What is FICA and how much is deducted from my pay?

FICA stands for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act and funds Social Security and Medicare. You pay 6.2% for Social Security on income up to $176,100 (2026) and 1.45% for Medicare on all income. If you earn over $200,000, an additional 0.9% Medicare surcharge applies. Your employer pays a matching amount.

Why does my take-home pay vary by state?

Each state has its own income tax structure. Nine states (Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming) have no state income tax. Others use flat rates or progressive brackets. This can make a significant difference -- for example, a $65,000 salary yields several thousand dollars more take-home pay in Texas than in California.

How do pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions reduce my taxes?

Pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA, FSA) are subtracted from your gross income before federal and state income taxes are calculated, effectively lowering your taxable income. For example, contributing $6,000 to a 401(k) on a $65,000 salary means you are taxed on $59,000 instead. One important nuance: 401(k) and 403(b) contributions still pay FICA (Social Security and Medicare) -- only benefits run through a Section 125 cafeteria plan, such as health premiums and most payroll HSA/FSA contributions, escape FICA as well.

How accurate is this paycheck calculator?

This calculator provides a close estimate based on 2026 federal brackets and state tax data. Actual paychecks may differ due to local taxes (city, county), specific employer deductions (health insurance premiums, union dues), tax credits, or mid-year changes. For precise withholding, consult your employer's payroll department or a tax professional.

For educational purposes only — not financial advice. Learn about our editorial process

C.04 · Everyday

Your paycheck — after every tax.

Federal, state, Social Security + Medicare (FICA), and pre-tax deductions. Pick a state and filing status, and we work out what actually lands in your account.

Tax year

2026

Federal + all 50 states

Inputs

Annual salaryTotal yearly pay before taxes (gross)

$65,000

Money set aside before tax401(k), HSA, FSA per year — lowers income tax; 401(k) is still subject to FICA. Leave at 0 if none

Extra tax withheldPer year (W-4 line 4c) — most people leave this at 0

State

Filing status

Pay frequency

Take-home per paycheck · biweekly

$1,982

Federal tax

$5,760

State tax

$2,741

Soc. Sec. + Medicare

$4,973

Share going to tax

20.73%

Where your paycheck goes

Annual breakdown

Filing status

Same salary, different tax bill.

Hold state + salary + deductions constant and only flip the filing status. The difference in take-home pay is often larger than people expect.

Single

Take-home per paycheck

$1,982

Annual take-home

$51,526

Federal tax

$5,760

State tax

$2,741

Total taxes withheld

$13,474

Share to tax

20.73%

Married, filing jointly (together)

Take-home per paycheck

$2,118

Annual take-home

$55,068

Federal tax

$3,555

State tax

$1,404

Total taxes withheld

$9,932

Share to tax

15.28%

Head of Household

Take-home per paycheck

$2,075

Annual take-home

$53,956

Federal tax

$4,640

State tax

$1,431

Total taxes withheld

$11,044

Share to tax

16.99%

How we compute this

Take-home = gross − everything taken out.

Federal tax uses 2026 progressive brackets. FICA — the Social Security + Medicare payroll tax — is 6.2% Social Security (up to $176,100) + 1.45% Medicare + 0.9% extra on wages over $200k. State varies from 0% (9 states) to graduated.

net = gross − fedTax − stateTax − fica − preTax − extraWithholding

In plain words: take-home = gross pay − federal tax − state tax − Social Security & Medicare (FICA) − money set aside before tax − extra withholding. Pre-tax deductions reduce the federal + state income-tax base, but FICA still applies to 401(k)/403(b) contributions — only HSA/FSA through a Section 125 cafeteria plan also escape FICA (a minority case this estimate does not break out separately). Extra withholding on W-4 line 4c is subtracted from each paycheck directly. One simplification: the 0.9% additional Medicare tax is applied above $200,000 of wages for every filing status here; the IRS threshold is actually higher ($250,000) for married filing jointly, so a joint filer in that band would owe slightly less than shown.

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Common questions

Paycheck calculator FAQ

Federal income tax uses a progressive bracket system. Your income is taxed at increasing rates as it moves through brackets -- for example, the first $11,925 (single filer, 2026) is taxed at 10%, the next portion at 12%, and so on. The standard deduction ($15,700 for single filers in 2026) reduces your taxable income before brackets are applied.

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A plain-English breakdown of your pay stub -- federal taxes, FICA, state taxes, deductions, and why your take-home pay is smaller than you expected.

For educational purposes only -- not financial or tax advice. Tax rates shown are based on 2026 data and may not reflect recent changes. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.

Your paycheck — after every tax.

Same salary, different tax bill.

Take-home = gross − everything taken out.

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Paycheck calculator FAQ

How is federal income tax calculated on my paycheck?

What is FICA and how much is deducted from my pay?

Why does my take-home pay vary by state?

How do pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions reduce my taxes?

How accurate is this paycheck calculator?

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Guides That Pair With This Calculator

Understanding Your Paycheck: Where Your Money Actually Goes

Your paycheck — after every tax.

Same salary, different tax bill.

Take-home = gross − everything taken out.

Continue the decision