Your offer says $80,000 — but what actually lands in your bank account? Between federal tax, FICA, and state tax, the gap is bigger than most people expect. And where you live changes it by thousands. Enter your salary and state below.
| Gross (annual) | 0 |
| Pre-tax deductions | 0 |
| Federal income tax | 0 |
| Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500 | 0 |
| Medicare 1.45% | 0 |
| Additional Medicare 0.9% | 0 |
| State income tax | 0 |
| Total deductions (annual) | 0 |
Estimate using 2026 federal brackets and standard deductions. Assumes the standard deduction and no credits. Local/city taxes (e.g. NYC) and state disability (e.g. CA SDI) are not included. Your actual paycheck depends on your W-4, benefits, and local rules.
What actually comes out of your paycheck
Four separate things take a slice before the money lands:
- Federal income tax — progressive brackets (10%–37%) applied to income after the standard deduction ($16,100 single / $32,200 married in 2026)
- Social Security — 6.2% on wages up to $184,500 (2026 cap). Above that, you stop paying it
- Medicare — 1.45% on all wages, no cap. Plus 0.9% more above $200,000 (single) / $250,000 (married)
- State income tax — 0% to 13.3%, depending entirely on where you live
Marginal ≠ effective. Being "in the 22% bracket" doesn't mean you pay 22% on everything. Only the dollars inside that bracket are taxed at 22%. Your effective rate — total tax ÷ gross income — is always lower.
How much does your state matter?
A lot. Nine states have no income tax at all: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. At the other end, California tops out at 13.3%.
On a $100,000 salary, the state-tax gap between California and Texas is roughly $5,000 a year.
But don't move for tax alone. No-income-tax states usually recoup it elsewhere — Texas and New Hampshire have some of the highest property taxes in the country, and Tennessee and Washington have very high sales taxes. Compare your total burden, plus cost of living.
What this calculator doesn't include
- Local/city taxes — NYC (up to ~3.9%), Philadelphia, and others add their own layer
- State disability insurance — California's SDI (1.2%+) is a real cost not shown here
- Tax credits — child tax credit, EITC, and others can lower what you actually owe
- Itemized deductions — this assumes the standard deduction
Ways to keep more of it
- 401(k) contributions reduce your federal and state taxable income (but not FICA). Enter them above as pre-tax deductions
- HSA contributions are triple tax-advantaged if you have a qualifying health plan
- Check your W-4 — a big refund means you overpaid all year (an interest-free loan to the government)
Judge a job offer by take-home pay in your state, not the headline salary. The same $100K feels very different in Austin and San Francisco.
This is an estimate using published 2026 rates. It assumes the standard deduction, no credits, and excludes local taxes and state disability. Rates change and rules vary — confirm with your payroll department or a tax professional. This is general information, not tax advice.