See where every dollar of your paycheck actually goes.

Your gross salary is taxed and reduced by several layers: federal income tax, Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%), state and sometimes city taxes, and any pre-tax benefits like health insurance or 401(k) contributions. Together these commonly take 25–35% of gross pay before the money reaches your account.

Gross pay is your total earnings before any deductions. Net pay — your take-home — is what's left after taxes and deductions. The calculator shows every line between the two so nothing is a mystery.

Traditional 401(k) contributions come out before federal and state income tax, so contributing $200 might only reduce your take-home by around $150. You still pay Social Security and Medicare on that money, but you defer income tax until retirement.

Yes. It covers all 50 states plus DC with full marginal bracket schedules, and adds local income taxes for 22 cities across 9 states — including New York City, Philadelphia, and the Ohio and Michigan municipal taxes.

State Disability Insurance (SDI) and Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML) are small employee-paid programs in states like California, New York, and Washington. They fund short-term disability and paid leave benefits and appear as separate line items when applicable.

It's a close, well-researched estimate based on 2026 IRS tables and current state schedules. Your actual withholding depends on your W-4 elections and employer setup, so treat this as a planning tool rather than tax advice.