Take-Home Pay & Net Salary Calculator
Take-home pay is gross salary minus pre-tax deductions and income taxes, which is what actually lands in your bank account. Enter gross salary, monthly pre-tax deductions, and your state rate to estimate net pay.
Take-Home Pay
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Your result appears here automatically as you type.
How the Take-Home Pay Works
Net pay starts with gross salary, subtracts pre-tax deductions such as 401(k) contributions and health premiums, then applies federal and state income tax to the remaining taxable amount. This calculator uses a simplified 22% federal rate and your entered state rate, and it does not include FICA (Social Security and Medicare), which adds 7.65% for most employees. Pre-tax contributions lower taxable income now, so they reduce this year tax bill while building retirement savings. Withholding is an estimate, not a final number; bonuses, side income, and filing status all change what you actually owe at tax time. Use the result for budgeting, then check a pay stub for the exact figures. Adjust the state rate to match your location, and add FICA back in if you want the closest match to your real deposit. Check a recent pay stub against this estimate, because your actual withholding, benefits, and local taxes determine the exact deposit you receive.
Formula Used
Net Pay = (Gross - Pre-Tax Deductions) x (1 - Federal Rate - State Rate)
Gross salary $100,000, monthly pre-tax deductions $500 ($6,000/year), state rate 5%. Taxable income is $94,000; federal tax $20,680, state tax $4,700, take-home pay about $68,620.
When to Use This Calculator
- Budgeting monthly expenses from a job offer.
- Choosing how much to contribute to a 401(k).
- Comparing job offers with different salaries and benefits.
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting pre-tax contributions: 401(k) and health premiums lower taxable income now, so leaving them out understates your paycheck.
- Assuming one flat federal rate: Real brackets are progressive, so high earners pay more than 22% on the top slice of income.
- Forgetting FICA: Social Security and Medicare add about 7.65%, which this simplified estimate does not include.
Frequently Asked Questions
What deductions are taken from a paycheck?
Gross pay is reduced by pre-tax items such as 401(k) contributions, health and dental premiums, and HSA deposits, then by federal and state income tax and FICA. Post-tax items like Roth contributions do not reduce taxable income.
How do pre-tax contributions like a 401(k) affect take-home pay?
They reduce taxable income before tax is calculated, so each dollar contributed lowers your current tax bill while saving for retirement. Your take-home pay falls by less than the contribution amount because you avoid tax on it now.
How does tax withholding change your net pay?
Withholding is an estimate of what you will owe, based on the W-4 you file. Claiming more allowances increases each paycheck but risks a bill at tax time. Adjust withholding after big life or income changes.
What deductions are taken out of my paycheck?
Pre-tax items such as 401(k) contributions, health and dental premiums, and HSA deposits come first. Then federal and state income tax and FICA are withheld. Post-tax items like Roth contributions do not reduce taxable income.
How does tax withholding affect net pay?
Withholding is an estimate of what you will owe based on your W-4. Claiming more allowances raises each paycheck but risks a bill at tax time. Adjust it after major life or income changes so withholding matches your real liability.
How This Page Is Reviewed
Written by the Recapflow Editorial Team and last reviewed . Every formula and worked example is cross-checked against the live calculator engine and a hand-worked example. This page is educational and does not replace professional financial, tax, or legal advice.