How pay after tax works in United States
Take-home pay in the US is shaped by three things: federal income tax on a progressive 10% to 37% scale after the standard deduction, FICA payroll taxes (Social Security and Medicare), and state income tax, which varies enormously. Some states have no income tax at all, some use a single flat rate, and others run their own progressive brackets, so where you live can change your net pay by thousands.
Pre-tax contributions such as a 401(k) reduce your taxable income, and each state layers on its own deductions, exemptions and credits. Our US calculators combine the federal scale, FICA and the rules for your state so you can compare offers and see a realistic paycheck rather than just the gross.
What this calculator works out
- Federal income tax with the standard deduction
- FICA (Social Security and Medicare)
- State income tax for all 50 states and DC
- Pre-tax 401(k) contributions