Turn your hourly wage into an estimated take-home paycheck
Making $20, $25 or $35 an hour does not mean that every dollar reaches your bank account. Your paycheck can be reduced by federal withholding, Social Security, Medicare, state and local taxes, health insurance, retirement contributions and other deductions.
Enter your hourly rate, work schedule and paycheck deductions below. The calculator estimates gross wages, federal taxes, net pay per paycheck, monthly take-home pay and annual earnings using 2026 federal tax parameters.
Calculate your hourly paycheck after taxes
For U.S. W-2 hourly employees. Change any input to update the estimate.
How much of your hourly paycheck do you keep after taxes?
Your net hourly paycheck depends on more than your hourly rate. The important numbers are your gross earnings, federal income-tax withholding, FICA, state and local deductions, and voluntary benefits.
Hourly rate × paid regular hours, plus applicable overtime and other wages.
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and any applicable state or local taxes.
Gross wages minus employee taxes, benefits and other paycheck deductions.
How to calculate an hourly paycheck in five steps
Enter your hourly rate
Use the base hourly wage shown on your job offer or paystub. Do not enter your after-tax hourly amount.
Add regular and overtime hours
Enter the weekly hours you normally work. Add overtime hours separately and choose the overtime multiplier your employer actually pays.
Select your pay frequency
Choose weekly, biweekly, semimonthly or monthly. The same annual earnings can produce very different amounts per paycheck depending on how often you are paid.
Enter tax and deduction details
Choose federal filing status, then enter estimated state/local withholding, retirement contributions, qualifying pre-tax benefits and post-tax deductions.
Review net pay and compare your paystub
Read the calculated net paycheck first. Then review the federal, Social Security, Medicare, state/local and deduction lines to find what is reducing your pay.
If the estimate differs materially from your actual paycheck, use the official IRS Tax Withholding Estimator with your recent paystub.
Hourly wages converted to weekly, monthly and annual gross pay
These examples assume 40 paid hours per week for 52 weeks and no overtime. They show earnings before taxes and deductions.
| Hourly wage | Weekly gross | Biweekly gross | Average monthly gross | Annual gross |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15/hour | $600 | $1,200 | $2,600 | $31,200 |
| $20/hour | $800 | $1,600 | $3,466.67 | $41,600 |
| $25/hour | $1,000 | $2,000 | $4,333.33 | $52,000 |
| $30/hour | $1,200 | $2,400 | $5,200 | $62,400 |
| $35/hour | $1,400 | $2,800 | $6,066.67 | $72,800 |
| $40/hour | $1,600 | $3,200 | $6,933.33 | $83,200 |
| $50/hour | $2,000 | $4,000 | $8,666.67 | $104,000 |
| $60/hour | $2,400 | $4,800 | $10,400 | $124,800 |
Monthly figures equal annual gross divided by 12. The actual paycheck schedule and unpaid weeks can change the result.
What taxes are taken out of an hourly paycheck in 2026?
Federal income tax
Federal income tax uses graduated tax brackets. Your withholding also depends on Form W-4 and paycheck frequency. A 22% marginal bracket does not mean all your wages are taxed at 22%.
Social Security tax
Most covered employees pay 6.2% of Social Security wages up to the 2026 annual wage base of $184,500. The calculator applies the annual limit to the earnings it estimates.
Medicare tax
Most employees pay 1.45% Medicare tax on covered wages without a regular wage cap. Higher earnings can also trigger an additional 0.9% Medicare tax under applicable rules.
State and local taxes
State tax rules depend on where you live and work. Some locations also require city, county, disability insurance or other payroll deductions. Those are not automatically calculated here.
2026 federal standard deductions
| Filing status | 2026 standard deduction |
|---|---|
| Single | $16,100 |
| Married filing jointly | $32,200 |
| Married filing separately | $16,100 |
| Head of household | $24,150 |
These are the regular 2026 federal standard deduction amounts. Additional deductions, age-related rules, itemizing and other tax adjustments can change an individual’s final liability.
How overtime changes gross and take-home pay
Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, covered nonexempt workers generally receive at least 1.5 times their regular rate for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek. Some occupations have exceptions, and state rules may require additional overtime.
Regular hourly rate
Forty regular hours produce $1,000 gross.
Time-and-a-half rate
A 1.5× overtime multiplier on $25/hour produces $37.50 per overtime hour.
Gross for 45 hours
Forty regular hours plus five overtime hours produce $1,187.50 before taxes.
Does the 2026 overtime tax deduction make overtime tax-free?
No. The federal qualified overtime deduction does not automatically make all overtime wages tax-free. Eligibility rules, the qualifying premium portion, annual limits, filing status and income-based restrictions matter. Overtime can still be subject to payroll taxes and withholding.
This calculator does not automatically subtract the qualified overtime deduction because it cannot verify your eligibility or whether the pay qualifies under federal law.
For official details, see IRS tax-law updates and the Department of Labor overtime guidance.
Weekly versus biweekly versus semimonthly pay
Pay frequency changes the number of paychecks you receive. It does not, by itself, change how much you earn over a full year.
| Pay schedule | Typical checks per year | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 52 | Paid about once each week |
| Biweekly | 26 | Paid every two weeks; some calendar years/payroll calendars can differ |
| Semimonthly | 24 | Paid twice per month, often on designated dates |
| Monthly | 12 | Paid once per month |
How 401(k), health insurance and other deductions affect net pay
Traditional 401(k)
Traditional employee 401(k) contributions generally reduce federal income-taxable wages, but they usually do not reduce Social Security or Medicare wages.
