How is take-home pay calculated?

Take-home pay is gross pay minus taxes and deductions, including federal and state withholding, FICA (Social Security and Medicare), and any other deductions.

What is the FICA tax rate?

FICA is typically 7.65% of wages: 6.2% for Social Security and 1.45% for Medicare.

Paycheck Calculator

Estimate how much of your gross pay you actually take home after federal, state, FICA, and other deductions.

Your pay details

Gross pay per period ($)

Pay frequency

FICA (Social Security + Medicare)

Default is 7.65% for most employees.

Federal withholding (%)

State withholding (%)

Other deductions (%)

Optional: health insurance, retirement, etc.

How to calculate your take-home pay

Your net pay is what remains after taxes and deductions are subtracted from gross pay. The main components are:

Federal withholding — an estimate of federal income tax based on your bracket.
State withholding — varies by state; some states have no income tax.
FICA — 7.65% for most employees (6.2% Social Security + 1.45% Medicare).

This calculator uses your entered rates, so it is an estimate rather than a payroll-exact figure. Check your pay stub for your actual withholding percentages.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find my withholding percentage?

Divide the tax amount on a recent pay stub by your gross pay for that period, then multiply by 100. Federal and state are usually shown separately.

Does this include Social Security and Medicare?

Yes. The FICA field includes both Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%), totaling 7.65% for most employees.