ADP Paycheck Calculator
Calculate your US take-home pay after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state tax, and 401(k) deductions. Based on 2024 IRS rates.
About the ADP Paycheck Calculator
Knowing your take-home pay before you start a new job or negotiate a raise is essential for financial planning. Your gross salary and your net (after-tax) pay can differ significantly — federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state income tax, and pre-tax retirement contributions can collectively reduce your paycheck by 20–40% depending on your income level and location.
This paycheck calculator applies 2024 IRS tax brackets, the standard deduction, FICA rates (Social Security at 6.2% up to $168,600 and Medicare at 1.45%), and lets you specify your state's flat effective tax rate. It also factors in pre-tax 401(k) contributions, which reduce your federal taxable income and lower your tax bill.
The calculation models most common scenarios but does not account for itemized deductions, HSA contributions, FSA elections, additional withholding elections on your W-4, or supplemental wages. For detailed payroll calculations, consult your employer's HR department or a tax professional.
How Federal Income Tax Withholding Works
Federal income tax in the United States uses a progressive bracket system where different portions of your income are taxed at increasing rates. For 2024, the brackets for single filers start at 10% on the first $11,600 of taxable income, rising through 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and finally 37% on income above $609,350. Married filing jointly brackets are approximately double the single brackets at each threshold. A common misconception is that a raise pushing you into a higher bracket means all your income is taxed at the higher rate — in reality, only the income above the bracket threshold is taxed at the higher rate.
The standard deduction reduces your taxable income before brackets are applied. For 2024, the standard deduction is $14,600 for single filers and $29,200 for married filing jointly. Pre-tax 401(k) contributions also reduce your federal taxable income (though not your FICA base). This means contributing to a 401(k) both grows your retirement savings and reduces your current tax bill — a double benefit that makes pre-tax retirement contributions one of the most effective financial planning tools available.
FICA taxes — Social Security and Medicare — are separate from income tax and are assessed on gross wages regardless of deductions. Social Security is taxed at 6.2% on earnings up to the wage base limit ($168,600 in 2024). Medicare is taxed at 1.45% on all earnings, with an additional 0.9% surtax on earnings above $200,000 for single filers. Your employer matches both Social Security and Medicare contributions, effectively doubling the amount contributed in your name, though this match does not appear on your paycheck.