Paycheck Estimator
Estimate one paycheck, then test what moves it. The table below runs the same $75,000 salary through seven real choices (401(k), health premium, W-4 Steps 2, 3 and 4(c), filing status) so you can see the dollar effect before you change a form.
How to use the estimator
Start with the calculator above. Set the pay type and frequency to match your employer, pick your state, and leave the other fields blank. Compare the result with your last stub. Then change one field at a time so you can see which one explains the difference.
The estimator uses the same engine as the paycheck calculator: federal withholding follows IRS Publication 15-T for 2026, Social Security and Medicare follow IRS Publication 15, and the state line is cited on each result. This page adds the sensitivity table so you can see how a choice changes net pay before you make it.
Where the money goes when you change one thing
Baseline: $75,000, single, Texas (no state wage tax), paid every two weeks. The paycheck is $2,368.94 after $515.68 of tax. Each row changes one thing and shows the new check.
Same salary, different pay frequency
Paying the same salary more or less often changes the size of each check, not the annual total. The small differences in the net-per-year column come from how the withholding tables round and annualize each period.
A five-step way to reconcile an estimate with a stub
1. Match gross pay for the period first. If it differs, the hours, rate, overtime, or pre-tax deductions are different from what you entered.
2. Check Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) next. They are the easiest lines to verify: gross wages for FICA times the rate.
3. Check federal income tax against your W-4: filing status, Step 2, Step 3, and Step 4 entries.
4. Look at the state and local lines. A state payroll program or a city tax can be a separate stub line the estimate does not include.
5. Add year-to-date effects: the Social Security cap, a bonus period, or a mid-year W-4 change. The pay stub guide explains each line.
| Change | Check | Versus start | Net per year | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting point | $2,368.94 | - | $61,592 | Single, blank 2020 W-4, paid every two weeks, no benefits. |
| 6% to a traditional 401(k) | $2,233.94 | -$135.00 | $58,082 | Lowers income tax wages but not Social Security or Medicare wages. |
| 6% to a Roth 401(k) | $2,195.86 | -$173.08 | $57,092 | Comes out of the check but does not lower any tax. |
| $150 a check for health insurance (pre-tax) | $2,263.42 | -$105.52 | $58,848 | A cafeteria-plan premium lowers income tax, Social Security and Medicare wages. |
| W-4 Step 2 box checked | $2,188.28 | -$180.66 | $56,895 | Withholds as if there is a second job, which uses the lower brackets once. |
| W-4 Step 3 credit of $2,000 | $2,445.86 | +$76.92 | $63,592 | One child under 17: the credit lowers withholding by $2,000 over the year. |
| W-4 Step 4(c) extra $50 a check | $2,318.94 | -$50.00 | $60,292 | Extra income tax withholding, refunded or credited when you file. |
| Married filing jointly | $2,485.48 | +$116.54 | $64,622 | Wider brackets and a larger standard deduction in the withholding formula. |
| Frequency | Checks a year | Gross per check | Net per check | Net per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 52 | $1,442.31 | $1,184.48 | $61,592 |
| Every two weeks | 26 | $2,884.62 | $2,368.94 | $61,592 |
| Twice a month | 24 | $3,125.00 | $2,566.36 | $61,592 |
| Monthly | 12 | $6,250.00 | $5,132.70 | $61,592 |
Keep reading
Questions
How do I estimate my paycheck?
Enter your pay, how often you are paid, your state and filing status, then add pre-tax deductions such as a 401(k) percent or a health premium. Add your W-4 steps if you filled them in. The result lists each withholding line, so you can compare it with a stub.
Why does a 401(k) lower my take-home by less than the contribution?
Traditional 401(k) money is not taxed for income tax. On the $75,000 example, a 6% contribution is $173.08 less taxable income a check, but take-home falls only $135.00 because federal income tax drops. Social Security and Medicare are still figured on the full wage.
Does pay frequency change how much I keep in a year?
Only slightly. The same salary paid weekly, every two weeks, twice a month or monthly has about the same annual take-home. What changes is the size of each check and, with 26 or 52 checks, how many a month contain three.
Which W-4 step has the biggest effect?
Step 3 changes withholding by the credit amount divided across the year; Step 2 raises withholding the most for a single earner; Step 4(c) is a flat add-on per check. The table shows each on the same salary.
Why is my real stub different from an estimate?
Common reasons: year-to-date wages (Social Security stops at $184,500), local tax, a state payroll program the estimate flags but does not include, a different W-4, bonus or overtime in the period, and rounding. The pay stub guides on this site list each line.
Is it free, and do I need an account?
It is free and there is no signup or login. The math runs in your browser, so the pay figures you type are not sent to PaycheckZip.com. Page views, calculator use, sharing and printing are counted, by the site itself and by Google Analytics, without the amounts you type.