Why Use This Calculator?
An hourly paycheck has two parts people forget to add up: the regular hours and the overtime at time-and-a-half. This calculator sums the gross properly, then estimates take-home by subtracting FICA (the standard 7.65% for Social Security and Medicare) and a flat federal-rate guess.
The federal line is deliberately simple — real withholding depends on your W-4, state, and bracket history. Treat the take-home figure as a planning estimate and adjust the federal percentage until it matches a recent real paycheck.
How It Works
- Enter weekly hours, your hourly rate, and any overtime hours.
- Pick your pay frequency and adjust the FICA and federal percentages if needed.
- Compare gross and estimated take-home per paycheck, plus the annualized figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is this take-home pay calculator?
Gross pay is exact for the hours you enter. The net figure is an estimate: FICA is the true standard rate, but federal income tax withholding depends on your W-4 and brackets — tune the federal field against a real paycheck.
Is this a gross pay calculator too?
Yes — the gross number is computed before any deductions and annualized, which is often what loan and rental applications ask for.
How does overtime change my paycheck?
Overtime hours pay the same rate times your multiplier (federal law sets 1.5× past 40 hours for non-exempt workers). Five OT hours a week at $22 becomes $165 extra weekly before tax.
Tips & Things to Watch
- Federal 12% is a reasonable single-filer guess for moderate incomes — calibrate to your real stub.
- State income tax isn't included; nine states have none, others take 3–10%.
- Overtime is taxed at the same rate as regular income — the 'OT pushes you into a higher bracket' myth only affects the marginal slice.