US paycheck, FICA and overtime
See take-home from a paycheck, the FICA cut, or overtime under the FLSA. The number stays on the page. Not an official IRS or DOL figure.
Paycheck, FICA and overtime
Most useful in this country
Pay, tax, or settlement first. The rest is below.
Single, $2,000 biweekly: federal tax $195.85 and FICA $153. You take home $1,651.15. A 10% 401(k) leaves $1,475.15.
Employee FICA for 2026: 6.2% Social Security up to $184,500 of wages plus 1.45% Medicare with no wage base. Default $2,000 → $153.
Federal overtime for one workweek: hours over 40 at 1.5× your regular hourly rate (FLSA).
Single, $2,000 biweekly: Pub 15-T withholds $195.85 this check, about $5,092 a year. Filing status, frequency, and Step 2 change that.
2026 federal standard deduction (Rev. Proc. 2025-32 §2.14)
FLSA floor $7.25/hour since 2009. 40 hrs = $290; 2,080 hrs/year = $15,080. Federal gross only; states may be higher.
2026 SECA tax: $50,000 net → $7,064.78 (SS $5,725.70 + Medicare $1,339.08). 15.3% on 92.35% of net earnings.
$50,000 net profit, single: SECA $7,064.78 + income tax $3,396.11 = $39,539.11. Quarterly estimate $2,615.22.
What a U.S. W-2 employee actually costs you: employer FICA match (26 U.S.C. § 3111) plus FUTA after the 5.4% credit.
IRS 2026 standard mileage deduction or reimbursement for one trip: business, medical, moving, or charitable. Mid-year rate change included.
U.S. federal tip credit for one workweek: cash wage + tips must reach $7.25/hour. If they do not, the employer makes up the difference (FLSA).
$1,000 bonus: federal $220 (22% Pub 15 §7) + FICA $76.50 = net $703.50. The 37% rate only applies above $1 million. Not IRS advice.
W-4 Step 4 (Pub 15-T 2026): default single $52,000 biweekly → $195.85 per period ($5,092/yr). Model 4(a) other income, 4(b) itemized net of standard deduction, and 4(c) extra per paycheck.
California overtime for one workweek: daily 8, weekly 40, double time after 12, and 7th-day overtime (Labor Code § 510). Default $20/hr → $1,200.
2026 HSA: $4,400 self-only or $8,750 family; +$1,000 catch-up at 55+ → $5,400 / $9,750 (Pub. 969).
Combined traditional + Roth IRA limit. With $2,000 already contributed under age 50 you have $5,500 left; age 50+ raises the cap to $8,600 ($6,600 left).
IRS 2026 elective deferral $24,500 + catch-up 50+ $8,000 or ages 60–63 $11,250. Example: $10,000 YTD at age 40 leaves $14,500.
IRC §72(p): lesser of $50,000 and the greater of $10,000 or 50% of your vested balance (not more than vested).
IRS Topic 558: 10% additional tax if you take a 401(k) distribution before age 59½. Ordinary income tax is separate.
IRC 3405(c) 20% mandatory withholding when an eligible rollover is paid to you. Direct rollover withholds $0.
Same gross deferral: compare after-tax future value. IRS 2026 elective limit $24,500 combined.
Estimate the employer match on recognized pay. 2026 IRC 401(a)(17) compensation cap $360,000.
2026 IRS catch-up on top of $24,500: $8,000 at 50+ or $11,250 at ages 60–63. See your total limit and room left.
IRS 2026 SIMPLE elective deferral $17,000. Catch-up age 50+ is $4,000. Not the regular $24,500 401(k) cap.
Lesser of 100% of pay or $72,000. Employee deferrals + employer contributions vs the IRS annual additions cap.
SECURE 2.0 emergency personal expense: up to $1,000 per year, no 10% early tax.
Qualified birth or adoption distribution (QBAD): up to $5,000 per child, no 10% early tax.
Required minimum distribution from a 401(k) using the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table. Age 73 start.
SECURE 2.0 excise tax on a missed 401(k) RMD: 25%, or 10% if corrected within two years.
IRS highly compensated employee threshold for 2026 is $160,000.
0.9% IRC § 3101(b)(2). With $250,000 Medicare wages and “other” status (single/HoH) the threshold is $200,000 → $50,000 excess → $450 tax. Joint $300,000 → $450; MFS $200,000 → $675.
IRC 3406 backup withholding is 24% of a reportable payment when the payee has no TIN or IRS notice.
