Paycheck Calculator

Estimate your take-home pay after federal taxes and FICA.

Gross annual income ($)

Filing status

Pay frequency

Pre-tax deductions (annual, $)

Take-home pay (per period)

$2,351.87

$61,148.50 / year

Federal tax (annual)

$8,114.00

Social Security

$4,650.00

Medicare

$1,087.50

Total deductions (annual)

$13,851.50

Effective rate

18.47%

Federal estimate for tax year 2025 (no state taxes). Not professional tax advice.

What is the Paycheck Calculator?

A paycheck calculator estimates your take-home pay per pay period after federal income tax and FICA (Social Security and Medicare).

How the calculation works

Annual gross minus pre-tax deductions and the standard deduction gives taxable income for federal tax. FICA is applied to gross wages. The net is divided across your pay frequency.

Example

A single filer earning $100,000 pays roughly $13,600 in federal tax and $7,650 in FICA, for about $78,700 net — around $3,026 per biweekly check.

Tips

Pre-tax 401(k) and HSA contributions raise your take-home tax efficiency.
Social Security tax stops after the annual wage base; Medicare does not.
Withholding is an estimate — your final tax is settled when you file.

Limitations

Federal estimate only for 2025. It excludes state and local taxes and most credits.

Frequently asked questions

What is FICA?

The payroll tax funding Social Security (6.2% up to a wage base) and Medicare (1.45%, plus 0.9% above a threshold).

Why is take-home less than my salary?

Federal tax, FICA, and any pre-tax deductions are withheld before you receive your pay.

Does this include state taxes?

No — it is a federal-only estimate; state withholding is separate.

How do 401(k) contributions affect my paycheck?

Pre-tax contributions lower taxable income, reducing federal tax and increasing tax efficiency.

Biweekly vs semimonthly?

Biweekly is 26 checks a year; semimonthly is 24. The annual total is the same but per-check amounts differ.

Related guides

What Is FICA?

Reviewed for the 2025 tax year

See our methodology, data sources, and editorial policy. Educational use only — not financial, tax, or investment advice (disclaimer).