Take-Home Pay Calculator
Estimate your net pay after taxes and deductions.
Benefits, retirement, etc.
Results update as you type.
How it works
Take-home pay is what actually lands in your bank account after taxes and deductions come out of your gross pay, and this calculator estimates it. You enter your gross pay for the period, your total effective tax rate, and any other deductions like retirement contributions or insurance premiums, and it returns your net take-home pay, the total tax withheld, and the percentage of gross you keep. Gross pay is your salary or wages before anything is taken out, while net pay is the smaller amount you can actually spend. The gap comes from income taxes (federal, state, and sometimes local), payroll taxes for Social Security and Medicare, and voluntary or required deductions such as 401(k) contributions, health insurance, and other benefits. This calculator uses a single combined tax rate for a quick estimate; your real paycheck applies each tax separately and some deductions are pre-tax, which lowers taxable income. Knowing your take-home pay is essential for budgeting, since your spending plan should be built around net income, not the larger gross figure. To improve accuracy, estimate your combined tax rate from a recent pay stub. Enter your gross pay, tax rate, and deductions to see your take-home pay.
Net pay = gross − (gross × tax rate) − other deductions
Your take-home pay is your gross pay minus the taxes withheld, calculated as gross times the total tax rate, and then minus any other deductions such as retirement contributions or benefit premiums. The take-home percentage is net pay divided by gross pay, showing how much of each dollar you keep.
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 gross pay and total tax rate.
- 2
Adjust the options
Adjust other deductions if they apply — sensible defaults are already set.
- 3
Read your result
Take-home pay updates instantly as you type — no button to press.
Frequently asked questions
What is take-home pay?
Take-home pay, or net pay, is the amount you actually receive after taxes and deductions are subtracted from your gross pay. Gross pay is your full salary or wages before withholding. The difference goes to income taxes, payroll taxes, and deductions like retirement and insurance, so your take-home pay is what you can budget and spend.
What is deducted from gross pay?
Common deductions include federal, state, and local income tax, Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes, retirement contributions such as a 401(k), health and dental insurance premiums, and other benefits. Some deductions are pre-tax, reducing your taxable income, while others come out after tax. Together they explain the gap between gross and take-home pay.
How accurate is this estimate?
This calculator uses a single combined tax rate for a quick estimate, while a real paycheck applies federal, state, payroll, and other taxes separately, and treats some deductions as pre-tax. For a closer figure, take your total withholding from a recent pay stub, divide by gross pay to get your effective rate, and enter that here.
How can I increase my take-home pay?
You can adjust tax withholding so it more closely matches your actual liability, avoiding large refunds that mean overpaying during the year. Pre-tax deductions like 401(k) and HSA contributions lower taxable income, and reviewing benefit elections can help. However, cutting withholding too far risks owing at tax time, so aim for accuracy rather than the biggest paycheck.
Why budget with net pay instead of gross?
Because net pay is the money you can actually spend, budgeting on gross pay overstates what you have and leads to overspending. Building your budget around take-home pay ensures your rent, bills, savings, and discretionary spending fit within what truly reaches your account. Always plan around net income for a realistic and reliable budget.