Free payroll calculator: estimate federal tax, FICA and net pay per paycheck, plus total employer cost. Uses 2026 rates.
Employer-side estimate: federal tax, FICA, net pay per period and total employer cost (2026 rates).
| Gross pay | $0 |
| Federal income tax (2026 brackets) | $0 |
| Social Security (6.2% up to $184,500) | $0 |
| Medicare (1.45%, no cap) | $0 |
| Additional Medicare tax (0.9% over $200k/$250k) | $0 |
| Pre-tax deductions | $0 |
| Net pay (annual) | $0 |
| Employer cost (gross + employer FICA 7.65%) | $0 |
Disclaimer: Federal taxes only — state and local income taxes vary by location and are not included. Figures use 2026 federal brackets, the $16,100/$32,200 standard deduction and the $184,500 Social Security wage base (IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32; SSA). Pre-tax deductions are assumed to reduce both income-tax and FICA wages. For payroll withholding tables, verify with IRS Publication 15. This is an estimate, not tax advice.
A payroll calculator answers two questions every employer and employee asks: how much of a salary actually lands in the bank, and what does that employee really cost the business? This tool estimates federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare withholding from a gross salary, then shows net pay per paycheck and the employer’s total cost including the employer’s share of FICA.
Every US paycheck is reduced by two separate federal systems. Federal income tax uses progressive tax brackets: the 2026 rates run from 10% to 37%, and only the income inside each bracket is taxed at that rate. Before brackets apply, the standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly for 2026) is subtracted from gross pay.
FICA taxes fund Social Security and Medicare and are split between employee and employer. Employees pay 6.2% Social Security tax on wages up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500, and 1.45% Medicare tax on all wages with no cap. High earners also pay an additional 0.9% Medicare tax on wages above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (joint) — the employer does not match that portion. The employer matches Social Security and the base Medicare tax, adding 7.65% on top of gross pay, which is why an employee costs more than their salary.
The calculation follows these steps:
Worked example: A single filer earns $85,000/year, paid monthly, with $6,000 in pre-tax 401(k) contributions.
A small business hiring at $60,000/year often budgets exactly $60,000 — a mistake. The employer’s 7.65% FICA share adds about $4,590 (Social Security on the full $60,000 plus Medicare), making the true cash cost roughly $64,590 before any benefits, workers’ comp or unemployment insurance. For the employee, that same $60,000 (single, no deductions, paid biweekly) nets roughly $47,400/year or about $1,823 per paycheck after federal tax and FICA. Both sides of that gap are what this calculator makes visible.
Salary Calculator — convert between hourly, monthly and annual pay.
Income Tax Calculator — estimate your total federal income tax liability.
Take Home Paycheck Calculator — see exactly what each paycheck leaves you with.
This page is a payroll calculator on Sigma Calculator. It estimates US federal payroll figures for 2026: federal income tax using the 2026 single/MFJ brackets and standard deduction, employee Social Security (6.2% to the $184,500 wage base), Medicare (1.45% uncapped, plus 0.9% over $200k/$250k), net pay per pay period, and total employer cost including the 7.65% employer FICA share. Federal taxes only; state/local taxes excluded. Estimates should be verified against IRS Publication 15.
Gross pay is your total earnings before any deductions. Net pay (take-home pay) is what remains after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and any pre-tax deductions are subtracted. For example, an $85,000 salary can net about $64,406.50 per year after federal taxes and a $6,000 401(k) contribution.
The 2026 Social Security wage base is $184,500. Employees and employers each pay 6.2% Social Security tax on wages up to that amount, for a maximum employee contribution of $11,439. Wages above $184,500 are exempt from Social Security tax but still subject to Medicare tax.
Beyond gross salary, the employer pays a matching 6.2% Social Security tax (up to the $184,500 wage base) and 1.45% Medicare tax — 7.65% combined. A $60,000 hire therefore costs roughly $64,590 in cash compensation alone, before benefits and insurance.
Yes. Contributions like 401(k) deferrals and HSA contributions reduce both your taxable income for federal income tax and generally your wages subject to Social Security and Medicare tax, which lowers your overall tax bill and slightly raises take-home pay compared with after-tax deductions.
No. This calculator covers federal taxes only — federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare. State and local income taxes vary widely by location, so check your state’s revenue department or a full paycheck calculator for those figures.
Cite this page as: “Payroll Calculator.” Sigma Calculator. Accessed October 20, 2026. https://sigmacalculator.net/financial-calculators/payroll-calculator/
Last updated: October 20, 2026