Methodology & Sources

Data last verified November 2, 2026. Calculations use tax year 2026 unless stated otherwise.

Paycheck calculator

Federal income tax: annual wages minus pre-tax 401(k) contributions and the 2026 standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, $24,150 head of household), taxed using the 2026 IRS brackets. This approximates annual liability; actual withholding follows IRS Publication 15-T and your W-4.
Social Security and Medicare: 6.2% up to $184,500 and 1.45% on all wages, plus 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax above $200,000 ($250,000 married filing jointly).
State income tax: each state's 2026 brackets, standard deduction and personal exemption or credit. Head-of-household filers use single brackets at the state level.
State programs: employee contributions to state disability, paid family and medical leave, long-term care and employee-paid unemployment, with their wage caps.
Not included: local income taxes, tax credits, itemized deductions, other income and the 2025 federal deductions for tips, overtime and seniors.

Cost-to-hire calculator

Employer Social Security and Medicare at the rates above.
FUTA at 0.6% of the first $7,000 after the 5.4% state credit, plus any credit reduction for states with outstanding federal loans.
SUTA at the state's standard new-employer rate on its taxable wage base, or your own rate.
Employer shares of state leave and disability programs.
Workers' compensation using the all-industry index rate per $100 of payroll from the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services premium rate ranking. Your rate depends on job class codes, claims history and carrier.

Cost of living

Price-adjusted figures divide take-home pay by the Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parity for the state (U.S. = 100).

Minimum wage

State rates come from the U.S. Department of Labor and state labor agencies. Scheduled increases switch over automatically on their effective date. Where a state sets several rates, pages show the standard statewide rate and describe the others.

Salaries

Occupation pay comes from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, refreshed each spring when BLS publishes new estimates.