Eligible pre-tax health benefits
Qualifying Section 125 benefits can reduce federal taxable wages and, when applicable, Social Security and Medicare wages. Your employer’s plan determines exact treatment.
Post-tax deductions
Roth retirement contributions, some insurance deductions, garnishments and other post-tax deductions reduce deposited cash but generally do not reduce taxable wages.
Always use the deduction amount per paycheck in this calculator. If your benefit amount is monthly, convert it to the amount your employer takes from each check before entering it.
Why your actual paycheck may not match the calculator
| What looks wrong | Possible cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| My net paycheck is lower | Missing insurance, retirement, state payroll charges or post-tax deductions | Compare your paystub line by line and enter eligible deductions separately. |
| My federal withholding is different | Form W-4 elections, payroll tables, second jobs or year-to-date adjustments | Review the current Form W-4 and IRS withholding estimator. |
| Overtime net pay seems low | Higher gross earnings, extra withholding or a different overtime calculation | Check hours, overtime rate, employer pay policy and paystub withholding. |
| State tax is missing | No state/local withholding rate was entered | Enter your estimated state and local payroll withholding separately. |
| Biweekly result is unexpected | Two-week pay periods confused with twice-monthly pay | Check whether you receive 26 or 24 scheduled paychecks. |
| My work hours change each week | Calculator assumes the hours entered represent a consistent weekly pattern | Run separate low-hour, typical-hour and high-hour scenarios. |
| Social Security stopped later in the year | You may have reached the annual taxable wage base | Review year-to-date Social Security wages with payroll. |
| My final tax refund is different | Other income, tax credits, deductions, spouse income or actual withholding | Use complete tax records when estimating annual refund or balance due. |
Official government tools for checking your hourly paycheck
Use these primary sources when you need exact tax rules, official withholding guidance or answers about overtime. This page provides the calculations and explanations directly; the official links are for verification and more complex situations.
- Review federal withholding with the IRS. Open the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator. Gather your most recent paystub, income details, filing status and applicable deductions. Follow the estimator’s questions and review its Form W-4 guidance.
- Check federal payroll withholding methods. Visit IRS Publication 15-T. Choose the relevant withholding method and payroll period, then consult the appropriate tables. Employers use these methods together with employee W-4 information.
- Verify Social Security and Medicare rates. Open the Social Security Administration contribution and benefit base page. Find the 2026 wage base and employee payroll tax details.
- Check overtime eligibility and rates. Visit the U.S. Department of Labor overtime page. Review covered employee rules, the regular rate of pay, applicable exemptions and overtime requirements.
- Verify your state withholding. Use your state’s official revenue or taxation department website. Locate its employer withholding guidance, employee withholding form and applicable tax tables. Confirm local or state payroll deductions separately.
Official reference library
- IRS — 2026 federal income-tax brackets and standard deductions
- IRS — Publication 15-T, federal withholding methods
- IRS — Publication 505, withholding and estimated tax
- SSA — Social Security contribution and benefit base
- U.S. Department of Labor — Fair Labor Standards Act
- IRS — Official Tax Withholding Estimator
10 common hourly paycheck calculator questions
1. How do I calculate my hourly paycheck after taxes?
Multiply your hourly wage by regular hours worked, add overtime, then subtract estimated federal, Social Security, Medicare, applicable state/local taxes and other paycheck deductions. Use the calculator above to see estimated net pay for your selected pay period.
2. How much is $20 an hour after taxes in 2026?
At 40 paid hours per week for 52 weeks, $20/hour equals $41,600 annual gross pay. Your actual net amount depends on filing status, federal withholding, state/local rules and benefits. Enter $20 into the calculator to estimate take-home pay under your assumptions.
3. What is $25 an hour biweekly after taxes?
At 40 hours per week, $25/hour produces approximately $2,000 gross for a standard two-week period, before overtime and deductions. The net amount depends on taxes, withholding elections and employee benefits.
4. How much tax is deducted from hourly pay in 2026?
There is no single tax percentage for all hourly employees. Most covered W-2 workers pay 6.2% Social Security and 1.45% Medicare, along with applicable federal and state/local income taxes. Federal income tax varies with filing status, income and withholding details.
5. Does this calculator include overtime pay?
Yes. Enter overtime hours and select a multiplier, including 1.5× or 2×. The calculator adds estimated overtime wages to gross pay before estimating taxes. It does not determine whether your employment legally qualifies for a particular overtime rate.
6. Is overtime pay tax-free in 2026?
No. Qualified overtime compensation may create a federal income-tax deduction for eligible taxpayers, subject to specific conditions, but overtime wages are not automatically exempt from all taxes. The calculator does not assume you qualify for that deduction.
7. What is the difference between gross and net hourly pay?
Gross pay is what you earn before withholding and deductions. Net pay is the amount remaining after taxes, benefits and other paycheck deductions. Net pay is usually the amount deposited into your bank account.
8. Is biweekly pay the same as twice-monthly pay?
No. Biweekly generally means every two weeks, commonly 26 paychecks each year. Semimonthly means twice per month, or 24 paychecks annually. This difference affects the amount shown per paycheck.
9. Why is my actual paycheck lower than the estimate?
Your employer may withhold amounts for health insurance, retirement benefits, garnishments, disability insurance, local taxes, extra W-4 withholding or other deductions. Differences in payroll tax methods and actual hours worked may also explain the gap.
10. Can this hourly paycheck calculator estimate all 50 states?
The calculator supports hourly earnings and federal tax estimates for U.S. workers and lets you enter a state and local withholding percentage. It does not automatically calculate each state’s progressive brackets, special deductions, disability taxes or reciprocity rules. Verify your state withholding through official state guidance.