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Tax Breakdown
Income Distribution
Pay Frequency Breakdown
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How much of a US salary do you actually keep?
A US salary is reduced by four separate deductions before it reaches a bank account: federal income tax, which runs from 10 to 37 per cent across seven bands; Social Security at 6.2 per cent up to the annual wage base; Medicare at 1.45 per cent with no ceiling; and state income tax, which ranges from nothing at all to more than 13 per cent. Because the first three are identical everywhere, the entire difference between two workers on the same salary comes from the state layer, and it is not small: on a $100,000 salary the gap between Texas and California runs to several thousand dollars a year. This calculator applies the published 2026 brackets to any salary or hourly rate, for a single filer taking the standard deduction, and shows what is left annually, monthly, fortnightly and per hour.
Quick Salary Reference
See how much common salaries bring home after taxes (Single filer, California).
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Salary After Tax by Job
Explore after-tax salary breakdowns for 300+ careers across the US.
Understanding Your US Take-Home Pay in 2026
Your take-home pay is the amount of money you actually receive in your bank account after all taxes and deductions have been withheld from your gross salary. Understanding the difference between your gross income and your net income is essential for budgeting, financial planning, and evaluating job offers.
In the United States, your paycheck is subject to several layers of taxation at both the federal and state levels. The primary deductions include federal income tax, state income tax (in most states), Social Security tax, and Medicare tax. Together, these can reduce your gross pay by anywhere from 20% to over 40%, depending on your income level and where you live.
Federal Income Tax
Federal income tax uses a progressive bracket system, meaning different portions of your income are taxed at different rates. For 2026, the tax brackets range from 10% to 37%. Before calculating your federal tax, you subtract the standard deduction from your gross income. For single filers in 2026, the standard deduction is $16,100, and for married couples filing jointly, it's $32,200.
For example, a single filer earning $75,000 would first subtract the $16,100 standard deduction, leaving $58,900 in taxable income. The first $12,400 is taxed at 10%, the next $38,000 at 12%, and the remaining $8,500 at 22%. This progressive system means your effective federal tax rate is always lower than your marginal (top) bracket rate.
State Income Tax
State income taxes vary dramatically across the country. Nine states have no income tax at all: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. On the other end, California's top rate reaches 13.3%, and New York can add both state and city taxes for residents of New York City.
Many states use progressive brackets similar to the federal system, while others like Arizona (2.5%), Colorado (4.4%), Illinois (4.95%), and Pennsylvania (3.07%) use a flat tax rate. Your state of residence can make a significant difference in your take-home pay: the same $100,000 salary yields roughly $6,000 more in take-home pay in Texas compared to California.
FICA Taxes: Social Security and Medicare
FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) taxes fund Social Security and Medicare. For 2026, Social Security tax is 6.2% on income up to $184,500. Once your earnings exceed this wage base, you no longer pay Social Security tax for the rest of the year. Medicare tax is 1.45% on all earnings, with an additional 0.9% on income above $200,000 for single filers (known as the Additional Medicare Tax).
Unlike income tax, FICA taxes are calculated on your gross income with no standard deduction or exemptions. This means even lower-income workers pay the full FICA rate from their first dollar of earnings.
Pre-Tax Deductions
Certain payroll deductions are taken from your paycheck before taxes are calculated, effectively reducing your taxable income. The most common pre-tax deductions include:
- 401(k) contributions: Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce your federal and state taxable income. For 2026, you can contribute up to $24,500 ($31,000 if you're 50 or older).
- Health insurance premiums: Employer-sponsored health insurance premiums paid through payroll are typically pre-tax.
- HSA contributions: Health Savings Account contributions are pre-tax and can be used for qualified medical expenses.
- FSA contributions: Flexible Spending Accounts for healthcare or dependent care expenses.
How to Maximize Your Take-Home Pay
While you can't avoid taxes entirely, several legal strategies can help you keep more of your earnings:
- Contribute to a 401(k): Every dollar you contribute reduces your taxable income. If you're in the 22% bracket, a $1,000 contribution saves you $220 in federal taxes.
- Choose the right filing status: If you're married, compare the tax impact of filing jointly versus separately. In most cases, filing jointly results in lower total taxes.
- Consider state taxes when relocating: Moving from a high-tax state to a no-income-tax state can boost your take-home pay by thousands of dollars annually.
- Use an HSA if eligible: HSA contributions are triple tax-advantaged: pre-tax going in, tax-free growth, and tax-free withdrawals for medical expenses.
- Review your W-4: Make sure your tax withholding is accurate to avoid overpaying throughout the year or facing a large tax bill at filing time.
Comparing Job Offers
When evaluating job offers, looking at gross salary alone doesn't tell the full story. A $90,000 offer in Austin, Texas will give you more take-home pay than a $95,000 offer in Portland, Oregon, because Texas has no state income tax while Oregon's top rate is 9.9%. Our calculator helps you compare offers on an apples-to-apples basis by showing the actual after-tax amount you'll receive.
