxDeductions);
document.getElementById('totalDeductionsResult').innerText = formatter.format(totalDeductions);
document.getElementById('netPayResult').innerText = formatter.format(netPay);
}
// Run calculation on page load with default values
window.onload = calculatePayStub;