What hits your
bank account?
See your exact paycheck after taxes, 401k, health insurance, and other deductions — for any pay frequency, updated for 2026.
California · Biweekly (26 paychecks/yr) · 2026 tax brackets
What Gets Deducted From Your Paycheck
Your gross salary is not what you take home. Here is what gets deducted each pay period:
- Federal income tax: Based on your W-4 withholding elections and tax bracket.
- State income tax: Varies by state. Seven states have none at all.
- Social Security: 6.2% of gross wages up to $176,100 (2026 wage base).
- Medicare: 1.45% of all gross wages, plus a 0.9% surcharge above $200,000.
- Pre-tax deductions: 401(k) contributions, HSA, health insurance premiums — these reduce your taxable income before tax is applied.
- Post-tax deductions: After-tax contributions or other withholdings come out last.
The order matters. Pre-tax deductions reduce the income that taxes are calculated on, so they save you more than their face value.
How Pre-Tax Deductions Work
Contributing to a 401(k) or HSA before tax has a compounding benefit: it reduces your taxable income and your tax bill at the same time.
Example: if you are in the 22% federal bracket and contribute $500/month to a traditional 401(k):
- Your taxable income drops by $500
- Your federal tax bill drops by $110 (22% of $500)
- Your take-home only decreases by $390 — not $500
In other words, a $500 pre-tax contribution "costs" you only $390 in take-home pay while putting the full $500 into your retirement account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my actual paycheck different from the calculator result?+
The calculator estimates taxes based on annualized income. Actual withholding depends on your W-4 elections, filing status, and year-to-date earnings. Social Security withholding also stops once you hit the annual wage base.
What is the difference between pre-tax and post-tax deductions?+
Pre-tax deductions (traditional 401k, HSA, FSA, many health insurance premiums) come out before income tax is calculated, lowering your taxable income. Post-tax deductions come out after taxes and do not reduce your tax bill.
Does my W-4 affect every paycheck?+
Yes. Your W-4 tells your employer how much to withhold. Any changes take effect on your next paycheck after your employer processes the update.
Calculate total take-home after all taxes — no deductions needed.
Open Salary Calculator →See how much more a contractor needs to earn to match your W-2 take-home.
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