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Take-Home Pay Estimator
Start with your gross pay for one pay period, subtract withholding and deductions as percentages and fixed amounts, and see an estimate of what actually reaches your account.
Your pay details
Your estimated take-home pay
| Gross pay | $2,000.00 |
| Federal withholding12% of gross | −$240.00 |
| State / provincial withholding5% of gross | −$100.00 |
| Other deductionsFixed amount per period | −$50.00 |
| Estimated net pay | $1,610.00 |
This is an estimate, not a payroll calculation. Actual withholding depends on tax tables, your allowances and filing status, pre-tax deductions, and your jurisdiction — your real net pay will differ.
How the math works
Each percentage deduction is calculated on the full gross pay, then everything is subtracted:
To find realistic percentages, look at a recent pay stub: divide each withholding line by the gross pay on that stub and multiply by 100. Using your own stub's effective rates makes this simple estimate much closer than guessing a tax bracket.
Worked example (in USD)
Gross pay of $2,000 for the period, 12% federal withholding, 5% state withholding, and $50 of other deductions:
Federal: $2,000 × 12% = $240
State: $2,000 × 5% = $100
Net: $2,000 − $240 − $100 − $50 = $1,610 take-home pay.
Common gotchas
- This is an estimate. Real withholding is worked out from tax tables and your W-4 (or TD1 in Canada) — allowances, filing status, and extra jobs all change it. Treat the result as a planning figure, not a promise.
- Percentages here apply to the full gross. In real payroll, pre-tax deductions like a 401(k) or health premiums reduce the taxable amount first, so income tax is often withheld on less than the full gross. This estimator keeps the math simple and will slightly overstate withholding if you have large pre-tax deductions.
- Payroll taxes may not be in your percentages. In the US, Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) are separate from federal income tax withholding. If your "federal %" only covers income tax, add those in or include them under other deductions.
- Match the period. Gross pay, percentages, and the fixed deduction amount must all describe the same pay period. Mixing a monthly salary with biweekly deductions is the most common way this estimate goes wrong.
- Net can't go below zero here. If deductions exceed gross pay, the estimator floors the result at zero — real payroll handles arrears and partial deductions under its own rules.