Weekly (52 per year)
Bi-Weekly (26 per year)
Semi-Monthly (24 per year)
Monthly (12 per year)
Your net pay will appear here.
Understanding Your Paycheck: A Detailed Guide
Calculating your net pay (the amount you actually take home) involves understanding various deductions taken from your gross pay. This calculator helps you estimate your net pay based on common deductions such as federal and state income taxes, Social Security, Medicare, and other voluntary deductions.
Gross Pay vs. Net Pay
Gross Pay is your total earnings before any taxes or deductions are subtracted. It's the figure you typically see in job offers or when discussing your salary.
Net Pay, often called "take-home pay," is the amount of money you receive after all mandatory and voluntary deductions have been made from your gross pay.
Common Paycheck Deductions Explained:
Federal Income Tax: This is a progressive tax levied by the U.S. federal government. The rate depends on your income bracket, filing status, and any W-4 allowances you've claimed. The percentage entered here is a simplified representation.
State Income Tax: Many states levy their own income tax. The rates and rules vary significantly by state. Some states have no income tax at all.
Social Security Tax: This tax funds the Social Security program, which provides retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. For 2023 and 2024, the rate is 6.2% on earnings up to a certain annual limit ($168,600 for 2024).
Medicare Tax: This tax funds Medicare, the federal health insurance program for seniors and people with disabilities. The rate is 1.45% on all earnings, with no income limit. Higher earners may have an additional Medicare tax.
Other Deductions: These can include contributions to retirement plans (like 401(k)), health insurance premiums, life insurance, union dues, and other voluntary withholdings.
How the Calculator Works:
The calculator uses the following formula:
Net Pay = Gross Pay - (Federal Tax + State Tax + Social Security Tax + Medicare Tax + Other Deductions)
Social Security Tax = Gross Pay * (Social Security Rate / 100) (Note: This simplified calculator does not account for the Social Security wage base limit).
Medicare Tax = Gross Pay * (Medicare Rate / 100)
Other Deductions = Amount entered directly
The calculator first determines the total amount of each tax deduction based on the provided percentages and gross pay. It then sums up all these deductions and subtracts them from the gross pay to arrive at the net pay.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides an estimate for educational purposes only. Actual net pay may vary due to specific tax laws, payroll processing, changes in tax regulations, marital status, and individual W-4 elections. Consult with a qualified tax professional or your HR department for precise figures.
function calculateNetPay() {
var grossPay = parseFloat(document.getElementById("grossPay").value);
var federalTaxRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById("federalTaxRate").value);
var stateTaxRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById("stateTaxRate").value);
var socialSecurityRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById("socialSecurityRate").value);
var medicareRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById("medicareRate").value);
var otherDeductions = parseFloat(document.getElementById("otherDeductions").value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
// Clear previous error classes
resultDiv.classList.remove("error");
// Input validation
if (isNaN(grossPay) || grossPay < 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid Gross Pay amount.";
resultDiv.classList.add("error");
return;
}
if (isNaN(federalTaxRate) || federalTaxRate < 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid Federal Tax Rate.";
resultDiv.classList.add("error");
return;
}
if (isNaN(stateTaxRate) || stateTaxRate < 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid State Tax Rate.";
resultDiv.classList.add("error");
return;
}
if (isNaN(socialSecurityRate) || socialSecurityRate < 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid Social Security Rate.";
resultDiv.classList.add("error");
return;
}
if (isNaN(medicareRate) || medicareRate < 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid Medicare Rate.";
resultDiv.classList.add("error");
return;
}
if (isNaN(otherDeductions) || otherDeductions < 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid amount for Other Deductions.";
resultDiv.classList.add("error");
return;
}
// Calculations
var federalTaxAmount = grossPay * (federalTaxRate / 100);
var stateTaxAmount = grossPay * (stateTaxRate / 100);
var socialSecurityAmount = grossPay * (socialSecurityRate / 100);
var medicareAmount = grossPay * (medicareRate / 100);
var totalDeductions = federalTaxAmount + stateTaxAmount + socialSecurityAmount + medicareAmount + otherDeductions;
var netPay = grossPay – totalDeductions;
// Display result
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Estimated Net Pay: $" + netPay.toFixed(2);
}