The short answer
How much is taken out of a US paycheck in 2026?
Four main deductions come out of most paychecks: federal income tax (10% to 37% on income above the $16,100 standard deduction for a single filer), Social Security (6.2% up to $184,500 of wages), Medicare (1.45%, plus 0.9% above $200,000) and state income tax (0% in nine states, up to 13.3% in California). A single filer earning $75,000 in Texas takes home about $61,592 a year.
Take-home pay examples for 2026
| Salary | Status | State | Federal tax | FICA | State tax | Take-home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | Single | Texas | $3,820 | $3,825 | $0 | $42,355 $3,530/mo |
| $75,000 | Single | California | $7,670 | $5,738 | $2,788 | $58,805 $4,900/mo |
| $100,000 | Single | New York | $13,170 | $7,650 | $4,860 | $74,320 $6,193/mo |
| $150,000 | Married filing jointly | Illinois | $15,340 | $11,475 | $7,135 | $116,050 $9,671/mo |
| $60,000 | Single | Florida | $5,020 | $4,590 | $0 | $50,390 $4,199/mo |
| $90,000 | Head of household | North Carolina | $7,548 | $6,885 | $3,082 | $72,485 $6,040/mo |
No 401(k) or pre-tax benefits, no credits. Local income taxes not included.
2026 federal income tax brackets
Brackets apply to taxable income: salary minus pre-tax contributions minus the standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, $24,150 head of household). Each rate applies only to the income inside its band.
Single
| 10% | $0 – $12,400 |
| 12% | $12,400 – $50,400 |
| 22% | $50,400 – $105,700 |
| 24% | $105,700 – $201,775 |
| 32% | $201,775 – $256,225 |
| 35% | $256,225 – $640,600 |
| 37% | Over $640,600 |
Married filing jointly
| 10% | $0 – $24,800 |
| 12% | $24,800 – $100,800 |
| 22% | $100,800 – $211,400 |
| 24% | $211,400 – $403,550 |
| 32% | $403,550 – $512,450 |
| 35% | $512,450 – $768,700 |
| 37% | Over $768,700 |
Head of household
| 10% | $0 – $17,700 |
| 12% | $17,700 – $67,450 |
| 22% | $67,450 – $105,700 |
| 24% | $105,700 – $201,750 |
| 32% | $201,750 – $256,200 |
| 35% | $256,200 – $640,600 |
| 37% | Over $640,600 |
FICA: Social Security and Medicare
Employees pay 6.2% Social Security tax on wages up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500 (a maximum of $11,439) and 1.45% Medicare tax on all wages. An extra 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax applies to wages above $200,000 (single or head of household) or $250,000 (married filing jointly). Your employer pays a matching 6.2% and 1.45%. 401(k) contributions do not reduce FICA wages; health premiums paid through a cafeteria (Section 125) plan do.
State income tax rates for 2026
Nine states have no tax on wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. 15 states use a single flat rate. The calculator applies each state's 2026 brackets, standard deduction, personal exemption and credits for single and married filers.
