US paycheck guide
Why a paycheck estimate can differ from your payslip
A salary calculator is useful for planning, but payroll withholding is calculated pay period by pay period and may not match an annual estimate exactly.
In short
Federal tax, FICA, state tax, benefits and your Form W-4 can all change the amount deposited on a particular payday.
Annual estimate versus payroll calculation
Our paycheck calculator estimates annual tax and divides it across your selected pay frequency. Payroll software instead applies withholding rules to each check, which can create small differences even when salary is the same.
Form W-4 choices
Your filing status, multiple-job adjustment, dependants and any extra withholding on Form W-4 affect federal income-tax withholding. A take-home estimate cannot infer these choices.
Benefits and deductions
Traditional 401(k), health insurance, HSA, commuter benefits, union dues and wage garnishments can all change net pay. Some deductions are pre-tax and others are taken after tax.
Variable pay
Overtime, commissions and bonuses can make one paycheck look very different from another. Social Security withholding can also stop once wages reach the annual wage base.
Use the US paycheck calculator for a planning estimate, then compare it with your payslip. The IRS explains how tax withholding works.