Net Pay Estimator
Estimate your take-home pay after federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare deductions.
Most people know their salary but not their take-home pay until their first paycheck arrives. Running this before accepting a job offer or negotiating a raise makes the actual number concrete. A $72,000 salary is roughly $4,650/month take-home, useful to know before signing a lease.
This estimates federal tax, FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%), and state income tax. It does not include local taxes, health insurance premiums beyond what you enter, or other deductions specific to your employer.
What comes out of your paycheck
Federal income tax withheld is based on your W-4 allowances and pay period. Social Security tax is 6.2% of gross wages up to the annual wage base ($176,100 in 2025). Medicare tax is 1.45% of all wages, with an additional 0.9% on earnings above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married). State income taxes vary from 0% (no income tax states) to 13.3% (California top rate). Pre-tax deductions for health insurance, 401(k), and HSA reduce the income subject to federal and state tax, and 401(k) and HSA deductions through payroll also reduce FICA.
Pre-tax deductions and their value
Pre-tax benefits reduce your taxable income dollar-for-dollar. A $500/month health insurance premium paid pre-tax saves you the taxes you would have paid on that $500. At a combined 30% effective rate (federal + state), that's $150/month in tax savings. Understanding the tax value of your benefits package is part of evaluating total compensation.
W-4 and withholding accuracy
The IRS W-4 form determines how much federal tax is withheld from each paycheck. The default withholding is designed to produce roughly the right annual tax for a standard situation. Significant life changes, marriage, children, second job, substantial investment income, may require updating your W-4 to avoid a large tax bill or significantly over-withheld refund at tax time.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my actual take-home different from this estimate?
This calculator uses standard deductions and typical withholding. Your actual paycheck may differ due to local/city taxes, additional voluntary deductions (supplemental insurance, retirement contributions beyond what you entered, charitable giving programs), non-standard W-4 elections, or employer-specific payroll timing. Use this as a close estimate for planning.
What is the Social Security wage base?
Social Security tax (6.2%) only applies to wages up to the annual wage base, which adjusts each year. For 2025, that limit is $176,100. Earnings above this amount are not subject to the 6.2% Social Security tax, though Medicare tax (1.45%) has no cap.
How does a raise actually affect take-home?
Not dollar-for-dollar. A $5,000 raise in the 22% bracket with 7.65% FICA and 5% state tax leaves roughly $3,268 in your pocket annually, about $272/month. Use the Salary Raise Calculator to model the after-tax value of any raise.