How Much Is Taken Out of Your Paycheck in 2026?

If you earn a salary in the United States, your take-home pay is smaller than your gross pay. The gap is usually made up of federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and state income tax. This guide shows what is withheld in 2026 and how to estimate your own net pay.

The four main deductions

• Federal income tax — a progressive tax. In 2026 the rates run from 10% to 37%, and the standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers and $32,200 for married couples filing jointly.
• Social Security — 6.2% of wages up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500.
• Medicare — 1.45% of wages, plus an extra 0.9% above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (joint).
• State income tax — depends on where you live. Nine states have no wage income tax, several use a flat rate, and the rest use graduated brackets.

2026 federal brackets at a glance

Rate	Single	Married filing jointly
10%	$0 – $12,400	$0 – $24,800
12%	$12,400 – $50,400	$24,800 – $100,800
22%	$50,400 – $105,700	$100,800 – $211,400
24%	$105,700 – $201,775	$211,400 – $403,550
32%	$201,775 – $256,225	$403,550 – $512,450
35%	$256,225 – $640,600	$512,450 – $768,700
37%	Over $640,600	Over $768,700

These are marginal rates: only the income inside each band is taxed at that rate. Moving into a higher bracket does not mean all of your income is taxed at the higher rate.

Worked example: $60,000 salary, single filer

Suppose you earn $60,000 and take the standard deduction. Your federal taxable income is roughly $60,000 − $16,100 = $43,900. Federal income tax is about $5,020. Social Security is 6.2% of $60,000 = $3,720, and Medicare is 1.45% = $870. That is about $9,610 before state tax, or roughly 16.0% of gross pay.

State tax can move that number a lot. In Texas or Florida, the state income tax is $0. In California, a $60,000 single filer pays roughly $1,800 of state income tax. That is why the same salary can produce very different take-home pay in different states.

How to get a precise estimate

Use our 2026 paycheck calculator and pick your state. It applies the federal brackets, FICA, and your state's 2026 brackets, then shows annual, monthly, biweekly, weekly, and hourly take-home pay. If you are comparing offers, run the same salary in both states and compare the net figures, not the gross.

What this estimate does not include

Paycheck calculators are estimates, not tax advice. Your actual withholding depends on your W-4, pre-tax benefits, local taxes, credits, and other income. Use the result for planning and comparison, and confirm details with a qualified tax professional.