Hourly Paycheck Calculator – Estimate Your Take-Home Pay
The hourly paycheck calculator helps you estimate your take-home pay based on your hourly wage, hours worked, and applicable taxes and deductions. Whether you're budgeting for the month, evaluating a new job offer, or simply curious about your net pay, this tool gives you a clear breakdown of where your money goes. Enter your details below to instantly see your gross pay, tax withholdings, and final paycheck amount.
Your gross hourly wage before any deductions.
Total regular hours you work each week.
Hours worked beyond your regular schedule, paid at 1.5x your hourly rate.
How often you receive a paycheck.
Your federal tax filing status affects your withholding rate.
Number of allowances claimed on your W-4. More allowances = less tax withheld.
Your state's income tax rate. Enter 0 if your state has no income tax.
Health insurance, 401(k) contributions, FSA, etc. deducted before taxes.
Roth 401(k), garnishments, or other deductions taken after taxes.
Your results will appear here
How to Use This Calculator
1. Enter your hourly rate in the 'Hourly Rate' field — this is your base pay before any deductions. 2. Input the number of regular hours you work each week and any overtime hours if applicable. 3. Select how frequently you are paid: weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly. 4. Choose your federal filing status (Single, Married Filing Jointly, or Head of Household) and enter the number of W-4 allowances you claim. 5. Enter your state's income tax rate — check your state government website if you're unsure. 6. Add any pre-tax deductions (such as 401(k) contributions or health insurance premiums) and post-tax deductions per paycheck. 7. Click Calculate to see your gross pay, each tax and deduction itemized, and your net take-home pay per paycheck along with annual totals.
How Your Hourly Paycheck Is Calculated
Your paycheck calculation starts with your gross pay — the total amount you earn before any taxes or deductions. From there, various federal, state, and local taxes are applied, along with any voluntary deductions you've authorized.
Step 1: Calculate Gross Pay
Gross pay for hourly workers is calculated as:
- Regular Pay = Hourly Rate × Regular Hours Per Week
- Overtime Pay = Hourly Rate × 1.5 × Overtime Hours Per Week
- Weekly Gross = Regular Pay + Overtime Pay
- Per-Paycheck Gross = (Weekly Gross × 52) ÷ Pay Periods Per Year
Step 2: Subtract Pre-Tax Deductions
Pre-tax deductions such as traditional 401(k) contributions, health insurance premiums, and FSA contributions are subtracted from your gross pay before taxes are calculated. This reduces your taxable income, which can lower your tax bill significantly.
Step 3: Federal Income Tax Withholding
Federal income tax is calculated using the IRS progressive tax brackets for 2024. Your taxable income is first reduced by the value of your W-4 allowances, and then the applicable tax rates are applied in tiers. The 2024 brackets for single filers range from 10% on the first $11,600 of taxable income up to 37% on income exceeding $609,350.
Step 4: FICA Taxes (Social Security & Medicare)
All employees pay FICA taxes, which fund Social Security and Medicare:
- Social Security Tax: 6.2% on wages up to the annual wage base limit ($160,200 for 2024)
- Medicare Tax: 1.45% on all wages (an additional 0.9% applies to high earners, not included here)
Step 5: State Income Tax
State income taxes vary widely. Nine states — including Texas, Florida, and Washington — have no state income tax. Others range from under 3% to over 13%. Enter your state's flat or effective rate to get an accurate estimate.
Step 6: Post-Tax Deductions
Post-tax deductions like Roth 401(k) contributions, wage garnishments, or union dues are subtracted after all taxes have been calculated. These do not reduce your taxable income.
Effective Tax Rate
Your effective tax rate is the percentage of your gross paycheck that goes to federal, state, Social Security, and Medicare taxes combined. It's a useful way to understand your overall tax burden at a glance.