Beyond taxes, consider other factors that affect your real compensation: employer 401(k) match, health insurance costs and quality, cost of living in different cities, and other benefits like stock options or bonuses. A comprehensive view of total compensation is crucial for making the best career decisions.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates based on 2026 federal and state tax rates. Results are for informational purposes only and should not be considered tax advice. Individual circumstances may vary. Consult a qualified tax professional for personalized guidance.
Where these figures come from
Every rate used on this site is taken from the body that publishes it, never from a secondary compilation. Federal brackets, the standard deduction and their annual indexation come from the Internal Revenue Service. The Social Security wage base and the Medicare rates come from the Social Security Administration. Median pay by occupation comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics programme, which surveys employers rather than asking workers. State rates come from each state's own revenue department, and the District of Columbia is treated as a state throughout.
Our methodology page sets out how take-home pay is computed from those inputs, what the default scenario assumes, and what it deliberately leaves out: dependants, pre-tax retirement contributions, health savings accounts, equity compensation and self-employment income all move the result, sometimes by thousands of dollars. Local and city taxes are included only where they are large enough to change the answer, as in New York City and a number of Ohio and Pennsylvania municipalities.
Pages are reviewed when the IRS publishes its annual indexation, when a state changes its rates, and at least once a year otherwise. Each page carries the date of its last real change rather than today's date, so that an unchanged page does not pass for a fresh one. If a figure looks wrong, write to hello@salaryafter.com naming the page and, where possible, the publication you believe it contradicts: we check it against the source, correct it if the error is confirmed, and carry the correction across to every page that used the same figure.
What this site is not is a substitute for a tax professional. It applies published schedules to a standard situation, which is enough to compare two offers, two states or two hourly rates, and not enough to file a return. Anything involving several states in one year, an audit, equity or a business needs someone who can look at your actual documents and take responsibility for the advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about US salary taxes and take-home pay.
Take-home pay is calculated by subtracting all mandatory deductions from your gross salary. These deductions include federal income tax (based on progressive brackets after the standard deduction), state income tax (varies by state), Social Security tax (6.2% up to $184,500), and Medicare tax (1.45% plus 0.9% on income over $200,000). Any pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions or health insurance premiums are subtracted before income tax is calculated.
For single filers in 2026, the federal tax brackets are: 10% on income up to $12,400; 12% on $12,400 to $50,400; 22% on $50,400 to $105,700; 24% on $105,700 to $201,775; 32% on $201,775 to $256,225; 35% on $256,225 to $640,600; and 37% on income above $640,600. These brackets apply to taxable income after the standard deduction of $15,000 for single filers.
On a $100,000 salary the saving runs to roughly $3,000 to $8,000 a year against California or New York, and it grows with income because those states tax the top of a salary hardest. Below about $50,000 the gap narrows sharply. The nine states concerned are Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming, and several of them recover the revenue through higher property or sales taxes that fall on the same household.
Your marginal tax rate is the rate applied to your last dollar of income, determined by the highest tax bracket you fall into. Your effective tax rate is the actual percentage of your total income that goes to taxes. Because the US uses progressive brackets, your effective rate is always lower than your marginal rate. For example, a single filer earning $75,000 has a marginal rate of 22% but an effective federal tax rate of about 11.6%.
Filing status determines your standard deduction amount and the income thresholds for each tax bracket. Married filing jointly offers the highest standard deduction ($32,200 in 2026) and wider bracket ranges, which usually results in lower taxes for married couples. Head of Household status, available to unmarried individuals supporting dependents, offers a $24,150 deduction. Married filing separately uses the same brackets as single filers and is usually the least favorable option.
FICA stands for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It includes two components: Social Security tax at 6.2% on income up to $184,500 (2026 wage base) and Medicare tax at 1.45% on all income. High earners also pay an Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9% on income exceeding $200,000 for single filers. Together, most workers pay 7.65% in FICA taxes. Your employer matches these amounts, for a combined rate of 15.3%.
The most effective legal strategies include: maximizing 401(k) contributions (up to $24,500 in 2026, or $32,500 if over 50), contributing to an HSA if you have a high-deductible health plan, itemizing deductions if they exceed the standard deduction, contributing to a traditional IRA, and taking advantage of tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, or education credits. If you're self-employed, additional deductions like the Qualified Business Income deduction may also apply.
This calculator provides a close estimate based on 2026 federal and state tax brackets, standard deductions, and FICA rates. It works well for most W-2 employees using the standard deduction. However, it does not account for local/city taxes (which apply in some states like New York, Ohio, and Maryland), itemized deductions, tax credits, self-employment tax, or other individual circumstances. For precise calculations, consult a tax professional or use IRS tax preparation software.