Payroll Calculator

Payroll providers process paychecks using the same core formula every business relies on: gross pay, minus pre-tax deductions, minus federal withholding, minus FICA, minus state tax (if any), equals net pay. This calculator uses that same standard formula so you can estimate a paycheck without needing access to a company's payroll system.

The Standard Payroll Formula

Regardless of which payroll provider a company uses, the underlying math is consistent: gross wages for the pay period are reduced by any pre-tax benefit deductions, then federal income tax is withheld based on annualized wages and IRS tax brackets, then Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) are subtracted, and finally any state income tax and state-specific payroll taxes are applied.

Useful for Comparing Offers

Because the calculator works off gross pay, pay frequency, and filing status — information available from any job offer — it's useful for comparing take-home pay across offers with different salaries or pay schedules (e.g., a bi-weekly vs. semi-monthly payroll calendar), even before you know which payroll provider an employer uses.

Adjusting for Benefits

Use the "Pre-Tax Deductions" field to model employer benefit elections like 401(k) contributions, HSA contributions, or pre-tax health insurance premiums — these reduce both the income subject to tax and your net pay, but typically by less than a dollar-for-dollar amount on the net side, since tax savings partially offset the deduction.

Other Paycheck Tools

For a calculator with additional Form W-4 fine-tuning (multiple jobs, dependents, extra withholding), see the W-4 calculator. For a focus on the take-home number alone, try the net pay calculator.