Salary Calculator 2026
See your exact take-home pay after federal income tax, FICA, and state tax (US) — or income tax, National Insurance, and Scottish rates (UK). Updated for 2026 and 2026/27.
Your details
Pre-tax. 2026 limit: $24,500/yr. Reduces income tax but not FICA.
2026 self-only limit: $4,400. Via payroll — avoids income tax AND FICA (7.65%).
Employer-sponsored premium. Avoids income tax AND FICA.
2026 projected federal brackets. State tax is an estimate — actual varies by filer.
Take-home pay
Enter your salary above to see your full breakdown
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How the US salary calculator works
All figures use 2026 projected federal rates (based on IRS 2025 brackets with inflation adjustment). State tax figures are estimated effective rates.
Enter your gross salary
Your annual salary before any deductions. This is the figure on your offer letter or W-2 Box 1 (before pre-tax deductions).
Choose filing status
Single, married filing jointly, or head of household. This determines your standard deduction ($15,200 / $30,400 / $22,800) and the income thresholds for each bracket.
Select your state
State income tax varies from 0% (TX, FL, WA, NV, TN, SD, WY, AK, NH) to over 9% (CA, HI, OR). We apply an estimated effective rate for your state.
Add pre-tax deductions
401(k) reduces federal and state taxable income. HSA and employer health insurance premiums also avoid FICA (Social Security + Medicare) — saving an extra 7.65%.
We calculate your take-home
Federal income tax → Social Security (6.2%) → Medicare (1.45% + 0.9% above $200k) → state tax → your net pay. Results show annual, monthly, bi-weekly, weekly, and daily figures.
2026 Federal Income Tax Brackets — Single Filers
Projected from IRS 2025 official brackets with ~2.8% COLA adjustment. Verify at IRS.gov before filing.
| Rate | Income Range (2026 est.) | Combined (+ FICA) |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | Up to $12,000 | 17.65% |
| 12% | $12,001 – $48,700 | 19.65% |
| 22% | $48,701 – $104,000 | 29.65% |
| 24% | $104,001 – $178,500 | 31.65% |
| 24% | $178,501 – $198,500 | 25.45%* |
| 32% | $198,501 – $252,200 | 33.45%* |
| 35%+ | Over $252,200 | 37%+ |
* SS wage base ($178,500) caps Social Security contribution. Above this, only Medicare (1.45%) applies.
State Income Tax Rates — All 50 States (2026)
Estimated effective rates. Actual liability depends on deductions, credits, and local taxes. Source: Tax Foundation.
🇺🇸 US tax — frequently asked questions
How are federal income tax brackets applied in the US?
The US uses a marginal tax system — only income within each bracket is taxed at that rate, not your entire salary. For 2026, a single filer earning $80,000 pays 10% on the first $12,000, 12% on the next $36,700, and 22% on the remaining income above $48,700. The marginal rate is 22%, but the effective (average) rate is much lower.
What is FICA and who pays it?
FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) funds Social Security and Medicare. Employees pay 6.2% Social Security (up to the $178,500 2026 wage base) and 1.45% Medicare on all wages. Employers match both — so the total contribution is 15.3%. An additional 0.9% Medicare surtax applies on wages above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (MFJ), paid by the employee only.
Why does my HSA save more tax than my 401(k)?
Both reduce federal income tax, but HSA contributions made via payroll (under Section 125 / cafeteria plan) also avoid FICA taxes — saving an extra 7.65% compared to your 401(k). A $4,400 HSA contribution saves approximately $968 in FICA alone, on top of your income tax saving.
Which states have no income tax in 2026?
Nine states levy no state income tax on wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire (wages only), South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. This can make a significant difference — a $120,000 salary in California generates roughly $11,160 in state tax vs $0 in Texas.
How does the 401(k) 2026 contribution limit work?
The 2026 elective deferral limit is $24,500 (IRS confirmed). Contributing up to this limit lowers your federal taxable income dollar-for-dollar. For someone in the 22% bracket, maximising contributions saves $5,390 in federal income tax. Catch-up contributions (age 50+) allow an additional $8,000.
What is the standard deduction vs itemising?
Our calculator uses the standard deduction ($15,200 single, $30,400 MFJ, $22,800 HoH for 2026). If your itemised deductions (mortgage interest, state taxes, charitable donations) exceed the standard deduction, you may owe less tax by itemising — but our estimate is accurate for the majority of filers who take the standard deduction.
🇺🇸 US sources & references
How the UK salary calculator works
All figures use confirmed HMRC 2026/27 rates. Thresholds are frozen until April 2028 per HMRC policy. Scottish rates are per the Scottish Government Budget 2026/27.
