Payroll Deductions Calculator — See Exactly What Comes Out of Your Paycheck
Calculate federal tax, state tax, Social Security, Medicare, 401k, health insurance, and HSA deductions. See your net take-home pay instantly.
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2026 Tax Year · Live Calculator
Payroll Deductions Calculator
Enter your paycheck details below to see your exact take-home pay after all federal, state & benefit deductions.
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Post-tax additional withholding💵 Take-Home Pay
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Deduction Breakdown
Payroll Deductions Guide — Jump to Any Section ▼ Click to open
Pre-Tax vs Post-Tax Deductions — What's the Difference?
Understanding the difference between pre-tax and post-tax deductions can save you money. Here is what you need to know.
What Are Pre-Tax Deductions?
Pre-tax deductions are taken out of your gross pay before taxes are calculated. Because they come out first, they reduce your taxable income. When your taxable income goes down, you pay less in federal and state taxes.
Common pre-tax deductions include 401(k) retirement contributions, health insurance premiums, HSA contributions, and FSA contributions.
For example, if you earn $5,000 per paycheck and contribute $250 to your 401(k), you are only taxed on $4,750. This saves you approximately $55 in federal taxes on that one paycheck.
What Are Post-Tax Deductions?
Post-tax deductions are taken out of your gross pay after taxes are calculated. They do not reduce your taxable income. You pay taxes on your full gross pay, and then these deductions are subtracted.
Common post-tax deductions include Roth 401(k) contributions, wage garnishments, union dues, and charitable contributions made through payroll.
Which One Is Better?
Pre-tax deductions are usually better because they lower your tax bill immediately. Every dollar you put into a pre-tax account saves you money on taxes today.
Roth accounts have one advantage — withdrawals in retirement are completely tax-free. But you pay taxes on the money now.
Real Example of the Difference
Let us look at a worker earning $5,000 per paycheck in the 22 percent tax bracket.
If they put $500 into a pre-tax 401(k), their taxable income drops to $4,500. They save $110 in federal taxes on that paycheck.
If they put $500 into a Roth 401(k) post-tax, their taxable income stays at $5,000. They pay $110 more in taxes now, but pay no taxes when they withdraw the money in retirement.
Which Deductions Are Pre-Tax?
401(k) and other retirement plans
Health insurance premiums
HSA (Health Savings Account)
FSA (Flexible Spending Account)
Dental and vision insurance
Group term life insurance (up to $50,000)
Which Deductions Are Post-Tax?
Roth 401(k) contributions
Wage garnishments
Union dues
Charitable contributions
Disability insurance (in some cases)
Pre-tax deductions save you money on your current tax bill. Post-tax deductions do not. If you want to lower your taxes today, focus on increasing your pre-tax contributions.
Use our calculator above. Change your 401(k) percentage from 0 to 10 percent. Watch how your federal tax drops instantly.
Real Example — What a $5,000 Paycheck Looks Like After All Deductions
Let us walk through a real example. Meet Michael. He lives in Texas, earns $5,000 per biweekly paycheck, and is single with no dependents. Here is exactly what comes out of his paycheck.
Michael’s Situation
Gross pay per paycheck: $5,000
State: Texas (no state income tax)
Filing status: Single
Dependents: 0
401(k) contribution: 5 percent
Health insurance: $150 per paycheck
HSA contribution: $50 per paycheck
Extra withholding: $0
Step 1 — Pre-tax Deductions
Michael contributes 5 percent of his gross pay to his 401(k). That is $5,000 times 0.05 equals $250. He pays $150 for health insurance and $50 for HSA. Total pre-tax deductions are $250 plus $150 plus $50 equals $450.
Step 2 — Taxable Gross Pay
$5,000 minus $450 equals $4,550. This is the amount on which Michael pays taxes.
Step 3 — Federal Income Tax
Michael’s annual taxable income is approximately $118,300. After the standard deduction of $15,000, his taxable income is approximately $103,300. His federal tax is approximately $18,000 per year or $692 per paycheck.
