Your results
| Federal bracket rate | Amount in bracket | Tax in bracket |
|---|
Estimates only — excludes local taxes and specific deductions. The 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax on wages over $200,000 is not included.
How your take-home pay is calculated
Your gross salary is reduced by three layers of withholding before it reaches your pocket. First, federal income tax applies the official 2025 IRS brackets to your taxable income — your salary minus the standard deduction ($15,000 single, $30,000 married filing jointly, $22,500 head of household). Federal tax is progressive, so each dollar is taxed only at the rate of the bracket it falls into, which is why your effective rate is usually lower than your top bracket.
Second, FICA payroll taxes fund Social Security and Medicare. Social Security is 6.2% on the first $176,000 of wages, and Medicare is 1.45% on all wages. Together these are deducted from every paycheck regardless of where you live.
Third, state income tax varies widely. Nine states — Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming — collect no income tax on wages. Others use a flat rate, and the rest use progressive brackets. The calculator applies a simplified bracket table for each state so you can compare take-home pay side by side.
It is worth understanding the difference between a marginal rate and an effective rate. Your marginal rate — the rate on your last dollar — may look high, but because the tax system is progressive, your effective rate (total deductions divided by gross pay) is usually several points lower. Your filing status matters too: married couples filing jointly get a higher standard deduction and wider brackets than single filers, which can meaningfully change your monthly take-home pay.
This tool is for estimation and education. It does not account for local taxes, retirement contributions, health-insurance premiums, or itemized deductions, and it treats every state with a simplified schedule. For a precise figure, review your actual pay stub or consult a tax professional.
Ready to compare? Explore the full state-by-state directory to see take-home pay across all 50 states and D.C., or read more on the about page.