FREE TOOLS · CONVERTERS · PAYROLL
Gross to Net Pay Calculator
Estimate take-home pay from a gross salary — or the gross you need to reach a target net — using 2026 federal income tax brackets and FICA. Figures in USD.
How the estimate works
Taxable income = Gross − standard deduction − pre-tax deductions.
Federal tax = 2026 progressive brackets on taxable income. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (to the $184,500 wage base) + 1.45% Medicare on gross.
Net pay = Gross − federal tax − FICA − pre-tax deductions.
Example. An $80,000 salary, filing single, with no pre-tax deductions: standard deduction $16,100 leaves $63,900 taxable, about $8,770 federal tax, plus $4,960 Social Security and $1,160 Medicare — roughly $65,110 net a year (~$5,426/month), before any state tax.
Assumptions: 2026 IRS figures (Rev. Proc. 2025-32), standard deduction, and FICA only. It excludes state and local income tax, the 0.9% additional Medicare surtax below its threshold, credits, and other withholdings. This is an educational estimate, not tax advice.
Reading your paycheck
The gap between what you are offered and what lands in your bank account is payroll taxes plus deductions. Federal income tax is progressive: only the dollars inside each bracket are taxed at that bracket’s rate, applied to income left after the standard deduction. On top of that sits FICA — a flat 6.2% for Social Security (up to the annual wage base, $184,500 in 2026) and 1.45% for Medicare on every dollar. Pre-tax contributions such as a traditional 401(k) lower your taxable income and your take-home in the same step, because that money is invested before it reaches your paycheck.
Use Gross → Net to turn an offer into realistic monthly take-home, and Net → Gross to find the salary you would need to hit a target net — handy when negotiating or budgeting. Remember this is a federal-and-FICA estimate; if you live in a state with income tax, your actual take-home will be lower, so pair this with your state’s rate for a full picture.
Frequently asked questions
How is net pay calculated from gross?
Subtract federal income tax (on income after the standard deduction), Social Security (6.2% to the wage base), and Medicare (1.45%) from gross. State tax and benefits reduce it further.
What is the 2026 Social Security wage base?
$184,500. Wages above it are not subject to the 6.2% Social Security tax; Medicare has no cap.
Does this include state income tax?
No — federal and FICA only. State and local taxes vary widely and would lower take-home further.
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