What comes out of every paycheck
Three federal taxes are withheld from almost every U.S. paycheck. Federal income tax depends on your pay, your filing status and the rest of your W-4. Social Security takes 6.2% of wages up to $184,500 in 2026. Medicare takes 1.45% of all wages, plus 0.9% on the part above $200,000.
On top of that, most states tax wages, and some add payroll premiums for programs like paid leave. Your employer subtracts any benefits you chose, such as a 401(k) or health insurance, before or after taxes depending on the plan.
Take-home pay examples
Single filer, paid every two weeks, standard W-4 with no dependents, no 401(k) or pre-tax benefits, in a state with no income tax.
| Salary | Per paycheck | Per year | Taxes per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $1,010.96 | $26,285.00 | $3,715.00 |
| $40,000 | $1,320.00 | $34,320.00 | $5,680.00 |
| $50,000 | $1,629.05 | $42,355.00 | $7,645.00 |
| $60,000 | $1,938.07 | $50,390.00 | $9,610.00 |
| $75,000 | $2,368.94 | $61,592.50 | $13,407.50 |
| $100,000 | $3,045.38 | $79,180.00 | $20,820.00 |
| $150,000 | $4,376.58 | $113,791.00 | $36,209.00 |
| Hourly rate | Per week | Per year | Before taxes |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00 an hour | $524.02 | $27,249.20 | $31,200 |
| $20.00 an hour | $684.72 | $35,605.60 | $41,600 |
| $25.00 an hour | $845.42 | $43,962.00 | $52,000 |
| $30.00 an hour | $1,006.12 | $52,318.40 | $62,400 |
| $40.00 an hour | $1,295.41 | $67,361.20 | $83,200 |
| $50.00 an hour | $1,576.81 | $81,994.00 | $104,000 |
Questions
How is federal income tax on my paycheck calculated?
Your employer annualizes your taxable pay, subtracts the standard deduction for the filing status on your W-4, applies the 2026 tax brackets, subtracts any W-4 dependent credits and divides the result by your number of paychecks. This calculator follows the same IRS percentage method.
How much is Social Security and Medicare in 2026?
Social Security is 6.2% of wages up to $184,500. Medicare is 1.45% of all wages, plus an extra 0.9% on wages above $200,000 in the year.
Does a 401(k) lower my taxes?
A traditional 401(k) lowers federal income tax because contributions come out before tax. It does not lower Social Security or Medicare. Pre-tax health insurance lowers all three.
Why is this different from my actual paycheck?
Your employer may withhold state or local taxes, insurance, union dues or other deductions this calculator does not know about. Bonuses and overtime can also change a single paycheck.
Sources
- IRS: tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods
- Social Security wage base for 2026
- 2026 401(k) contribution limit
Tax figures last reviewed October 7, 2026. How we calculate