Paycheck Calculator (2026)

Estimate take-home pay from a W-2 salary: federal income tax, FICA and an optional flat state rate, by pay frequency.

By The PiggyMath Editorial Desk Last updated August 10, 2026 ✓ Independently verified against published IRS figures

How this is calculated

Annualise salary with simplified W-4 Steps 1–4 inputs (filing status, Step 3 credits, Step 4 other income / deductions / extra withholding), subtract pre-tax deductions and the 2026 standard deduction, apply 2026 federal brackets, then add employee FICA. Optional state tax is a flat percentage — not Pub 15-T wage-bracket tables.

Salary & W-4-style inputs

Annual gross salary ($)

Filing status (W-4 Step 1)

Pay frequency

Annual pre-tax deductions ($)401(k), HSA, cafeteria plan, etc.

W-4 Step 3 — dependent credits ($/yr)e.g. Child Tax Credit amount claimed on the W-4.

W-4 Step 4(a) — other income ($/yr)Side hustle / interest you want withheld for.

W-4 Step 4(b) — extra deductions ($/yr)Itemized / other deductions beyond the standard deduction.

State income tax flat rate (%)Optional approximation — not full state withholding tables.

W-4 Step 4(c) — extra withholding / paycheck ($)

Estimated take-home per paycheck

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Federal / check

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FICA / check

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State / check

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Annual take-home

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Annual federal tax

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Annual FICA

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Where each paycheck goes

W-2 take-home vs freelance net

Employees split FICA with the employer. Freelancers pay both halves of SE tax — use the 1099 vs W-2 calculator when comparing an offer to a contract. If you already have a paycheck and a side hustle, the W-4 extra withholding calculator turns that 1099 profit into a Step 4(c) extra-per-check amount so you can cover the tax from wages instead of four estimated payments.

What this estimate skips

This is a simplified Pub 15-T / W-4 style approximation: annual bracket math with Step 3 credits and Step 4(a)–(c) adjustments. It is not the official IRS percentage-method or wage-bracket tables, ignores most credits beyond Step 3, and uses a flat state % instead of state withholding tables. Treat the result as a planning figure, not a payroll system.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the same as my employer's payroll?

Close for federal tax and FICA on simple W-4s, but employers use Publication 15-T tables. Expect small differences.

Does FICA stop at some income?

Social Security employee tax (6.2%) stops at the 2026 wage base of $184,500. Medicare continues, with an extra 0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 joint.

Can I model a side hustle here?

This page is for W-2 wages. To cover 1099 tax from the same paycheck, use the W-4 extra withholding calculator. Freelance-only profit still belongs in the self-employment and quarterly tax calculators.

Sources

Every formula on this page is checked against an independent implementation before publication. How we check our math →