Paycheck Estimator - 2026 Take-Home Pay by State
Enter your pay and see what lands in your bank account each payday, with federal, state and local taxes worked out from the official 2026 tables.
Most popular: Georgia paycheck estimator →
Your Georgia take-home pay
$1,851.70per paycheck (every 2 weeks)
$48,144 a year · from $2,307.69 gross · 19.8% of pay goes to taxes
| Gross pay | $2,307.69 |
|---|---|
| Federal income tax | −$193.08 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | −$143.08 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | −$33.46 |
| Georgia income tax | −$86.37 |
| Take-home pay | $1,851.70 |
Take-Home Report: up to 3 scenarios, W-4 check-up and a printable PDF - $4.99 one-time.
- ℹ️ Georgia withholding uses the new 4.99% flat rate (in effect for paychecks from May 11, 2026; 5.19% before that).
Estimate only - not tax, legal or payroll advice. Results use the official 2026 withholding tables but your employer's payroll may differ. For decisions that matter, check with your payroll department or a tax professional.
Updated October 4, 2026 · Reviewed by the Paycheck Estimators editorial team · Sources: IRS Pub 15-T (2026) and state revenue departments
This paycheck estimator shows what you'll actually take home each payday in 2026. Enter a salary or hourly wage, pick your state, and it works out federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state income tax and local taxes using the official IRS and state withholding tables, the same rules your employer's payroll uses. Start with Georgia, our most-used state, or pick yours below.
2026 take-home pay by state: $60,000 salary
The same paycheck looks very different from one state to the next. On a $60,000 salary paid every two weeks (single, standard W-4), you'd take home about $1,938.07 per check in Texas, $1,851.70 in Georgia and $1,838.71 in California.
| State | State tax per check | Take-home per check | Take-home per year | Paycheck estimator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | $86.37 | $1,851.70 | $48,144 | [Georgia estimator](/georgia-paycheck-estimator) |
| Texas | $0.00 | $1,938.07 | $50,390 | [Texas estimator](/texas-paycheck-estimator) |
| California | $99.36 | $1,838.71 | $47,806 | [California estimator](/california-paycheck-estimator) |
| New York | $114.09 | $1,823.98 | $47,423 | [New York estimator](/new-york-paycheck-estimator) |
| Illinois | $108.66 | $1,829.41 | $47,565 | [Illinois estimator](/illinois-paycheck-estimator) |
| Ohio | $54.33 | $1,883.74 | $48,977 | [Ohio estimator](/ohio-paycheck-estimator) |
| New Jersey | $92.16 | $1,845.91 | $47,994 | [New Jersey estimator](/new-jersey-paycheck-estimator) |
| Michigan | $88.43 | $1,849.64 | $48,091 | [Michigan estimator](/michigan-paycheck-estimator) |
What comes out of every paycheck
Every US paycheck starts with gross pay and loses the same few federal items, then whatever your state and city add:
- Pre-tax benefits come out first: traditional 401(k) or 403(b), health, dental and vision premiums, and HSA contributions. They lower the pay that gets taxed.
- Federal income tax depends on your W-4: filing status, the Step 2 box, dependents and any extra deductions or withholding.
- Social Security (6.2%) on wages up to $184,500 in 2026, and Medicare (1.45%), plus 0.9% on wages above $200,000.
- State income tax: flat in states like Georgia (4.99%), Illinois (4.95%) and Michigan (4.25%); graduated in California, New York and New Jersey; zero in Texas, Florida and seven other states.
- Local tax and state insurance: NYC and Yonkers, Detroit and other Michigan cities, Ohio cities and school districts; plus disability and family-leave deductions in California, New Jersey and New York.
- After-tax deductions: Roth 401(k), union dues, garnishments.
How the paycheck estimator works
We annualize your pay, apply the 2026 IRS Publication 15-T percentage method (worksheet 1A for 2020-and-later W-4s), then apply your state's own employer withholding formula, and divide back to one paycheck. Each state page lists its official source and the date we last checked it. The calculation runs entirely in your browser: nothing you type is sent to us.
We test the engine against the worked examples printed in the official guides (the Georgia DOR, California EDD and New York tax department examples match to the cent) so you can trust the numbers as a close estimate of your real stub.
Biweekly vs semi-monthly: why your paycheck size changes
Being paid every two weeks means 26 paychecks a year; twice a month means 24. On $60,000 in Georgia that's about $1,851.70 biweekly versus $2,006.02 semi-monthly: same annual pay, different check size. Biweekly workers get two "extra" paychecks a year, in months with three paydays.
5 ways to change your take-home pay in 2026
- Update your W-4 after a new job, marriage, baby or second job. Wrong withholding is the #1 cause of surprise tax bills and oversized refunds.
- Claim the new tips and overtime deduction. For 2025–2028 you can deduct up to $25,000 of tips and $12,500 of overtime premium; putting it on your W-4 raises each paycheck now instead of waiting for a refund.
- Use pre-tax benefits. A 6% 401(k) on $60,000 cuts take-home by only about $114.93 per check, not the full $138.46, because it lowers your income tax.
- Check local taxes before you move. Living in NYC or Detroit, or working in an Ohio city, can cost 1–4% of pay.
- Compare offers on take-home, not salary. A higher salary in a high-tax state can leave you with less. That's what the Take-Home Report's side-by-side comparison is for.
Paycheck estimators by state
Each state page explains that state's 2026 withholding rules, local taxes and common mistakes, with take-home tables for common salaries and hourly wages. More states are added every month.
- Georgia paycheck estimator4.99% flat · no local tax
- Texas paycheck estimatorNo state income tax
- California paycheck estimator1.1–14.6% · 1.3% SDI, no cap
- New York paycheck estimatorNYS + NYC/Yonkers · PFL
- Illinois paycheck estimator4.95% flat · $2,925 allowance
- Ohio paycheck estimatorNew Aug 2026 tables · city tax
- New Jersey paycheck estimator1.5–11.8% · UI + TDI + FLI
- Michigan paycheck estimator4.25% flat · 24 cities tax wages
Paycheck estimator FAQ
How do I estimate my paycheck?
Enter your salary or hourly wage, how often you're paid, your filing status and your state. The estimator subtracts federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state and local taxes and any benefits to show your take-home pay per check.
How much of my paycheck goes to taxes?
For a single person earning $60,000, about 16.0% in Texas, 19.8% in Georgia and 20.3% in California, including federal tax, FICA and state taxes.
What is the federal standard deduction for 2026?
$16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married filing jointly and $24,150 for head of household. The W-4 withholding tables build it in automatically.
What is the 2026 Social Security wage limit?
$184,500. Social Security (6.2%) stops once your wages for the year pass that amount; Medicare (1.45%) never stops.
Does the estimator include the no tax on tips and overtime rule?
Yes. It applies the 2025–2028 federal deduction for qualified tips (up to $25,000) and overtime premium (up to $12,500, or $25,000 joint) as a W-4 Step 4(b) deduction. You can switch it off.
Is this paycheck estimator free?
Yes, the estimator is free with no signup. An optional $4.99 Take-Home Report adds side-by-side comparisons, a W-4 check-up and a printable PDF.
Is my salary information stored?
No. All calculations happen in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to our servers or stored.
How accurate is a paycheck estimator?
Very close for regular wages: we use the official 2026 tables and match the states' own worked examples. Bonuses, mid-year changes and employer rounding can make your actual stub differ slightly. It's an estimate, not tax advice.