Step 4 — State Income Tax
Michael lives in Texas. Texas has no state income tax. He pays $0.
Step 5 — Social Security and Medicare
Social Security takes 6.2 percent of his gross pay. $5,000 times 0.062 equals $310. Medicare takes 1.45 percent of his gross pay. $5,000 times 0.0145 equals $72.50.
Step 6 — Net Pay (Take-Home)
Gross pay: $5,000
Minus 401(k): -$250
Minus health insurance: -$150
Minus HSA: -$50
Minus federal tax: -$692
Minus state tax: -$0
Minus Social Security: -$310
Minus Medicare: -$72.50
Michael’s net take-home pay per paycheck is $3,475.50.
Where Did Michael’s Money Go?
From his $5,000 gross paycheck, $450 went to pre-tax savings (401k, health insurance, HSA). $1,074.50 went to taxes (federal, Social Security, Medicare). He took home $3,475.50. That is about 69.5 percent of his gross pay.
What If Michael Lived in California Instead?
If Michael lived in California with the same $5,000 gross pay, his state tax would be approximately $420 per paycheck. His net pay would drop to approximately $3,055 per paycheck. That is $420 less per paycheck or $10,920 less per year.
What If Michael Increased His 401(k) to 10 Percent?
If Michael increased his 401(k) contribution from 5 percent to 10 percent, his pre-tax deductions would increase by $250 per paycheck. His federal tax would drop by approximately $55 per paycheck. His net pay would only decrease by about $195 per paycheck while saving an additional $250 for retirement.
What If Michael Was Married Filing Jointly?
If Michael was married filing jointly with the same $5,000 per paycheck income, his federal tax would drop by approximately $150 per paycheck. His net pay would increase to approximately $3,625 per paycheck.
Use Our Calculator to Test Your Own Numbers
Try our calculator above. Enter your gross pay, state, filing status, and deductions. See exactly how much you take home.
How to Reduce Your Payroll Deductions — 7 Legal Ways to Keep More Money
You cannot avoid all deductions. But you can reduce some of them legally. Here are seven ways to keep more of your paycheck.
1. Increase Your 401(k) Contribution
Every dollar you put into a traditional 401(k) reduces your taxable income. If you earn $5,000 per paycheck and increase your 401(k) by 5 percent, you add $250 to your retirement savings. Your federal tax drops by about $55. Your net pay only decreases by about $195 while you save an additional $250.
For 2026, you can contribute up to $23,500 to your 401(k). If you are 50 or older, you can contribute an additional $7,500.
2. Use an HSA (Health Savings Account)
If you have a high-deductible health plan, you can open an HSA. Contributions are pre-tax for federal taxes. The money grows tax-free and comes out tax-free when used for medical expenses.
For 2026, you can contribute up to $4,300 for an individual or $8,550 for a family.
3. Claim All Dependents You Qualify For
Each dependent gives you a $2,000 federal child tax credit. This directly reduces your tax bill, not just your taxable income. If you have two children, that is $4,000 less tax you owe. Make sure your employer knows about your dependents on your W-4 form.
4. Adjust Your W-4 Withholding
If too much tax is being taken from your paycheck, you can adjust your W-4 form. Increase your dependents or allowances. Add other adjustments. Use the IRS withholding estimator to find the right settings. Be careful not to withhold too little or you may owe money at tax time.
5. Itemize Deductions If They Exceed the Standard Deduction
The federal standard deduction for 2026 is $15,000 for single filers and $30,000 for married couples filing jointly.
If your itemized deductions (mortgage interest, property taxes, charitable donations, medical expenses) are higher than these amounts, you should itemize. This reduces your taxable income and your tax bill.
6. Contribute to a Traditional IRA
If your employer does not offer a 401(k), or if you want to save more, a traditional IRA works the same way. Contributions reduce your federal taxable income.
