CalcKitHourly Paycheck Calculator
Your pay
Estimate only — not payroll advice. Federal tax uses the 2026 brackets and standard deduction for a single filer ($16,100) or married filing jointly ($32,200); FICA is 7.65% on wages up to the 2026 Social Security wage base. State tax is not included here — use our paycheck calculator by state to add it. Your real paycheck will also be lower if you have health insurance, retirement or other deductions, or any local or city tax.
Example: $25 an hour, 40 hours a week, paid every 2 weeks — gross pay is $2,000 a paycheck ($52,000 a year). Federal tax is $156.15 and FICA is $153.00 a paycheck, so net pay is $1,690.85 a paycheck ($43,962 a year). State tax is not included in this estimate.
Behind the numbers
How your hourly paycheck is calculated
First the calculator works out your gross pay: hourly rate × hours per week × 52 weeks a year, split by your pay frequency (weekly = 52 paychecks, every 2 weeks = 26, twice a month = 24, monthly = 12). Then it estimates your federal income tax for 2026: subtract any pre-tax deductions and the standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly), then apply the 2026 marginal brackets (10% to $12,400, 12% to $50,400, 22% to $105,700 for single filers; the married brackets are roughly double). FICA is 6.2% Social Security on wages up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500, plus 1.45% Medicare on all wages, plus 0.9% additional Medicare on wages over $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married). Net pay is gross pay minus federal tax, FICA, any pre-tax deductions and any extra withholding.
$25 an hour, 40 hours a week, paid every 2 weeks: yearly gross = $25 × 40 × 52 = $52,000. Gross per paycheck = $52,000 ÷ 26 = $2,000. Federal taxable income = $52,000 − $16,100 = $35,900. Federal tax = ($12,400 × 10%) + ($23,500 × 12%) = $1,240 + $2,820 = $4,060 a year ($156.15 a paycheck). FICA = $52,000 × 7.65% = $3,978 a year ($153.00 a paycheck). Total deductions = $309.15 a paycheck, so net pay = $2,000 − $309.15 = $1,690.85 a paycheck ($43,962 a year).
Examples
Example hourly paychecks (single filer, paid every 2 weeks)
| Hourly rate | Hours / week | Gross / paycheck | Federal tax / paycheck | FICA / paycheck | Net / paycheck |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00 | 40 | $1,200.00 | $60.15 | $91.80 | $1,048.05 |
| $20.00 | 40 | $1,600.00 | $108.15 | $122.40 | $1,369.45 |
| $25.00 | 40 | $2,000.00 | $156.15 | $153.00 | $1,690.85 |
| $30.00 | 40 | $2,400.00 | $204.15 | $183.60 | $2,012.25 |
| $40.00 | 40 | $3,200.00 | $364.38 | $244.80 | $2,590.82 |
State income tax is not in this table — add it with our paycheck calculator by state. Paid weekly at $25 an hour and 40 hours a week, the same job is $1,000 gross and $845.42 net per paycheck.
Getting the most from your hourly pay
Your hourly rate is not your whole paycheck: a $25-an-hour job at 40 hours a week is $2,000 gross every 2 weeks, but after federal tax and FICA the example above is $1,690.85 — always budget on the net number.
Part-time hours change the math fast: at $25 an hour, 30 hours a week is $1,500 gross a paycheck (biweekly), not $2,000, so check the hours on your offer letter, not just the rate.
Pre-tax 401(k) or HSA contributions lower your federal taxable income, so they cut your federal tax in the year you make them — enter them above to see the effect.
Check your W-4: too little withholding means a tax bill in April, too much means an interest-free loan to the IRS all year.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my paycheck from my hourly rate?
Multiply your hourly rate by your hours per week, then by 52 weeks, to get your yearly gross pay, and divide by the number of paychecks a year. At $25 an hour and 40 hours a week, that is $25 × 40 × 52 = $52,000 a year, or $2,000 every 2 weeks. Then subtract federal tax and FICA — in the example above, $156.15 federal + $153.00 FICA — for a net pay of $1,690.85 a paycheck.
What is my annual salary if I make $25 an hour?
At 40 hours a week for 52 weeks, $25 an hour is $52,000 a year gross ($25 × 40 × 52). After the estimated federal tax and FICA above, take-home pay is about $43,962 a year, before any state tax or other deductions.
Does this include state tax?
No. This calculator estimates federal income tax and FICA only. State tax varies by state and is not included — to add it, use our paycheck calculator by state, which applies a simplified rate for each state. Nine states charge no income tax at all.
Is this exact, or payroll advice?
No. It is a simplified 2026 estimate for planning: federal tax uses the published 2026 brackets and standard deduction, and FICA uses the 2026 wage base, but it does not model state or local taxes, credits, exemptions, or deductions such as health insurance. Check current figures at irs.gov, or ask a tax professional, before acting.