Salary Calculator

How this salary calculator estimates take-home pay

The goal is a fast, private approximation of net (after-tax) pay. You enter annual salary, state, filing status, and a pre-tax 401(k) contribution. The tool subtracts your 401(k) deferral from gross to get an estimated taxable income, then applies simplified federal, state, and FICA payroll taxes to estimate your net annual and net monthly.

What the fields mean

• Annual Salary: your gross pay before any deductions.
• State: used for an approximate state income tax rate (states with no income tax show 0%).
• Filing Status: changes the federal tax approximation (single vs married).
• Pretax 401(k) %: money deferred before tax; lowers taxable income and often increases your net.

How the estimate is computed

1. 401(k) deferral = salary × 401(k)%.
2. Taxable income (approx) = salary − 401(k) deferral.
3. Federal tax: a simplified rate based on filing status is applied to taxable income (quick estimate, not bracket-by-bracket).
4. State tax: an approximate state rate is applied (0% for no-income-tax states).
5. FICA: Social Security + Medicare ≈ 7.65% on wages up to the annual Social Security wage base.
6. Estimated net = salary − 401(k) − (federal + state + FICA).

Assumptions & limitations

• This is an approximation for educational use; actual pay varies by brackets, credits, and deductions.
• Does not include HSA/FSA, health premiums, local/city taxes, bonuses, RSUs, or overtime.
• State rates are simplified; some states have brackets, surcharges, or local taxes.
• 401(k) and FICA have annual caps; the calculator applies a single-year snapshot.

Example

Salary $80,000, Single, CA, 401(k) 5% → 401(k) = $4,000 → taxable ≈ $76,000. Apply simplified estimates for federal, CA state, and FICA to get Net Annual, then divide by 12 for Net Monthly.

For precise results, consult your payroll stub or a bracket-accurate tax calculator and consider benefits, local taxes, and itemized deductions.