Your gross pay shrinks through three main taxes before it reaches you:
1. Federal income tax (2025)
Brackets run 10%–37%. But you don't pay your top rate on everything — the standard deduction ($15,750 single / $31,500 married) comes off first, then lower brackets fill up. That's why a 22% marginal rate means ~12% effective.
2. FICA: 7.65%
6.2% Social Security (on wages up to $176,100) + 1.45% Medicare on everything. Your employer matches it.
3. State tax: 0–13%+
Seven states charge zero income tax; California tops 13%. This is the biggest variable in take-home pay.
See your exact breakdown with our US paycheck calculator (any pay frequency), UK version, or Canada version.