Paycheck Calculator — US Take-Home Pay by State, 2024 & 2025
Your salary is not what lands in your bank. This free paycheck calculator estimates your real take-home pay using the actual rules: IRS federal brackets and standard deductions for the tax year you choose, Social Security and Medicare (FICA), and your state's own income tax — its brackets, flat rate or no tax at all. Pick any of the 50 states plus Washington DC, single or married filing jointly, and weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly or monthly pay.
How to calculate your paycheck
- Enter your gross salary and the state you work in.
- Pick filing status and tax year — 2025 or 2024, because the brackets and deductions differ.
- Choose your pay frequency — see take-home per paycheck and per year, with every deduction listed.
How the calculation works
- Federal income tax — the IRS progressive brackets (10% up to 37%) applied after the standard deduction: $15,750 single / $31,500 married for 2025; $14,600 / $29,200 for 2024.
- Social Security — 6.2% of wages, up to the wage cap: $176,100 in 2025, $168,600 in 2024.
- Medicare — 1.45% on all wages, plus 0.9% extra on pay above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married).
- State tax — each state's own system for the year: no tax in 9 states, a flat rate in 14, and graduated brackets in the rest.
- State and year differences handled — switch the year and both the federal figures and the state rates update (for example Iowa's move to a 3.8% flat tax in 2025, or North Carolina's drop from 4.50% to 4.25%).
Frequently asked questions
Which states have no income tax on wages?
Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. You still pay federal tax and FICA there — the state line is simply zero.
Why is my real paycheck a bit different?
This is an estimate using the standard deduction. Your real check also reflects your W-4 choices, pre-tax benefits like a 401(k) or health insurance, and sometimes city or local taxes (for example New York City). Use it to compare jobs, states and offers — not as a substitute for payroll or tax advice.
Biweekly or semi-monthly — what is the difference?
Biweekly means every two weeks: 26 paychecks a year, two months with three checks. Semi-monthly means twice a month on set dates: 24 slightly larger checks.
Does it handle the 2024 tax year?
Yes — pick 2024 and the calculator uses the 2024 federal brackets, standard deductions, Social Security cap and the state rates that applied in 2024.
Step-by-step guide
Read the full guide: How US Paycheck Tax Works — federal, FICA and state, in plain English.
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