Understand your pay
Paycheck Calculator
Paycheck details
Estimated take-home pay per check
$0.00
- Gross pay
- $0.00
- Pre-tax deductions
- $0.00
- Taxable pay
- $0.00
- Estimated taxes
- $0.00
- After-tax deductions
- $0.00
- Estimated annual gross pay
- $0.00
- Estimated annual take-home pay
- $0.00
Where this paycheck goes
This chart divides your gross pay into estimated take-home pay, taxes, and the deductions you entered.
For educational purposes only. This is not financial advice. Seek appropriate professional advice before making any financial decisions.
How this paycheck estimate works
This calculator estimates take-home pay for one paycheck and for a full year using the tax rate and deductions you enter. It does not look up tax rules or withholding rates.
Gross pay is the amount earned before taxes and deductions. The calculator first subtracts any pre-tax deductions you enter. It then applies your combined tax rate to the remaining taxable pay. After-tax deductions are removed last.
The result is an estimate of the money left from one paycheck. The annual estimate is calculated by multiplying that amount by the number of paychecks selected.
The calculator uses one combined tax rate instead of calculating federal, state, local, Social Security, Medicare, and other payroll taxes separately. An actual pay stub may differ because payroll withholding uses pay-period details, Form W-4 information, separate tax rules, and deductions that may be treated differently for different taxes.
Key takeaway
Gross pay and take-home pay are not the same. Taxes and deductions can reduce the amount deposited into your account.
An actual pay stub lists the taxes and deductions that determine the amount deposited into an employee's account.
Helpful terms
- Gross pay
- The amount earned before taxes and deductions.
- Pre-tax deduction
- Money removed before the tax rate is applied, such as certain retirement or benefit contributions.
- Taxable pay
- The portion of the paycheck remaining after the entered pre-tax deductions.
- After-tax deduction
- Money removed after estimated taxes, such as a garnishment or another payroll deduction.
Sources: IRS Publication 15 and IRS Publication 15-T.