2026 take-home
See what you actually keep after tax.
A free US paycheck calculator for tax year 2026. Federal income tax, FICA, and state withholding in one place — plus cost-of-living pages that answer whether a salary is enough in your city.
$80k in Texas
$65,110
81.4% kept · no state income tax
$80k in California
$61,747
77.2% kept · CA tax on top of federal
$80k in New York City
$58,011
72.5% kept · state plus NYC local tax
How a 2026 paycheck is split
Gross wages are not take-home. The IRS takes ordinary income tax using seven brackets from 10% to 37%, after a $16,100 standard deduction for single filers. Social Security is 6.2% up to $184,500. Medicare is 1.45% on every dollar, plus 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax above $200,000 for single filers.
Then the state takes its cut — or does not. 9 states levy no wage income tax. Everyone else is either a flat-rate state or a graduated one. A handful of cities, including New York City and Philadelphia, add a local wage tax on top.
Popular state calculators
Is this salary enough in your city?
Cost-of-living pages compare typical one-bedroom rent, a comfortable single-earner budget, and take-home pay after local tax.
Guides
Paycheck basics
How paycheck taxes work in 2026
A plain-English walkthrough of federal income tax, FICA, and state withholding on a US paycheck in tax year 2026.
Contracting
W-2 vs 1099 take-home pay in 2026
The same $120,000 looks very different as a wage and as a contract. Here is the tax math, including self-employment tax and the QBI deduction.
Rates
How to set a freelance hourly rate from a salary
Convert a W-2 salary into a 1099 hourly rate that survives tax, unpaid time, and benefits.
Salary reality
Is $100,000 a good salary in 2026?
A $100k salary is still above the US median household, but it is a stretch in San Francisco and comfortable in Houston. Here is the city-by-city math.
State tax
Highest and lowest income-tax states in 2026
Which states take the most from a paycheck in 2026 — and which take nothing.
IRS figures
2026 standard deduction and tax brackets
IRS figures for tax year 2026: standard deduction, ordinary brackets, and the Social Security wage base.
Frequently asked
After you know the number
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