Calculate detailed paycheck deductions including federal tax, state tax, FICA, health insurance, 401(k), and more. See your gross-to-net pay breakdown.
Pre-Tax Deductions
Tax Withholding (% of taxable income)
Default: 6.2%
Default: 1.45%
Post-Tax Deductions
Enter your gross pay per pay period — this is your total earnings before any taxes or deductions are taken out.
Select your pay frequency: weekly, bi-weekly (every two weeks), semi-monthly (twice per month), or monthly.
Enter your federal and state income tax withholding percentages. The defaults are approximate flat rates; your actual withholding may vary based on your W-4 elections and tax brackets.
Enter your pre-tax deductions: health insurance premium (fixed dollar amount per period), 401(k) contribution (percentage of gross), and any other pre-tax deductions like HSA or FSA contributions.
Click "Calculate Deductions" to see a complete itemized breakdown of all deductions, your taxable income, total taxes, and your net take-home pay per period.
Payroll deductions are subtracted from gross pay in a specific order. Pre-tax deductions (like 401(k) contributions, health insurance premiums, HSA contributions, and FSA contributions) are taken out first, which reduces your taxable income — lowering the amount of federal and state income tax you owe. FICA taxes (Social Security at 6.2% and Medicare at 1.45%) are calculated on the reduced taxable income. Finally, post-tax deductions (like Roth 401(k) contributions, garnishments, or union dues) are subtracted from what remains. Pre-tax deductions provide a double benefit: you reduce your tax bill and save for the future simultaneously.
An employee earns $3,000 bi-weekly. They contribute 5% to 401(k) ($150), pay $85 for health insurance, and have $25 in other pre-tax deductions. Total pre-tax = $260, taxable income = $2,740. Federal tax (12%) = $328.80, state tax (5%) = $137.00, Social Security (6.2%) = $169.88, Medicare (1.45%) = $39.73. Total taxes = $675.41. Net pay = $3,000.00 − $260.00 − $675.41 = $2,064.59 per period.
An employee earns $5,000 semi-monthly and contributes 15% to 401(k) ($750), pays $200 for health insurance, and has $50 in HSA contributions. Total pre-tax = $1,000, taxable income = $4,000. Federal tax (22%) = $880.00, state tax (7%) = $280.00, FICA = $306.00. Total taxes = $1,466.00. Net pay = $5,000 − $1,000 − $1,466.00 = $2,534.00. The aggressive 401(k) savings significantly reduce taxable income and saves $352 in federal taxes per period compared to a 5% contribution.
A part-time employee earns $1,200 weekly with no 401(k) or health insurance. Federal tax (10%) = $120.00, state tax (3%) = $36.00, FICA = $91.80. Total deductions = $247.80. Net pay = $952.20 per week. The effective deduction rate is 20.65%. This simple scenario shows how much of each paycheck goes to taxes when no pre-tax benefit deductions are available to reduce taxable income.
Find answers to the most common questions about payroll deduction calculator.
