How It Works
Pick your state
Choose your state from the dropdown. Each calculator is built with that state's exact tax rules.
Enter your details
Add your salary or hourly wage, filing status, pay frequency, and any pre-tax deductions.
See your breakdown
Get an instant breakdown of every deduction — federal tax, FICA, state tax — and your exact take-home.
Switch states
Use the state switcher on any calculator page to instantly compare your take-home across states.
How are federal income taxes calculated?
The US uses a progressive bracket system — different portions of your income are taxed at different rates. Unlike FICA, federal income tax is calculated on your taxable income — not your gross income. First, your standard deduction is subtracted from your gross income to get your taxable income. Then each bracket only taxes the slice of income that falls within it. Your effective rate (total tax ÷ gross income) is always lower than your marginal rate (the rate on your last dollar). See the step-by-step breakdown →
What is FICA and how is it calculated?
FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) is made up of two separate payroll taxes that every US worker pays regardless of state. Importantly, FICA is calculated on your gross wages — not your taxable income after the standard deduction. The standard deduction reduces your income tax, but it has no effect on FICA. Social Security is taxed at 6.2% of your gross wages up to the annual wage base of $176,100 in 2025. Once your earnings cross that threshold, Social Security tax stops for the rest of the year. Medicare is taxed at 1.45% of your gross wages with no cap, so it applies to every dollar you earn all year long. Your employer matches both taxes dollar for dollar on their end.
What is the Additional Medicare Tax?
Like regular Medicare, the Additional Medicare Tax is also calculated on your gross wages — not taxable income after the standard deduction. On top of the standard 1.45% Medicare tax, high earners pay an extra 0.9% on wages above $200,000 (single filers) or $250,000 (married filing jointly). Unlike regular Medicare, your employer does not match this additional 0.9% — it comes entirely out of your paycheck. So a single filer earning $250,000 pays 1.45% on the first $200,000 and 2.35% on the remaining $50,000.
How accurate are these calculators?
PayCheckFox uses the official 2025 IRS federal tax brackets, standard deductions, and FICA rates. State calculators use each state's current rates. Results are close estimates — your actual paycheck may vary slightly based on your W-4 elections and employer deductions.
Which states have no income tax?
Nine states have no state income tax: Texas, Florida, Nevada, Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, South Dakota, Tennessee, and New Hampshire. Workers in these states only pay federal taxes and FICA, meaning they keep more of every paycheck.