Weekly Paycheck Calculator 2026
Enter a weekly figure and say whether it is before or after taxes. The calculator turns it into every other pay period — bi-weekly, semi-monthly, monthly and annual, gross and take-home — using 2026 federal brackets, the standard deduction and FICA, with filing status, an optional flat state-tax estimate and pre-tax 401(k). In after-tax mode it tells you the gross weekly pay you would need to clear that amount.
“I want to make $1,200 a week” — here is what that means before taxes, after taxes, and per paycheck, month and year.
| Pay period | Gross | Take-home |
|---|
52 paid weeks, single filer, standard deduction, no state tax or 401(k) unless stated. 2026 rates, checked August 2026.
One weekly figure, every other pay period
Before taxes
Weekly pay × 52 paid weeks gives the annual figure the brackets work from. $1,200 a week is $62,400 a year — $2,400 per bi-weekly paycheck, $2,600 semi-monthly and $5,200 a month (a month is 4.33 weeks, not four, which is why monthly figures always look bigger than four paychecks).
After taxes
The calculator subtracts the 2026 standard deduction, runs the rest through the federal brackets, adds 7.65% FICA and any state estimate or 401(k), and shows take-home for every period. On $62,400 that is $10,082 a year out, so $1,200 gross becomes $1,006 in hand for a single filer.
After-tax mode
Press After tax and type the weekly amount you want to keep. The calculator solves the brackets backwards for the gross that produces it — $1,000 in hand needs about $1,192 gross.
Weekly gross and what actually deposits
| Per week (gross) | Per year | Take-home per week | Take-home per month | Keep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $800 | $41,600 | $685 | $2,967 | 85.6% |
| $1,200 | $62,400 | $1,006 | $4,360 | 83.8% |
| $1,500 | $78,000 | $1,225 | $5,309 | 81.7% |
| $2,000 | $104,000 | $1,577 | $6,833 | 78.8% |
Single filer, standard deduction, federal + FICA only. The share you keep falls as pay rises because the $16,100 deduction is fixed and the $1,500 and $2,000 rows reach into the 22% bracket (taxable income over $50,400). Married filing jointly keeps more at every line: $1,200 a week takes home $1,048 instead of $1,006.
Same annual pay, different paycheck sizes
| Pay period | Checks a year | Gross per check (on $62,400) | Take-home per check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 52 | $1,200 | $1,006 |
| Bi-weekly | 26 | $2,400 | $2,012 |
| Semi-monthly | 24 | $2,600 | $2,180 |
| Monthly | 12 | $5,200 | $4,360 |
Weekly pay is standard in construction, hospitality and staffing; bi-weekly is the most common US schedule overall; semi-monthly (the 15th and last day) is typical for salaried roles. Two months a year a bi-weekly schedule delivers three checks — budget on the 24-check month and treat the extras as savings. Withholding is computed per check using the IRS percentage-method tables for that period, so the annual result is the same whichever schedule you are on.
The two lines that vary most from paycheck to paycheck
State income tax. Nine states levy none on wages — Texas, Florida, Washington, Nevada, Tennessee, South Dakota, Wyoming, Alaska and New Hampshire. Most others take 3–6% effective; California, New York and Oregon more at higher incomes, and New York City and Philadelphia add a city wage tax. The calculator uses a flat percentage you set at the Standard level: 5% on $62,400 is $3,120 a year, about $60 a week.
401(k). Traditional contributions come out before federal (and usually state) income tax but not before FICA. Six percent on $62,400 moves $3,744 a year into savings, saves $449 of federal tax, and lowers take-home by only $63 a week. The 2026 employee limit is $24,500, and most employer matches are free money on top.
Frequently asked Frequently asked questions
How much is $1,200 a week per year?
$62,400 before taxes (52 weeks). For a single filer at 2026 federal rates take-home is about $52,318 a year, or $1,006 a week, before state tax.
How do I convert weekly pay to monthly?
Multiply by 52 and divide by 12 — a month is 4.33 weeks, not four. $1,200 a week is $5,200 a month gross and about $4,360 a month after federal taxes.
What weekly pay do I need to take home $1,000 a week?
About $1,192 a week gross, or $62,004 a year, for a single filer with no state tax. Switch the calculator to After tax and enter $1,000 to see the breakdown.
How much is taken out of a $1,200 weekly paycheck?
Federal income tax of $5,308 and FICA of $4,774 over the year — about $194 a week — leaving $1,006. State tax, 401(k) and health premiums come out on top.
Is weekly pay taxed differently from bi-weekly or monthly pay?
No. Annual wages are taxed the same; only the per-check withholding tables differ. On $62,400 a year the take-home is $1,006 weekly, $2,012 bi-weekly or $4,360 monthly — the same total.
Does the calculator include state income tax?
As a flat estimate you set at the Standard level. Nine states have no wage income tax; a 5% rate on $1,200 a week takes $3,120 a year.
How does a 401(k) contribution change my weekly take-home?
A 6% traditional contribution on $1,200 a week saves $3,744 a year and cuts take-home by only $63 a week, because it comes out before federal income tax. Set it at the Detailed level.
Is the Weekly Paycheck Calculator free and up to date?
Yes — free, no account is required, and calculator arithmetic runs in your browser. It uses the 2026 IRS brackets, standard deduction and FICA rates, checked August 2026.
Where these figures come from
Every rate and threshold on this page comes from the IRS, SSA and Department of Labor — the sources of record.
- 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction — IRS — Tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026.
- Social Security wage base ($184,500 in 2026) — SSA — Contribution and Benefit Base.
- FICA rates (6.2% + 1.45%) — IRS Topic 751 — Social Security and Medicare withholding.
- Additional Medicare Tax (0.9%) — IRS Topic 560.
- Federal minimum wage and overtime (FLSA) — U.S. Department of Labor — Minimum wage.
- State minimum wages — U.S. Department of Labor — State minimum wage laws.
Last checked: August 2026. Federal figures are reviewed each November when the IRS publishes the following year’s adjustments; state tax is a flat estimate you control.
Select the question that matches where you are right now.
Your result is one weekly figure expanded into the whole pay picture — gross and take-home by the week, paycheck, month and year at 2026 federal rates.
Budget from the monthly take-home, compare job offers on the annual gross, and use the after-tax mode to turn the weekly amount you need into the gross pay to ask for.
Not a pay stub. W-4 elections, benefits, city taxes and your state’s actual brackets move individual checks; this is the steady-state annual picture with a flat state estimate.
Annual figures assume 52 paid weeks. Seasonal or contract work with unpaid gaps should use fewer paid weeks at the Standard level.
What moves the answer most on weekly pay.
It starts at $50,400 of taxable income — about $1,279 a week gross for a single filer after the standard deduction. Above that, each extra dollar keeps about 70 cents after federal tax and FICA.
Married filing jointly doubles the deduction and brackets — $1,200 a week keeps $1,048, not $1,006.
A 5% state rate costs $60 a week on $1,200; moving between a no-tax and a high-tax state can be worth thousands a year.
Small structural changes move weekly take-home more than a small raise.
Traditional 401(k) and HSA contributions come out before federal tax — every $1,000 saves $120 at the 12% bracket, and HSA contributions through payroll skip FICA too.
A big refund means you over-withheld all year. Adjust Step 3 (dependents) or Step 4 so each check lands closer to your true liability.
Decide the weekly take-home you need, use After tax to find the gross, and negotiate from there.
Your weekly pay connects to the rest of your finances.