Paycheck Calculator
Estimate your gross pay, payroll taxes, and net pay (take-home pay) for a single pay period. Fill out as many fields as you need.
What is gross pay vs. net pay?
Gross pay is your total earnings before deductions. This may include regular wages, overtime pay, bonuses, and commissions. Net pay is what you actually receive after deductions such as taxes, retirement contributions, insurance premiums, and other withholdings.
If you have ever wondered why your paycheck is lower than your expected wages, the gap is almost always explained by payroll deductions. A good gross-to-net estimate helps you build better monthly budgets and avoid cash-flow surprises.
How this calculator works
This tool follows a simple payroll flow for one pay period:
- Calculate gross pay from hourly pay, hours, overtime, and bonus (or use gross override).
- Subtract pre-tax deductions to estimate taxable wages.
- Apply tax rates (federal, state, local, Social Security, and Medicare).
- Subtract post-tax deductions to estimate final take-home pay.
It also provides annualized estimates by multiplying period amounts by your selected pay frequency.
Formulas used
- Gross Pay = (Hourly Rate × Regular Hours) + (Hourly Rate × Overtime Hours × Overtime Multiplier) + Bonus
- Taxable Wages = Gross Pay − Pre-tax Deductions
- Total Taxes = Sum of each tax rate × Taxable Wages
- Net Pay = Gross Pay − Pre-tax Deductions − Total Taxes − Post-tax Deductions
Example paycheck breakdown
Suppose you make $30/hour, worked 40 regular hours and 5 overtime hours at 1.5×, with $100 pre-tax deductions and tax rates totaling 24.65% (federal + state + FICA + others):
- Regular pay = 40 × $30 = $1,200
- Overtime pay = 5 × $30 × 1.5 = $225
- Gross pay = $1,425
- Taxable wages after pre-tax deductions = $1,325
- Estimated taxes ≈ $326.61
- Net pay (before post-tax deductions) ≈ $998.39
The exact amount on a real paycheck may differ due to employer setup, tax brackets, benefit elections, and year-to-date caps.
Common paycheck deductions to include
Pre-tax deductions
- 401(k), 403(b), or traditional retirement contributions
- Health, dental, and vision premiums (when pre-tax)
- Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA) contributions
Post-tax deductions
- Roth retirement contributions
- Wage garnishments
- Union dues (if post-tax in your payroll)
- Voluntary insurance not handled pre-tax
Ways to improve net pay awareness
- Compare paychecks when changing benefits during open enrollment.
- Adjust withholding carefully if your tax refunds are too large or too small.
- Track overtime and bonus periods separately for better budgeting.
- Use annualized estimates to plan major expenses and savings goals.
Important note
This calculator is for educational estimation. Payroll systems use detailed tax tables, filing status, W-4 settings, wage limits, local rules, and special treatment for supplemental wages. For final numbers, consult your pay stub, payroll provider, or a licensed tax professional.