Paycheck Calculator 2026

Federal vs. State vs. Payroll Taxes: What Comes Out of Your Check

Every paycheck is subject to three layers of taxes. Federal income tax uses progressive brackets from 10% to 37% and is the same regardless of where you live. FICA (Social Security and Medicare) is also federal and uniform across all states. State income tax is where the biggest variation occurs — states like Texas and Florida levy zero, while California and New York can take over 10% of high incomes. Some cities add a fourth layer: local income taxes (NYC, Philadelphia, Yonkers). Use the calculator above with your state selected to see all layers applied to your salary.

How to Read Your Paycheck Stub

Understanding your paycheck stub is the first step to knowing whether your withholding is correct. Look for Gross Payat the top — this is your total earnings before deductions. Below it you’ll see line items for Federal Income Tax (FIT), OASDI (Social Security, 6.2%), HI (Medicare, 1.45%), and State Income Tax if your state has one. Your Net Pay at the bottom is what deposits into your account. If the numbers on your stub don’t match this calculator, check your W-4 filing status and allowances — they directly control how much federal tax is withheld each pay period.

State-Specific Paycheck Calculators

Each state calculator includes local tax rules, standard deductions, and state-specific deductions like California SDI or New York City tax.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about paycheck taxes, withholding, and how the federal paycheck calculator works.

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