Payroll Deduction Calculator
Every Line That Comes Out Before You See Your Pay
A pay stub lists deductions individually — Social Security, Medicare, federal tax, state tax, 401(k), health insurance — but rarely totals what percentage of gross pay they add up to. This calculator itemizes each deduction separately and rolls them into a single total, showing exactly what share of gross pay never reaches take-home.
The Formula
Total Deductions = Taxes (FICA + Federal + State) + Voluntary Deductions
Net Pay = Gross Pay − Total Deductions
Net Pay = Gross Pay − Total Deductions
Voluntary deductions — 401(k)/retirement contributions and health insurance premiums — are treated as pre-tax, reducing the income federal and state tax apply to, while FICA is calculated on gross wages before any voluntary deductions are subtracted.
A Worked Example
| Deduction | Amount per Period |
|---|---|
| Social Security (6.2%) | $186.00 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | $43.50 |
| Federal Tax (12% of taxable) | $318.00 |
| State Tax (5% of taxable) | $132.50 |
| 401(k) / Retirement | $150.00 |
| Health Insurance | $100.00 |
| Other Deductions | $20.00 |
| Total Deductions | $967.00 (32.23% of gross) |
| Net Pay | $2,033.00 |
Where This Matters
- Open enrollment decisions — testing how adding or increasing a health insurance premium or 401(k) contribution changes net pay before committing to a plan year.
- Understanding your deduction rate — the percentage of gross pay lost to taxes and deductions varies by income and elections; seeing it as one number clarifies the full picture.
- Auditing a pay stub — verifying that each line item matches what you elected during onboarding or the last benefits enrollment period.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter gross pay per period.
- Select a pay frequency.
- Enter estimated federal and state tax rates as percentages.
- Enter 401(k)/retirement contribution per period, if any.
- Enter health insurance premium per period, if any.
- Enter other deductions per period, if any.
- Select Calculate to see total deductions and net pay per period.
Related Calculations
See the same breakdown from an annual salary with the Salary Paycheck Calculator, or isolate just federal withholding with the Tax Withholding Calculator.