Explain My Paycheck

Free Paycheck Calculator

See exactly how much you'll take home after federal, state, and FICA taxes. Updated for 2026 tax brackets.

Your Income

Pay Type
$

Tax Details

For Child Tax Credit ($2,200 each)


Deductions

$/yr
$/yr

Annual contribution (pre-tax)

$/pay

Extra amount withheld each paycheck

Your Biweekly Take-Home Pay

$2,245.13

$58,373.46 / year

77.8% take-home22.2% total tax rate

Where Your Money Goes (Annual)

$58,373.46take-home
Take Home
Federal Tax
State Tax
FICA

Biweekly Paycheck Breakdown

Gross Pay
$2,884.62
Federal Income Tax
10.5%$302.77-
State Tax (CA)
4.0%$116.04-
Social Security
6.2%$178.85-
Medicare
1.5%$41.83-
Net Pay (Take-Home)
$2,245.13

Annual Tax Details

Gross Income$75,000
Standard Deduction$16,100
Federal Taxable Income$58,900
Federal Tax (before credits)$7,872
Federal Tax (after credits)$7,872
Marginal Rate22%
Effective Federal Rate10.50%
State Tax (California)$3,017.04
Effective State Rate4.02%
Social Security$4,650
Medicare$1,087.5
Total FICA$5,737.5

Take-Home by Pay Frequency

FrequencyGrossTaxesNet Pay
Weekly$1,442.31$319.74$1,122.57
Biweekly(yours)$2,884.62$639.48$2,245.13
Semi-monthly$3,125$692.77$2,432.23
Monthly$6,250$1,385.55$4,864.46

How This Calculator Works

Federal Income Tax

Uses 2026 marginal tax brackets. Your income is taxed in layers — only the portion in each bracket is taxed at that rate.

FICA Taxes

Social Security (6.2% up to $176,100) and Medicare (1.45% on all wages, plus 0.9% on income over $200K).

State Taxes

Includes state income tax for all 50 states. 9 states have no income tax. Others use flat or graduated rates.

401(k) Contributions

Traditional 401(k) reduces your federal and state taxable income but NOT your FICA wages. Roth 401(k) is post-tax.

Child Tax Credit

$2,200 per qualifying child under 17 for 2026. Phases out at $200K (single) or $400K (married filing jointly).

Disclaimer

This is an estimate for educational purposes. Your actual paycheck may differ based on local taxes, benefits, and employer-specific deductions.

Free Paycheck Calculator 2026 — See Your Take-Home Pay | ExplainMyPaycheck