Weekly
Bi-weekly (Every two weeks)
Semi-monthly (Twice a month)
Monthly
Your estimated take-home pay will appear here.
Understanding Your North Carolina Take-Home Pay
Calculating your take-home pay, also known as net pay, involves subtracting various deductions from your gross income. This calculator provides an estimate based on common deductions for employees in North Carolina. It's important to note that this is an approximation, and your actual take-home pay may vary based on your specific tax situation, filing status, additional voluntary deductions, and any specific local taxes.
How the Calculation Works:
The calculator follows these general steps:
Gross Pay Calculation: Your Gross Annual Income is divided by the number of pay periods in a year based on your selected Pay Frequency to determine your gross pay per period.
Pre-Tax Deductions:
Retirement Contributions: A percentage of your gross pay is deducted before taxes are calculated. This amount is calculated annually and then distributed across your pay periods.
Health Insurance Premiums: Monthly premiums are converted to the pay period amount and deducted.
These deductions reduce your taxable income, which can lower your overall tax burden.
Tax Calculations:
Federal Income Tax: Based on the percentage you input for Federal Tax Withholding. This is a simplification; actual federal tax depends on tax brackets, filing status (single, married, etc.), and other factors like dependents.
Social Security Tax: A fixed rate (currently 6.2%) is applied up to an annual income limit ($168,600 for 2024). The calculator applies this rate to your gross pay per period.
Medicare Tax: A fixed rate (currently 1.45%) is applied to all income.
North Carolina State Income Tax: Based on the percentage you input for NC State Income Tax Withholding. North Carolina has a flat income tax rate.
Net Pay Calculation: All calculated deductions (pre-tax and taxes) are subtracted from your gross pay for the period to arrive at your estimated take-home pay.
Key Input Explanations:
Gross Annual Income: Your total earnings before any deductions.
Pay Frequency: How often you receive your paycheck (Weekly, Bi-weekly, Semi-monthly, Monthly).
Federal Tax Withholding (%): An estimate of the percentage of your income withheld for federal taxes. This is often determined by your W-4 form.
Social Security Tax: 6.2% of gross pay (up to the annual limit).
Medicare Tax: 1.45% of gross pay.
NC State Income Tax Withholding (%): An estimate of the percentage of your income withheld for North Carolina state taxes.
Health Insurance Premiums (Monthly): Your share of the monthly cost for health insurance coverage.
Retirement Contributions (Annual %): The percentage of your gross income you contribute to retirement accounts like a 401(k) or 403(b). This is typically a pre-tax deduction.
Important Considerations:
Tax Brackets and Filing Status: This calculator uses simplified percentage inputs for federal and state taxes. Actual tax liability is determined by progressive tax brackets (federal) and your specific filing status (single, married filing jointly, etc.), number of dependents, and any tax credits or deductions you may be eligible for.
Annual Maximums: Social Security tax has an annual income limit. For 2024, this limit is $168,600. Income above this threshold is not subject to Social Security tax. This calculator does not incorporate this annual limit directly but assumes the deduction applies to each pay period's gross income.
Other Deductions: This calculator does not include other potential deductions such as dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, union dues, or wage garnishments.
Disclaimer: This calculator is for estimation purposes only and should not be considered financial or tax advice. Consult with a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for personalized guidance.
function calculateTakeHomePay() {
var grossAnnualIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById('grossAnnualIncome').value);
var payFrequency = document.getElementById('payFrequency').value;
var federalTaxWithholdingPercent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('federalTaxWithholding').value);
var socialSecurityTaxRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('socialSecurityTax').value);
var medicareTaxRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('medicareTax').value);
var ncStateTaxWithholdingPercent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('ncStateTaxWithholding').value);
var healthInsurancePremiumsMonthly = parseFloat(document.getElementById('healthInsurancePremiums').value);
var retirementContributionsPercent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('retirementContributions').value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById('result');
// Input Validation
if (isNaN(grossAnnualIncome) || grossAnnualIncome <= 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Please enter a valid Gross Annual Income.';
return;
}
if (isNaN(federalTaxWithholdingPercent) || federalTaxWithholdingPercent 100) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Please enter a valid Federal Tax Withholding percentage (0-100).';
return;
}
if (isNaN(ncStateTaxWithholdingPercent) || ncStateTaxWithholdingPercent 100) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Please enter a valid NC State Income Tax Withholding percentage (0-100).';
return;
}
if (isNaN(healthInsurancePremiumsMonthly) || healthInsurancePremiumsMonthly < 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Please enter a valid Health Insurance Premium amount.';
return;
}
if (isNaN(retirementContributionsPercent) || retirementContributionsPercent 100) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Please enter a valid Retirement Contribution percentage (0-100).';
return;
}
var payPeriodsPerYear;
switch (payFrequency) {
case 'weekly':
payPeriodsPerYear = 52;
break;
case 'biweekly':
payPeriodsPerYear = 26;
break;
case 'semimonthly':
payPeriodsPerYear = 24;
break;
case 'monthly':
payPeriodsPerYear = 12;
break;
default:
payPeriodsPerYear = 52; // Default to weekly if somehow invalid
}
var grossPayPerPeriod = grossAnnualIncome / payPeriodsPerYear;
var healthInsurancePremiumsPerPeriod = healthInsurancePremiumsMonthly * 12 / payPeriodsPerYear;
var retirementContributionRate = retirementContributionsPercent / 100;
// Calculate pre-tax deductions
var retirementDeductionPerPeriod = grossPayPerPeriod * retirementContributionRate;
var taxableIncomePerPeriod = grossPayPerPeriod – retirementDeductionPerPeriod – healthInsurancePremiumsPerPeriod;
// Ensure taxable income doesn't go below zero
if (taxableIncomePerPeriod < 0) {
taxableIncomePerPeriod = 0;
}
// Calculate taxes
var federalTaxAmount = taxableIncomePerPeriod * (federalTaxWithholdingPercent / 100);
var socialSecurityTaxAmount = grossPayPerPeriod * (socialSecurityTaxRate / 100); // SS is based on gross, not taxable income
var medicareTaxAmount = grossPayPerPeriod * (medicareTaxRate / 100); // Medicare is based on gross, not taxable income
var ncStateTaxAmount = taxableIncomePerPeriod * (ncStateTaxWithholdingPercent / 100);
// Calculate total deductions
var totalDeductions = retirementDeductionPerPeriod + healthInsurancePremiumsPerPeriod + federalTaxAmount + socialSecurityTaxAmount + medicareTaxAmount + ncStateTaxAmount;
// Calculate take-home pay
var takeHomePayPerPeriod = grossPayPerPeriod – totalDeductions;
// Display result
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Estimated Take-Home Pay Per Period: $' + takeHomePayPerPeriod.toFixed(2) + '';
}