A worked example
A single filer earning $75,000 a year pays about $7,670 in federal income tax plus $5,738 in Social Security and Medicare combined — landing at roughly $2,369 take-home per bi-weekly paycheck.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Social Security tax stop but Medicare doesn't?
Social Security tax only applies up to an annual wage base ($184,500 for 2026) — earnings above that aren't taxed for Social Security, reflecting how the benefit itself is capped. Medicare has no such cap; it applies to every dollar earned.
What's the Additional Medicare Tax?
An extra 0.9% that kicks in on wages above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly), on top of the standard 1.45% Medicare rate — a feature of the Affordable Care Act aimed at higher earners.
Why doesn't this match my actual paycheck exactly?
This covers federal income tax and FICA only. Your actual paycheck also reflects state and local income tax (which varies enormously by location), plus any pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions or health insurance premiums.
This calculator provides estimates for general informational purposes only and is not tax advice. Excludes state/local tax and pre-tax deductions, which can meaningfully change actual take-home pay.