Net Salary (Take-Home Pay) Calculator
Estimate your annual and monthly take-home pay after federal income tax, FICA, state income tax, and 401k contributions. Convert gross salary to real spendable income.
💵 Take-Home💰 Net = Gross − Federal Tax − FICA − State Tax − 401k
Annual gross salary ($)
State income tax rate (%)
Filing status
401k / pre-tax deductions ($)
Please enter valid values.
Formula & Reference
| Variable | Formula | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Net Salary (Take-Home Pay) Calculator | Net = Gross − Federal Tax − FICA − State Tax − 401k | $/year net |
Step-by-Step Examples
Example 1
Single Earner
$70k gross, single, 5% state, $5k 401k.
- Federal: ~$6,160 | FICA: $5,355
- State: $3,500 | 401k: $5,000
- Net: ~$49,985 (~$4,165/month)
✓ ~$49,985/yr net
Example 2
Joint Filers
$120k combined, MFJ, 4% state, no 401k.
- Federal: ~$12,276 | FICA: ~$9,180
- State: $4,800 | Net: ~$93,744
✓ ~$93,744/yr net
Example 3
No State Tax
$85k, single, 0% state (TX/FL/NV), $10k 401k.
- Federal: ~$8,248 | FICA: $6,503
- Net: ~$60,249
✓ ~$60,249/yr net
Real-World Applications
Budgeting
Knowing real take-home enables accurate household budgets.
Job Comparison
A $90k offer in CA vs $85k in TX — the lower may win after taxes.
Goal Setting
Plan savings goals on actual spendable income.
Relocation
State tax differences mean $5,000–10,000+ difference in take-home.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
⚠️
Budgeting to gross salary
Always budget to net. Spending based on gross causes immediate cash shortfalls.
⚠️
Ignoring state tax differences
TX vs CA on the same $80k salary can differ $5,000–8,000/year in take-home.
⚠️
Missing 401k tax savings
Pre-tax 401k doesn’t cost you the full contribution — you save your marginal rate on each dollar contributed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is take-home so much less than salary? ▾
Federal tax + FICA (7.65%) + state tax + benefits can consume 25–40% of gross.
What is FICA? ▾
Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600) + Medicare (1.45%) = 7.65% employee share.
How does 401k affect take-home? ▾
Pre-tax contributions reduce federal (often state) taxable income. At 22% bracket, $500/mo 401k costs ~$390 in take-home.
States with no income tax? ▾
Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, Wyoming. Can mean $5,000–20,000+ more/yr vs CA or NY.
Why does W-2 Box 1 differ from gross salary? ▾
Box 1 = gross minus pre-tax benefits (health insurance, HSA, 401k) — your actual federal taxable wages.