| State | Structure | Rates (single) |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 3 brackets | 2% – 5% |
| Alaska | None | 0% |
| Arizona | Flat | 2.5% |
| Arkansas | 2 brackets | 2% – 3.9% |
| California | 10 brackets | 1% – 13.3% |
| Colorado | Flat | 4.4% |
| Connecticut | 7 brackets | 2% – 6.99% |
| Delaware | 6 brackets | 2.2% – 6.6% |
| District of Columbia | 7 brackets | 4% – 10.75% |
| Florida | None | 0% |
| Georgia | Flat | 5.19% |
| Hawaii | 12 brackets | 1.4% – 11% |
| Idaho | Flat | 5.3% |
| Illinois | Flat | 4.95% |
| Indiana | Flat | 2.95% |
| Iowa | Flat | 3.8% |
| Kansas | 2 brackets | 5.2% – 5.58% |
| Kentucky | Flat | 3.5% |
| Louisiana | Flat | 3% |
| Maine | 3 brackets | 5.8% – 7.15% |
| Maryland | 10 brackets | 2% – 6.5% |
| Massachusetts | 2 brackets | 5% – 9% |
| Michigan | Flat | 4.25% |
| Minnesota | 4 brackets | 5.35% – 9.85% |
| Mississippi | Flat | 4% |
| Missouri | 7 brackets | 2% – 4.7% |
| Montana | 2 brackets | 4.7% – 5.65% |
| Nebraska | 3 brackets | 2.46% – 4.55% |
| Nevada | None | 0% |
| New Hampshire | None | 0% |
| New Jersey | 7 brackets | 1.4% – 10.75% |
| New Mexico | 6 brackets | 1.5% – 5.9% |
| New York | 9 brackets | 3.9% – 10.9% |
| North Carolina | Flat | 3.99% |
| North Dakota | 2 brackets | 1.95% – 2.5% |
| Ohio | Flat | 2.75% |
| Oklahoma | 3 brackets | 2.5% – 4.5% |
| Oregon | 4 brackets | 4.75% – 9.9% |
| Pennsylvania | Flat | 3.07% |
| Rhode Island | 3 brackets | 3.75% – 5.99% |
| South Carolina | 2 brackets | 3% – 6% |
| South Dakota | None | 0% |
| Tennessee | None | 0% |
| Texas | None | 0% |
| Utah | Flat | 4.5% |
| Vermont | 4 brackets | 3.35% – 8.75% |
| Virginia | 4 brackets | 2% – 5.75% |
| Washington | None | 0% |
| West Virginia | 5 brackets | 2.22% – 4.82% |
| Wisconsin | 4 brackets | 3.5% – 7.65% |
| Wyoming | None | 0% |
How the calculator works
- Federal taxable income = salary − 401(k) − pre-tax health premiums − standard deduction. The 2026 brackets for your filing status are applied.
- Social Security = 6.2% of wages after health premiums, capped at $184,500. Medicare = 1.45% plus 0.9% over the threshold.
- State taxable income = salary − 401(k) − health premiums − the state's standard deduction and personal exemption, then the state's brackets, minus any personal credit.
Not included: tax credits (child tax credit, earned income credit), itemized deductions, the 2025 law's deductions for tips, overtime and seniors, phase-outs of state deductions at higher incomes, local and city income taxes, and state disability or paid leave contributions. Your actual paycheck withholding depends on your W-4 and can differ from the tax you owe for the year.
Sources
Federal brackets and standard deductions: IRS 2026 inflation adjustments (Rev. Proc. 2025-32). Social Security wage base: Social Security Administration. State rates: Tax Foundation, State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026, as of January 1, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much tax is taken out of a $75,000 salary?
For a single filer in a state with no income tax, about $13,408 a year: $7,670 federal income tax and $5,738 Social Security and Medicare. Take-home pay is about $61,592 a year, or $5,133 a month. State income tax adds more in most states.
What are the 2026 federal tax brackets?
For single filers: 10% up to $12,400 of taxable income, 12% to $50,400, 22% to $105,700, 24% to $201,775, 32% to $256,225, 35% to $640,600 and 37% above. Married couples filing jointly have brackets twice as wide up to the 35% band.
What is the 2026 standard deduction?
$16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married couples filing jointly and $24,150 for heads of household.
What is the Social Security wage base for 2026?
$184,500. Wages above that are not subject to the 6.2% Social Security tax, though Medicare tax still applies.
Which states have no income tax?
Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming do not tax wages.
Which state has the highest income tax?
California, with a top rate of 13.3% on income above $1 million (12.3% plus a 1% mental health surcharge). Hawaii, New York, New Jersey and Washington DC also have top rates above 10%.
Does a 401(k) reduce my taxes?
Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce federal and most state taxable income, so you pay less income tax now. They do not reduce Social Security or Medicare tax.
Why is my paycheck different from this estimate?
Withholding depends on your W-4, pay frequency and benefits, and the calculator does not include tax credits, local taxes or state disability insurance. The estimate shows the tax for a full year at a steady salary.