US · 2026
Hourly paycheck calculator
| Item | Per paycheck | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,000.00 | $52,000.00 |
| Federal income tax | −$156.15 | −$4,059.90 |
| Social security | −$124.00 | −$3,224.00 |
| Medicare | −$29.00 | −$754.00 |
| Take-home pay | $1,690.85 | $43,962.10 |
The official method, step by step
- A week's gross pay is the hourly rate times the regular hours, plus overtime hours at one and a half times the rate (or at the regular rate if you untick time and a half).
- Each paycheck is the weekly pay times the weeks it covers: one for weekly pay, two for every two weeks, 52 ÷ 24 for twice a month and 52 ÷ 12 for monthly.
- Pay is annualized, then reduced by the Form W-4 amount for your filing status ($8,600, or $12,900 if married filing jointly) unless the Step 2 box is checked.
- Federal income tax comes from the IRS 2026 Annual Percentage Method table for that status, divided back to one paycheck.
- Social security is 6.2% of wages until the year's wages reach $184,500.
- Medicare is 1.45% of all wages, plus 0.9% on wages over $200,000 in the year.
- A pre-tax 401(k) lowers federal income tax wages, not social security or Medicare wages.
- State lines, where your work state has them, come from the same state rules as that state's paycheck calculator page.
What this leaves out
- Hours that change from week to week (enter a typical week)
- Daily overtime rules, double time and overtime exemptions: enter overtime as you're actually paid for it
- Tips, bonuses and commissions
- Local taxes, benefits and garnishments
- W-4 Step 3 credits and Step 4 entries (the pay stub generator handles them)
Sources: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division: Overtime Pay (FLSA: hours over 40 in a workweek at not less than time and one-half the regular rate); IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods: Worksheet 1A and the Annual Percentage Method Tables; IRS Publication 15 (2026), (Circular E) Employer's Tax Guide: social security and Medicare tax, Additional Medicare Tax.
Hourly paycheck calculator: common questions
How do I work out my paycheck from an hourly rate?
Multiply the rate by the hours you work in the pay period, add overtime at the overtime rate, and you have gross pay. Then take off federal income tax, social security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%) and any state tax to get take-home pay.
How is overtime calculated?
Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, covered non-exempt employees get at least one and a half times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. Some states add daily overtime or double time; enter those hours as overtime only if they're paid at 1.5×.
How much is $25 an hour after taxes?
It depends on hours, state and Form W-4. The calculator starts at $25 an hour for 40 hours a week paid every two weeks, which is $2,000 gross per paycheck; change the state and filing status to see your own take-home.
Why does a twice-a-month paycheck show odd hours?
Twice-a-month pay covers 52 ÷ 24 weeks, a little over two weeks, so the paycheck is 2.17 weeks of pay. Monthly pay covers 52 ÷ 12, about 4.33 weeks.
Can I make a pay stub from this?
Yes. “Make a pay stub with these numbers” opens the pay stub generator with this paycheck, your work state and these deductions filled in. You add the pay date, the employer and employee details, and can list the regular and overtime hours as separate earnings.
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