IRC 6654: pay 100% of last year’s tax (110% if AGI was over $150,000) minus withholding, divided by 4.
Find the U.S. gross wages that produce a target take-home pay after 2026 federal withholding, FICA, and traditional 401(k).
6.0% on the first $7,000; after the maximum 5.4% credit the net is 0.6% ($42). $5,000 → $30; $20,000 still $42.
IRC 129 dependent-care FSA limit is $5,000 ($2,500 if married filing separately).
Section 199A: 20% of qualified business income, capped at 20% of taxable income.
Net Investment Income Tax: 3.8% of the lesser of NII or MAGI over $200,000 (single) / $250,000 (MFJ).
Self-employed health insurance deduction cannot exceed net profit from the business.
Quick answer: $50,000 at 18% for 3 years = $1,807.62/mo · $15,074.31 interest · $65,074.31 total (French PMT schedule).
Split net income with 50/30/20 or 70/20/10. Example $10,000 → $2,000/month savings ($24,000/year).
See how long debt takes to clear with and without extra payments, and how much interest you save.
Estimate months to pay off your card, total interest, and full cost from balance, APR, fixed payment, and fees
Calculate DTI from gross income and monthly payments to see loan or mortgage capacity
Calculate percentages quickly: find the percentage of a number, calculate percentage changes, and apply increases or discounts
Calculate the difference between two dates or add/subtract days, months, and years.
Solve proportions with simple (direct and inverse) and compound rule of three
Worked examples
Notes with numbers from the same calculator engine.
- Salary vs overtime: $25 × 50 hours → $1,375
- 401(k) catch-up: age 52 leaves $8,000, age 62 leaves $11,250
- SIMPLE 401(k) 2026: $17,000, not $24,500
- Washington / Nevada paycheck: $90,000 → $2,702.04
- 401(k) emergency withdrawal: $1,000 avoids $100
- 6% 401(k): FIT $181.45, FICA still $153
- W-4 Head of Household: $2,000 → FIT $154.62
- HSA catch-up at 55: $4,400 becomes $5,400
- FICA after $184,500: $7,500 check → $108.75
- US paycheck take-home: FICA first, then W-4
- FLSA overtime: 40-hour week, time and a half
- FICA 2026: $2,000 paycheck → $153
- 401(k) limit 2026: $10,000 YTD → $14,500 left
- Employer payroll cost: $52,000 → $56,020
- Texas / Florida paycheck: $75,000 → $2,296.17
- IRA vs 401(k): take the $2,400 match first
- W-4 Step 3: $2,000 credits → FIT $118.92
- Paycheck frequency: $52,000 biweekly nets $1,651.15
- Effective vs marginal: $2,000 biweekly is 9.79%
- W-4 two jobs: two $1,000 weeks withhold $195.84
- HSA vs FSA 2026: $4,400 vs $3,400 vs $5,000
- IRA deadline: $7,500 can still go in after Dec 31
- CA 40-hour week: four 10-hour days pay $880
- W-4 married both work: two $2,000 checks withhold $263.70
- HSA last-month vs FSA year-end: Dec 1 still unlocks $4,400
- QBI 199A: $100,000 / $80,000 → $16,000
- Roth vs traditional 401(k): $10,000 → $34,053.22
Frequently asked questions
What each tool covers, and what is not official.
What calculators are available for the United States?
Start with take-home paycheck, FICA, FLSA overtime and federal withholding. There are also 401(k) loans, early distributions, rollover withholding, Additional Medicare, gross-up, FUTA, HSA, IRA and the 401(k) deferral limit. All of them are free and the result stays on the page.
Where can I calculate my US paycheck?
Use the paycheck calculator: enter pay to see FICA and federal withholding when they apply. FICA and withholding also live on their own pages if you only want that line.
What is the difference between FICA, paycheck and overtime?
FICA is employee Social Security and Medicare. The paycheck estimates the deposit after FICA and withholding. FLSA overtime covers time-and-a-half after 40 hours in the week. Each tool shows only its line item.
Are these official IRS or DOL figures?
No. They are educational estimates. The official amount depends on your W-4, your state and your employer. Confirm with your stub, an accountant, the IRS or the Department of Labor.
Are there worked examples besides the calculators?
Yes. Below the cards there are paycheck, FICA, overtime, W-4 and 401(k) notes that use the same engine. Start with take-home or FICA, then open the Texas paycheck or IRA vs 401(k) guide if you want the breakdown.