Net to Gross Calculator
Find the gross pay needed for a target net.
Results update as you type.
How it works
Sometimes you know the take-home amount you want or need and have to work backward to the gross pay that produces it — this calculator does that reverse calculation, often called grossing up. You enter your desired net pay, your total tax rate, and any fixed deductions, and it returns the gross pay required and the tax that would be withheld. The math divides your target net (plus any deductions added back) by one minus the tax rate, because taxes take a percentage of the gross, so you must earn more than your target to net it after tax. For example, to take home $3,900 at a 22 percent tax rate, you need to earn about $5,000 gross. This is useful in several situations: negotiating a salary when you have a take-home goal, employers grossing up a bonus or relocation payment so the employee receives a specific net amount, or figuring the raise needed to hit a target paycheck. As with any quick estimate, it uses a single combined tax rate; real payroll applies multiple taxes and treats some deductions as pre-tax, so treat the result as a close approximation. Enter your desired net, tax rate, and deductions to find the gross you need.
Gross = (net + deductions) ÷ (1 − tax rate)
To reverse from net to gross, add back any fixed deductions to the desired net, then divide by one minus the tax rate. Dividing by the after-tax fraction grosses up the amount so that, once the tax rate is applied, you are left with your target take-home pay.
Source:Payroll arithmetic
We review all our tools from time to time to ensure accuracy.
Worked example
How to use this calculator
- 1
Enter your values
Enter desired net pay and total tax rate.
- 2
Adjust the options
Adjust other deductions if they apply — sensible defaults are already set.
- 3
Read your result
Gross pay needed updates instantly as you type — no button to press.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate gross from net pay?
Add any fixed deductions to your desired net, then divide by one minus your tax rate expressed as a decimal. To net $3,900 at a 22 percent tax rate, divide $3,900 by 0.78 to get about $5,000 gross. You must earn more than your target because taxes take a share of the gross amount.
What does grossing up mean?
Grossing up means calculating the larger gross amount needed so that, after taxes, a specific net amount remains. Employers commonly gross up bonuses, relocation payments, or other perks so the recipient nets a promised figure. The extra covers the taxes that will be withheld, ensuring the person actually receives the intended take-home amount.
When is a net to gross calculation useful?
It helps when you have a take-home target and need the corresponding gross, such as negotiating a salary to hit a net income, planning a raise to reach a desired paycheck, or when an employer wants an employee to receive an exact net bonus. Working backward from net to gross answers all of these clearly.
Why do I need to earn more than my target net?
Because taxes are taken as a percentage of your gross pay, not your net, the gross must be larger than your target so that what remains after tax equals your goal. The higher your tax rate, the more you must earn above the target. Dividing by one minus the tax rate accounts for this precisely.
How accurate is the result?
This uses a single combined tax rate, while actual payroll applies federal, state, and payroll taxes separately and treats some deductions as pre-tax. That makes the result a close approximation rather than an exact figure. For accuracy, estimate your effective tax rate from a recent pay stub, and remember that graduated tax brackets can shift the rate as income changes.