Enter your gross salary
Your annual salary before tax — the figure in your employment contract or P60.
Toggle Scottish if applicable
Scotland uses 6 different income tax bands (19%–48%), set by the Scottish Government. England, Wales, and Northern Ireland use 3 bands (20%/40%/45%).
Select your student loan plan
There are 5 plans. Plan 2 (post-2012 England/Wales) has a £29,385 threshold; Plan 4 (Scotland) £33,795; Plan 5 (from Aug 2023) £25,000. Each charges 9% above threshold.
Enter pension contribution
Employee pension contributions reduce your income tax base but NOT your National Insurance contributions. Auto-enrolment minimum is 5% employee.
We calculate your take-home
Income tax (with PA taper above £100k) → National Insurance (8% to £50,270, 2% above) → student loan → pension → take-home. Results include your marginal rate, employer NI, and tax band breakdown.
UK Income Tax 2026/27
England, Wales & N. Ireland. Source: HMRC.
| Personal Allowance | Up to £12,570 | 0% |
| Basic rate | £12,571–£50,270 | 20% |
| Higher rate | £50,271–£125,140 | 40% |
| Taper zone | £100,001–£125,140 | 60%* |
| Additional rate | Over £125,140 | 45% |
*Effective rate due to personal allowance withdrawal
Scottish Income Tax 2026/27
Source: GOV.UK Scottish Income Tax.
| Starter | £12,571–£16,537 | 19% |
| Basic | £16,538–£29,526 | 20% |
| Intermediate | £29,527–£43,662 | 21% |
| Higher | £43,663–£75,000 | 42% |
| Advanced | £75,001–£125,140 | 45% |
| Top | Over £125,140 | 48% |
National Insurance 2026/27 — Employee & Employer Rates
Source: HMRC — National Insurance rates and letters.
Employee (Class 1)
| Below £12,570/yr | 0% |
| £12,570 – £50,270/yr | 8% |
| Above £50,270/yr | 2% |
Employer (Class 1)
| Below £5,000/yr (ST) | 0% |
| Above £5,000/yr | 15% |
⬆ Employer rate increased from 13.8% → 15% in April 2025
🇬🇧 UK tax — frequently asked questions
How does UK income tax work in 2026/27?
UK income tax is progressive. Everyone gets a Personal Allowance of £12,570 at 0%. Above that, basic rate (20%) applies up to £50,270, higher rate (40%) up to £125,140, and additional rate (45%) above that. The Personal Allowance is tapered away for incomes above £100,000 — you lose £1 of allowance per £2 earned above £100,000, creating an effective 60% marginal rate between £100,000 and £125,140.
What is National Insurance and how is it calculated?
National Insurance (NI) funds the NHS, state pension, and other benefits. For 2026/27, employees pay 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270 (the Upper Earnings Limit), and 2% on everything above £50,270. NI is charged on your gross salary — pension contributions do not reduce your NI base, unlike income tax.
What are Scottish income tax rates for 2026/27?
Scotland has 6 bands: Starter rate 19% (£12,571–£16,537), Basic rate 20% (£16,538–£29,526), Intermediate rate 21% (£29,527–£43,662), Higher rate 42% (£43,663–£75,000), Advanced rate 45% (£75,001–£125,140), Top rate 48% (above £125,140). Scottish taxpayers pay these rates to the Scottish Government instead of UK rates.
Why is my employer NI so high?
From April 2025, employer National Insurance increased to 15% on all earnings above the Secondary Threshold (£5,000/year). For a £50,000 salary, this is £6,750 in employer NI — on top of your salary. This is why understanding the true cost of employment matters during salary negotiations: hiring you costs your employer significantly more than your gross salary.
How does pension salary sacrifice work?
With salary sacrifice, your employer formally reduces your salary and contributes the difference to your pension. This means contributions avoid both income tax AND National Insurance — saving you more than standard employee contributions. For a higher-rate taxpayer, pension salary sacrifice is especially powerful in the £100k–£125,140 taper zone, where marginal rates hit 62%.
Are UK income tax thresholds changing?
No. The UK government has frozen all major income tax thresholds until April 2028 — the personal allowance (£12,570), basic rate limit (£50,270), and the point at which the additional rate applies (£125,140). As wages rise with inflation, more people are pulled into higher tax bands — a process known as 'fiscal drag'.
🇬🇧 UK sources & references
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See how your salary compares by role
Our salary guides show median, min, and max figures for 12 major roles across the US and UK — so you can see whether you're being paid fairly.