About PaycheckWise

PaycheckWise is a free educational tool that helps people understand the gap between their salary and their actual take-home pay.

Most people know their salary but are surprised by how much smaller their paycheck is. Between federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and state tax, a big slice comes out before you ever see it. We built this site to make those deductions clear and easy to estimate.

What we do

Our paycheck calculator uses the official 2026 federal tax brackets, the standard deduction and current FICA rates, plus a simplified state tax estimate, to show your approximate net pay. We also publish plain-English guides explaining each deduction.

What we are not

We are not accountants, tax preparers or financial advisors, and nothing here is tax or financial advice. Our figures are educational estimates. For your specific situation, consult a qualified tax professional or the IRS.

Accuracy

We update our figures for each tax year and aim to keep explanations clear and honest. Spotted something to improve? Tell us on the contact page.