Take-Home Pay Calculator (2026)

Enter a salary to see your net pay broken out tax by tax — or flip to reverse mode, enter the monthly take-home you want, and get the gross salary to quote a recruiter. Uses verified 2026 federal brackets, FICA figures, and state rules. Assumes the standard deduction and no tax credits.

Take-home pay

Monthly$6,483
Biweekly$2,992
Annual$77,793
Take-home Federal Soc. Security Medicare State WA payroll Pre-tax

Where it goes

Gross pay$100,000
Federal income taxmarginal 22%, effective 13.2%−$13,170
Social Security (6.2%)−$6,200
Medicare (1.45%)−$1,450
State income tax (Washington)-$0
WA Cares (0.58%)−$580
WA Paid Family & Medical Leave−$807
Take-home pay$77,793

By state

Common questions

How do I figure out what salary to ask for?

Start from the monthly take-home pay you need, switch the calculator to “Take-home → salary” mode, and it solves for the gross annual salary that produces it after 2026 federal tax, FICA, and your state's taxes. Quote a small range around that number.

Why is my take-home so much lower than my salary?

Three federal items come out first: income tax (10–37% marginal brackets), Social Security (6.2% up to the wage base), and Medicare (1.45% on all wages plus 0.9% above $200k). Then state income tax and any state payroll programs, then your pre-tax deductions like 401(k) and health premiums.

Does a 401(k) contribution reduce Social Security and Medicare tax?

No. 401(k) elective deferrals reduce your taxable income for federal (and usually state) income tax, but they do not reduce the wages subject to Social Security and Medicare. Health insurance premiums and HSA contributions made through payroll do reduce those.

How we calculate this — sources and assumptions