How the paycheck calculator works
Enter your gross annual salary, pay frequency, state, filing status, children under 17 and pre-tax retirement percentage. The calculator subtracts your retirement contribution, computes 2026 federal income tax using the brackets and standard deduction for your filing status ($16,100 for single filers), subtracts the federal Child Tax Credit for each qualifying child, adds FICA (6.2% Social Security up to the $184,500 wage base, 1.45% Medicare on all wages, and an extra 0.9% above the threshold for your status), and, when you pick a supported state, your 2026 state income tax including its dependent exemptions or credits. What is left is your annual net pay, divided by your number of paychecks.
2026 federal tax brackets (single filer)
These are the federal marginal rates applied to taxable income - your pay after pre-tax contributions and the $16,100 standard deduction - for tax year 2026.
| Taxable income | Marginal rate |
|---|---|
| $0 to $12,400 | 10% |
| $12,400 to $50,400 | 12% |
| $50,400 to $105,700 | 22% |
| $105,700 to $201,775 | 24% |
| $201,775 to $256,225 | 32% |
| $256,225 to $640,600 | 35% |
| Over $640,600 | 37% |
State income tax by state
Where you live changes your paycheck. Nine states collect no tax on wages at all, while others take anywhere from about 3% to over 13% at the top marginal rate. The state dropdown above covers all 50 states with full 2026 tax math, and every state has a dedicated calculator page below with its 2026 rates, deductions and a worked example.
What this estimate leaves out
Results reflect your filing status and children under 17 - including the federal Child Tax Credit and state dependent exemptions or credits where they apply - with the standard deduction. They exclude local income taxes (such as New York City or Ohio municipal taxes), state disability or family-leave premiums, health insurance and other benefit deductions, HSA contributions, itemized deductions, and refundable credits such as the earned income credit.