Payroll planning
Payroll Calculator
Estimate employee take-home pay, employer payroll taxes, and total labor cost across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
A payroll calculator estimates employee take-home pay and the employer cost of paying that employee. Enter pay, state, pay frequency, deductions, and year-to-date wages to see federal tax, state tax, FICA, FUTA, SUTA, and total labor cost.
Payroll inputs
Enter a planning scenario. Results update as you type.
Deductions
Year-to-date and employer settings
Leave blank for new-employer default
Employee net pay
$2,318.46
Per pay period
Employee side
Employer side
Annualized
Warnings
This state uses a simplified planning bracket and may not reflect every deduction, credit, local tax, or withholding rule.
Assumptions
This calculator is an educational estimate and is not a payroll filing or employer tax determination.
State income tax uses a simplified 2026 planning rate/configuration; local taxes and employer-specific rules may change results.
SUTA uses a public new-employer planning default. Enter your assigned employer rate for a more specific estimate.
FUTA uses the typical 0.6% net rate after the maximum state unemployment tax credit on the first $7,000 of wages.
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About this calculator
Method, formulas, and limits.What this does
Estimates employee withholding alongside employer payroll costs, including FICA, FUTA, and SUTA planning amounts.
Who it is for
Small-business owners, managers, HR teams, contractors, and employees comparing the full cost of a payroll period.
How it works
Enter pay, state, pay frequency, deductions, and year-to-date wage totals. The independent payroll model annualizes income, estimates employee taxes, adds employer taxes, and reports total labor cost.
Limitations
This is an educational estimate, not a payroll filing. State withholding, SUTA rates, local taxes, credits, benefit plans, and employer experience ratings can change actual results.
Key calculations
- Employee net pay
- gross pay − pre-tax deductions − employee taxes − post-tax deductions
- Employer payroll taxes
- employer Social Security + employer Medicare + FUTA + SUTA
- Total labor cost
- gross pay + employer payroll taxes
Reference ranges
- Employee FICA
- Social Security is estimated at 6.2% up to the annual wage base. Medicare is estimated at 1.45%, with Additional Medicare handled above the threshold.
- Employer FICA
- The employer share generally mirrors Social Security and Medicare employee rates.
- Unemployment taxes
- FUTA uses the typical 0.6% net rate on the first $7,000. SUTA uses a public new-employer planning default unless you enter an employer rate.
How to use it
- 1.Enter pay detailsChoose salary or hourly pay, enter the amount, hours, and pay frequency.
- 2.Choose the work stateSelect one of the 50 states or Washington, D.C.
- 3.Add deductions and YTD wagesEnter benefits, post-tax deductions, and year-to-date wages where available.
- 4.Review both sidesCompare employee take-home pay with employer taxes and total labor cost.
A paycheck calculator focuses on employee take-home pay. A payroll calculator also estimates employer payroll taxes and total labor cost.
No. State income tax uses a planning configuration, while local taxes and employer-specific payroll rules may not be included.
SUTA is the State Unemployment Tax Act tax paid by employers. Actual rates depend on the state, employer history, and taxable wage base.
No. Use it for planning only and verify results with your payroll provider, accountant, and state or federal tax authorities.
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