Net Pay (Per Paycheck)
Table of Contents
Per Paycheck Breakdown
| Gross Pay | |
| Federal Income Tax | |
| Social Security (6.2%) | |
| Medicare (1.45%) | |
| Total Deductions |
How is your paycheck calculated?
Your employer deducts federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare from each paycheck before it reaches you. This calculator shows you exactly how much is taken out and what you take home each pay period.
What is on your pay stub?
A pay stub shows your gross earnings for the period and then lists each deduction taken before calculating your net pay. The mandatory federal deductions are federal income tax withholding, Social Security, and Medicare. State income tax is also withheld by most states.
You may also see voluntary deductions such as health insurance premiums, dental or vision coverage, 401(k) contributions, and flexible spending account (FSA) deductions. These can be pre-tax (reducing your taxable income) or post-tax depending on the plan.
How federal income tax withholding works
Your employer uses the information on your W-4 form — primarily your filing status and any additional withholding you request — to calculate how much federal income tax to withhold from each paycheck.
The IRS withholding tables are based on annualizing your paycheck. If you are paid biweekly, your employer multiplies your gross pay by 26, calculates the annual tax on that amount, and then divides by 26 to get the per-paycheck withholding. This is why your pay frequency matters for accurate withholding.
What is FICA and who pays it?
FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) taxes fund Social Security and Medicare. As an employee, you contribute 6.2% of wages toward Social Security (up to $176,100 in 2025) and 1.45% toward Medicare. Your employer pays a matching amount of 7.65% on your behalf.
If you are self-employed, you pay both the employee and employer portions — 15.3% total — though you can deduct half of the self-employment tax when filing your return.
Weekly vs biweekly vs monthly pay
Your pay frequency does not change your annual tax bill, but it affects how much is withheld from each individual paycheck. Because federal withholding is calculated by annualizing your gross pay, higher gross amounts per period can push you into a higher annualized bracket, resulting in slightly more withholding per dollar.
Biweekly pay (26 pay periods) is the most common in the US. Monthly pay (12 periods) produces the largest individual paychecks but also the largest single withholding amounts. Weekly pay (52 periods) produces the smallest individual paychecks and withholding amounts.
How to get a bigger paycheck
There are several ways to increase your per-paycheck net pay without requiring a raise. Contributing to a pre-tax 401(k) reduces your federal taxable income, which lowers withholding. If your employer offers pre-tax health, dental, or FSA plans, enrolling in these also reduces taxable wages.
Reviewing and updating your W-4 is another option. If you consistently receive a large tax refund, you are over-withholding — adjusting your W-4 allowances can return that money to each paycheck instead of as a lump sum in April.
What this calculator does not include
This calculator estimates federal income tax and FICA deductions only. For a complete picture of your net pay, you would also need to subtract your state income tax (which varies by state), any local income taxes, and voluntary deductions such as health insurance premiums and 401(k) contributions.
FAQs
A paycheck calculator takes your gross pay amount and pay frequency, then estimates the deductions for federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare to show your net (take-home) pay per paycheck. It helps you understand exactly what you will receive each pay period before your paycheck arrives.
Gross pay is your total earnings before any deductions — the number at the top of your pay stub. Net pay is what you actually receive after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state taxes, and any voluntary deductions (such as health insurance or 401k contributions) have been withheld.
Employers calculate federal withholding by annualizing your per-paycheck gross pay (multiplying it by the number of pay periods per year), calculating the annual federal tax on that amount based on your W-4 filing status, and then dividing by the number of pay periods to get the per-paycheck withholding amount.
Common pay frequencies are: weekly (52 pay periods per year), biweekly (26 pay periods per year), semi-monthly (24 pay periods per year), and monthly (12 pay periods per year). Biweekly is the most common in the US. Your annual gross pay divided by the number of periods gives your gross per paycheck.
Social Security tax is 6.2% of your gross wages up to the annual wage base limit ($168,600 in 2024). Once your year-to-date earnings exceed that limit, no further Social Security tax is withheld for the rest of the calendar year. Your employer pays a matching 6.2% on top of your contribution.
Medicare tax is 1.45% of all gross wages with no upper limit. If your wages exceed $200,000 in a calendar year, an additional 0.9% Medicare surcharge applies to the amount above that threshold. Unlike Social Security, Medicare applies to every dollar earned.
Yes. Contributing to pre-tax plans like a 401(k), traditional IRA, or health savings account (HSA) reduces your taxable wages, which lowers federal income tax withholding. You can also update your W-4 with your employer to adjust withholding allowances based on your current tax situation.