Paycheck BookU.S. take-home estimates

Reverse estimate

How Much Do I Need to Make

Enter the take-home amount you want, for a year or for one paycheck. The calculator searches for the estimated gross pay that produces that net under the same 2026 FICA rules and the income-tax percentages you enter. It is not a living-wage or housing-affordability tool.

Take-home target

Start with a sample if you want to see a result first. You can change every number afterward. The estimate updates as you type.

Enter the net amount you want to keep, in U.S. dollars.
The calculator multiplies this percentage when it searches for a matching gross salary.
A yearly traditional 401(k)-style amount. It lowers the income-tax base and does not lower FICA here.

Estimated gross pay needed

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    How the calculator figures the estimate

    The calculator uses the same forward model as the other tools, then searches for the lowest annual gross pay whose estimated take-home meets your target. FICA for 2026 is Social Security at 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare at 1.45%, and Additional Medicare Tax at 0.9% above $200,000. Income tax uses the percentages you enter.

    If those percentages plus FICA leave almost no room, or if the target sits above the calculator’s limit, the result says the target cannot be solved. The search is not a promise that an employer will pay that figure.

    Common questions

    Why is this not a living-wage calculator?

    A living-wage figure prices a local basket of goods. This page only inverts a paycheck estimate. It does not price rent, food, or childcare.

    Should I start from one check or from a yearly total?

    If you think in monthly bills, yearly take-home is the cleaner target. A single check changes size when the frequency changes, even when the year is the same.

    Why do I still enter a federal percentage?

    The reverse search needs the same income-tax assumption as the forward tools. Without a percentage, federal tax in the model is $0.00 and the implied salary comes out too low for a taxed job.

    Why is this not my pay stub?

    Payroll uses withholding tables. This estimate uses published FICA rates and the percentages you type, then works backward.

    What if I also use the main paycheck calculator?

    You can check the result. Enter the implied annual gross on the paycheck calculator with the same percentages. The take-home should land at or just above your target.