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Budget & Income

Paycheck Calculator

Estimate your take-home pay after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and a 401(k) contribution — so you can budget with the number that actually arrives.

Your pay

A simplified estimate using 2025 federal brackets and FICA. Not tax advice.

Filing status
%

Pre-tax, reduces taxable income

%

0 if your state has none

Your estimated take-home pay

Monthly take-home

$4,509.46

$2,081.29 per biweekly paycheck · $54,114 a year

Federal income tax

$7,124

FICA (SS + Medicare)

$5,738

State tax

$3,525

401(k) contribution

$4,500

Total tax

$16,387

Effective tax rate

21.8%

A rough estimate: it uses the standard deduction and a flat state rate, and ignores credits, other deductions, and local taxes. Your real paycheck depends on your W-4 and employer benefits.

Budget with what actually lands

Budgeting off your gross salary is a classic mistake — a big chunk never reaches your account. This calculator estimates your real take-home pay after taxes and payroll deductions, so your budget starts from the right number.

What comes out of a paycheck

Federal income tax is progressive, so only the income within each bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate. On top of that, FICA takes 7.65% for Social Security and Medicare, most states take an income tax, and any pre-tax retirement contribution comes out before taxes are figured.

Put your take-home to work

Once you know your take-home pay, split it with the 50/30/20 budget or plan categories in the budget calculator. Raising your savings rate is the fastest path to financial freedom.

Related calculators

Budget CalculatorSplit your take-home pay across needs, wants, and savings.50/30/20 Budget CalculatorThe simplest budget rule: 50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings and debt.Savings Rate CalculatorThe share of income you keep — the number that drives everything.Savings Goal CalculatorHow much to set aside each month to hit a savings goal by a date.

Frequently asked questions

How is take-home pay calculated?
Start with gross salary, subtract pre-tax deductions like a traditional 401(k), then subtract federal income tax (on the reduced amount, after the standard deduction), Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%), and any state income tax. What’s left is your take-home pay.
Why is my take-home so much less than my salary?
Between federal tax, the 7.65% FICA payroll tax, state tax, and retirement contributions, a meaningful share of gross pay is withheld before you see it. A higher salary also pushes part of your income into higher tax brackets.
Does a 401(k) contribution lower my taxes?
A traditional (pre-tax) 401(k) reduces your taxable income now, so you pay less income tax today and the money grows tax-deferred. A Roth 401(k) is taken after tax instead. This calculator models pre-tax contributions.
How accurate is this estimate?
It’s a simplified estimate using 2025 federal brackets, the standard deduction, and a flat state rate. It doesn’t include tax credits, local taxes, or other deductions, so treat it as a close ballpark, not an exact paystub.