For 2026, you can contribute up to $7,000 to an IRA ($8,000 if you are 50 or older).
7. Take Advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is for low to moderate income workers. It can give you up to $7,000 back as a refund, even if you owe no tax. In 2026, a single parent with two children earning under $50,000 may qualify.
How Much Can You Actually Save?
Let us put these strategies together for a single person earning $5,000 per paycheck.
Without any tax saving strategies, their net pay is approximately $3,475 per paycheck.
With tax saving strategies including 10 percent 401(k) and maxed out HSA, their federal tax drops and their net pay increases to approximately $3,600 per paycheck.
That is $125 more per paycheck, $250 more per month, or $3,000 more per year.
A Warning About Tax Avoidance
These strategies are legal and recommended by tax professionals. Tax evasion is completely different. Tax evasion means hiding your income, lying on your tax return, or not reporting money you earned. Tax evasion is illegal and can result in serious penalties, interest charges, and even criminal prosecution. Always report all your income honestly and pay what you owe.
Use Our Calculator to Test Different Scenarios
Try our calculator above. Increase your 401(k) contribution from 5 percent to 10 percent. Add HSA contributions. Change your filing status. See how your net pay changes instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions — Payroll Deductions
Here are answers to the most common questions people ask about payroll deductions.
Payroll deductions are amounts taken out of your gross pay before you receive your paycheck. They include federal income tax, state income tax, Social Security tax, Medicare tax, and voluntary deductions like 401(k) contributions, health insurance premiums, and HSA contributions.
Pre-tax deductions are taken out before taxes are calculated. They reduce your taxable income, so you pay less in federal and state taxes. Examples include 401(k), health insurance, and HSA. Post-tax deductions are taken out after taxes are calculated. They do not reduce your taxable income. Examples include Roth 401(k) and wage garnishments.
Most workers lose between 15 percent and 25 percent of their gross pay to taxes. This includes federal income tax, state income tax, Social Security (6.2 percent), and Medicare (1.45 percent). Your actual percentage depends on your income, your state, and your filing status.
You can reduce your taxable income by increasing your 401(k) contribution, using an HSA, claiming all dependents, and adjusting your W-4 withholding. These strategies lower your tax bill and increase your take-home pay.
FICA stands for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It funds Social Security and Medicare. You pay 6.2 percent for Social Security on the first $176,100 you earn in 2026. You pay 1.45 percent for Medicare on all your earnings with no limit.
Your net pay is your take-home pay after all deductions. Your gross pay is your earnings before anything is taken out. The difference is taxes (federal, state, Social Security, Medicare) and voluntary deductions (401k, health insurance, HSA). Most workers take home 70 to 85 percent of their gross pay.
Yes. Most employers allow you to change your 401(k) contribution percentage at any time. Changes typically take effect within one or two pay periods. Increasing your contribution reduces your taxable income and your tax bill.
If you have multiple jobs, your tax withholding may be too low because each job withholds as if it is your only income. You may need to add extra withholding on your W-4 form to avoid owing money at tax time. Use the IRS withholding estimator to calculate the right amount.
Yes, if you pay for health insurance through your employer, your premiums are taken out pre-tax. This reduces your taxable income. If you buy health insurance on your own, you may be able to deduct the premiums on your tax return if you itemize.
Non-exempt employees are entitled to overtime pay. They must be paid 1.5 times their regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a week. Most hourly workers are non-exempt. Exempt employees are not entitled to overtime pay. Most salaried workers who earn over $35,568 per year are exempt.
Compare your pay stub to our calculator above. Enter your gross pay, state, filing status, and deductions. If our calculator shows a different net pay than your actual paycheck, you may need to adjust your W-4 form with your employer.
Your employer sends payroll taxes to the government with each pay period. You do not need to do anything. Your share of Social Security and Medicare taxes is withheld from your paycheck. Your employer adds their share and sends the total to the IRS.
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