💵 Income Tax & Take-Home Pay Calculator
Get a clear, detailed breakdown of your take-home pay. Enter your salary, location, and deductions to see exactly how federal tax, state tax, and FICA shape what you actually keep.
Your Information
📊 Your Tax Breakdown
📖 Usage Examples
👤 Single Filer in Texas
Sarah earns $85,000/year as a project manager in Austin, TX (no state income tax). She contributes $5,000 annually to her 401(k).
👫 Married Couple in California
Mike and Lisa file jointly with $160,000 combined income. They max out two 401(k)s ($46,000 total pre-tax).
💼 Freelancer with Mixed Income
Tom earns $55,000 W-2 salary plus $20,000 freelance income. He contributes $3,000 to a traditional IRA.
❔ Frequently Asked Questions
The US uses a progressive tax system with marginal brackets. Only income within each bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate. For example, a single filer pays 10% on the first $11,600, 12% on the next $35,550, 22% on the next $53,375, and so on. Your effective rate is always lower than your top marginal rate.
FICA stands for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It comprises two parts: Social Security (6.2%) on income up to $168,600 (2024 cap), and Medicare (1.45%) on all wages. An additional 0.9% Medicare surtax applies to income above $200,000. These fund retirement, disability, and healthcare programs.
Your marginal tax rate is the rate you pay on your last dollar of income — the bracket your highest earnings fall into. Your effective tax rate is the actual percentage of your total income that goes to taxes. Because of the progressive brackets, your effective rate is always lower than your marginal rate.
Nine states (AK, FL, NV, NH, SD, TN, TX, WA, WY) have no state income tax. Others use flat rates (e.g., CO at 4.4%, IL at 4.95%) or progressive brackets (e.g., CA up to 13.3%, NY up to 10.9%). This tool uses estimated effective rates for progressive states to provide a reasonable approximation.
Pre-tax deductions reduce your taxable income, which lowers both your federal and state tax bills. For example, contributing $10,000 to a 401(k) could save ~$2,200 in federal tax (at 22% bracket) plus state tax savings, while building your retirement savings simultaneously.
This calculator uses 2024 IRS tax brackets, standard deductions, and state-level tax data. It provides a close estimate for most W-2 employees. It does not account for itemized deductions, tax credits (EITC, child tax credit, etc.), capital gains, or other specialized situations. For exact figures, consult a tax professional or use IRS Form 1040-ES.
💵 About the Income Tax & Take-Home Pay Calculator
This tool is built to give you an honest, itemized picture of what your salary translates to after taxes. Instead of relying on rough estimates like "you will lose about 25% to taxes," our calculator shows where every dollar goes: federal income tax (via progressive 2024 brackets), state income tax (with rates for all 50 states plus DC), Social Security (6.2% up to the $168,600 cap), and Medicare (1.45% with the additional 0.9% surtax above $200,000).
The calculator also factors in pre-tax deductions such as 401(k) contributions, traditional IRA contributions, and HSA contributions. This matters because the same salary with different deduction strategies can produce meaningfully different tax outcomes. A $75,000 earner maxing a 401(k) versus one with no deductions will see a real difference in both tax liability and take-home pay.
We use 2024 IRS tax brackets with standard deductions: $14,600 for single filers, $29,200 for married filing jointly, and $21,900 for heads of household. State tax rates range from 0% in nine states to double-digit rates in California, Hawaii, and Oregon. For states with progressive systems, we apply estimated average effective rates to keep the calculation practical without requiring detailed bracket-by-bracket inputs.
Use this tool when you are: comparing job offers across different states, evaluating how a raise affects your actual take-home, planning the tax impact of adjusting 401(k) contributions, or getting a realistic preview of what your first paycheck will look like at a new role. The results are estimates designed for planning, not for actual tax filing. Always consult a qualified tax professional for definitive advice tailored to your situation.