Payroll Calculator
Find out exactly how much of your paycheck you actually take home. Enter your gross salary, filing status, and state tax rate to see a full breakdown of federal tax, state tax, Social Security, Medicare, and your net pay per pay period.
Your gross salary is not your take-home pay. Between federal income tax, state income tax, Social Security (6.2%), and Medicare (1.45%), a significant chunk of each paycheck goes to taxes and FICA contributions. For someone earning $65,000 per year filing as single with one allowance and a 5% state tax rate, the biweekly take-home pay is roughly $1,870 out of a $2,500 gross paycheck.
Federal income tax uses a progressive bracket system. For 2025, single filers pay 10% on the first $11,925 of taxable income, 12% on the next portion up to $48,475, and so on up to 37% for income over $626,350. Your taxable income is your gross salary minus the standard deduction ($15,000 for single, $30,000 for married filing jointly) and any allowance deductions.
Social Security tax applies to earnings up to the wage base limit of $176,100 in 2025. If you earn more than that, you stop paying Social Security tax on the excess. Medicare tax, on the other hand, applies to all earnings with no cap. Together, these FICA taxes add up to 7.65% of your gross pay for most workers.
Keep in mind this is an estimate. Your actual paycheck may differ based on pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions, health insurance premiums, HSA contributions, and other benefits that reduce your taxable income.