About TakeHomePay.live
TakeHomePay.live is a free online paycheck calculator that helps workers across all 50 US states understand what actually lands in their bank account after taxes. You can punch in an hourly wage or an annual salary, pick your pay frequency, filing status, and state, add any pre-tax or post-tax deductions, and instantly see your estimated take-home pay — both per paycheck and per year — broken down line by line. No account, no sign-up, no spreadsheet.
What this site does
Gross pay is a headline number; net pay is what you live on. The gap between them is filled with federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and (in most states) state income tax, along with whatever you set aside for retirement and benefits. Our goal is to make that gap transparent so you can budget with the number that matters, compare job offers honestly, and sanity-check the figures on your own pay stub.
How the tax calculation works
The calculator follows the same order of operations as a real payroll system:
- Federal income tax is estimated using the IRS progressive tax brackets and the standard deduction for your filing status. "Progressive" means only the income that falls inside each bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate — your top rate is not applied to your whole salary.
- FICA taxes cover Social Security (6.2% of wages up to the annual wage base) and Medicare (1.45% of all wages, plus an extra 0.9% on high earnings). These are flat-rate payroll taxes that fund retirement, disability, and hospital insurance programs.
- State income tax varies widely: nine states levy none at all, some use a single flat rate, and others use their own graduated brackets. We apply an approximate effective rate for your selected state.
- Pre-tax deductions such as a traditional 401(k), HSA, or health-insurance premiums are subtracted before income tax is calculated, which lowers your taxable income. Post-tax deductions come out after taxes and don't change what you owe.
Who it's for
This tool is built for anyone who wants a clear answer fast: hourly and salaried employees checking a new offer, freelancers estimating what to set aside, students starting a first job, and anyone weighing a move between states with very different tax regimes. If you've ever asked "what will my paycheck actually be?", this is for you.
Privacy: everything runs in your browser
Your salary is sensitive, so we designed the calculator to never see it. Every calculation happens locally in your browser using JavaScript. The wage, deduction, and filing figures you type are not transmitted to our servers and not stored anywhere — close the tab and they're gone. You don't need to create an account, and we don't ask for any personal information to run a calculation. For the full details, see our Privacy Policy.
Accuracy disclaimer
The results are careful estimates for planning and educational purposes, not tax advice. Real paychecks can differ because of local city or county taxes, graduated state brackets, additional Medicare withholding, tax credits, employer-specific benefit plans, wage garnishments, and mid-year changes to your W-4. Always confirm against your official pay stub and consult a qualified tax professional before making financial decisions. Questions or corrections? Reach us through the contact page.
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