Calculate your take-home pay after federal taxes, Social Security, Medicare, and 401(k) deductions. Free salary calculator USA — updated for 2026 tax rates and paycheck estimator.
US federal taxes, FICA & 401(k) deductions
This free salary calculator USA uses 2026 federal tax brackets and current FICA rates to estimate your take-home pay after every mandatory deduction. Enter your annual salary, choose your pay frequency (weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly), select your filing status, and set your 401(k) contribution percentage — the paycheck estimator handles the rest. At $75,000/year filing single with a 6% 401(k) contribution, you can expect roughly $1,950–$2,050 per bi-weekly paycheck after federal taxes and FICA. State income tax varies widely — from 0% in Texas and Florida to over 13% in California — so factor in your state rate for a complete picture of your net pay.
Understanding each deduction makes it easier to plan your budget. Federal income tax is withheld based on your W-4 elections and 2026 IRS tax brackets, which range from 10% on the first $11,925 of taxable income (single filers) up to 37% on income above $626,350. Social Security is 6.2% of gross wages up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500 — your employer matches this dollar-for-dollar. Medicare is 1.45% with no cap, plus an extra 0.9% surtax if your annual income exceeds $200,000. And a 401(k) contribution reduces your taxable income before federal tax is applied, meaning every dollar you contribute saves you 22–37 cents in federal taxes depending on your bracket. The 2026 employee contribution limit is $24,500 ($31,000 if age 50+).
Withheld using 2026 IRS tax brackets from 10% to 37%. A single filer earning $75,000 pays an effective federal rate of roughly 16%. Married filing jointly pairs have a wider 12% bracket, often resulting in meaningfully lower withholding.
6.2% of gross wages up to the 2026 Social Security wage base of $184,500. Your employer matches this amount, so the combined rate is 12.4%. High earners stop paying SS tax once their earnings exceed the wage base for the year.
1.45% of all gross wages with no income cap. An additional 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax applies to earnings over $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married). Unlike SS, there is no annual wage base ceiling on Medicare.
Every dollar you contribute to a traditional 401(k) reduces your federal taxable income. The 2026 employee limit is $24,500 ($31,000 if age 50+). At a 22% bracket, maxing out saves $5,390 in federal taxes alone — a powerful incentive to contribute early and often.