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Paycheck Calculator
Estimate take-home pay from hourly wages or annual salary after 2024 federal income tax and FICA withholding. Federal only, no state or local taxes.
Your pay details
Legacy estimate: each allowance reduces annual taxable wages by $4,300 before federal tax is calculated.
How this paycheck calculator works
The calculator converts hourly pay into annual wages when needed, subtracts the 2024 standard deduction, applies a simple allowance adjustment, then runs the result through the 2024 federal income tax brackets for single or married filing jointly filers. FICA taxes are added separately using Social Security and Medicare rules.
Federal taxable income = max(0, annual gross pay - standard deduction - allowance adjustment)
Social Security tax = 6.2% of wages up to $168,600
Medicare tax = 1.45% of all wages + 0.9% above the additional Medicare threshold
What is included, and what is not
This estimator includes federal income tax, Social Security tax, Medicare tax, and the additional Medicare tax when income is high enough. It does not include state income tax, local tax, pretax benefits, HSA or 401(k) deductions, wage garnishments, or employer benefits. That keeps the calculator fast and easy to maintain, but it also means your actual paycheck may differ.
Salary to hourly, and hourly to salary
To convert salary to hourly pay, divide annual salary by 2,080 if you work a standard 40-hour week all year. To convert hourly pay to annual salary, multiply hourly pay by hours per week and by 52 weeks. This page does both so you can compare gross and net income in the format you use most.
Frequently asked questions
How is federal tax estimated?
The calculator annualises your pay, subtracts the 2024 standard deduction and the allowance adjustment, then applies the 2024 federal tax brackets for your filing status. The annual tax estimate is divided by your selected pay frequency for a per-paycheck estimate.
Does this include Social Security and Medicare?
Yes. FICA withholding includes 6.2% Social Security tax on wages up to $168,600, 1.45% Medicare tax on all wages, and an extra 0.9% Medicare tax above $200,000 for single filers or $250,000 for married filing jointly.
Does it include state tax?
No. This calculator estimates federal taxes only. State and local withholding rules vary too much to keep accurate in a simple static tool.
What do allowances mean?
Allowances are treated here as a simplified legacy withholding estimate. Each allowance reduces annual taxable wages by $4,300 before brackets are applied. Modern federal Form W-4s no longer use allowances, so treat this as a rough estimate only.
Why might my real paycheck be different?
Your real paycheck can differ because of state tax, local tax, pretax benefits, retirement contributions, overtime, bonuses, employer-provided benefits, or manual adjustments on your W-4. Use this calculator for a fast estimate, not payroll filing.
Estimates only, not financial advice. Confirm figures with your payroll provider, tax software, or a qualified professional before making decisions.