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Payroll Calculator

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Estimate an employee's gross pay, tax withholding, and net take-home pay for a pay period, including overtime.

Payroll Calculator

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Estimated net pay
$863.76
Gross pay
$1,075.00
Total withheld
$211.24
Uses standard US Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) rates, plus overtime at 1.5x past 40 hours/week. This is an estimate, not a paycheck.

The formula

Gross pay = (Regular hours x Rate) + (Overtime hours x Rate x 1.5) Net pay = Gross pay - Federal withholding - Social Security (6.2%) - Medicare (1.45%) - Other deductions
Example

$25/hour, 42 hours (40 regular + 2 overtime), 12% estimated federal withholding: gross = (40x25) + (2x25x1.5) = $1,075.00. After federal (~$129), Social Security ($66.65), and Medicare ($15.59): net ≈ $863.76.

Step-by-step guide

  1. Enter the hourly rate and total hours for the pay period - anything past 40 hours/week is calculated as overtime automatically.
  2. Enter an estimated federal withholding percentage - this varies by income, filing status, and W-4 elections, so treat it as a rough placeholder.
  3. Add any other pre-tax deductions (retirement contributions, health insurance, etc.) if applicable.
  4. Read the estimated net pay as a planning figure, not an exact paycheck amount.

Note: Real payroll involves state and local taxes, exact IRS withholding tables based on W-4 elections, and other factors this simplified calculator doesn't capture. Use payroll software or a payroll provider for actual employee paychecks and tax filings.

Common mistakes

Forgetting overtime rules apply per week, not per pay period - a biweekly pay period with 45 hours in week one and 35 in week two still owes overtime for week one, even though the two-week total is under 80.
Applying Social Security tax indefinitely - it only applies up to an annual wage base limit that's adjusted yearly, after which it stops for the rest of that year. This calculator doesn't track the annual limit.

Frequently asked questions

Does this include state income tax?

No - state (and sometimes local) income tax varies enormously by location, from 0% in several states to over 10% in others. Add your specific state's rate manually if applicable, or check your state's official withholding calculator.

Why is my actual withholding different from this estimate?

Real federal withholding follows detailed IRS tables based on your W-4 filing status, dependents, and other income - a flat percentage is only a rough approximation of that process.

Does overtime apply to salaried employees?

It depends on whether the position is classified as exempt or non-exempt under labor law - many salaried positions are exempt from overtime, while hourly and some salaried non-exempt roles are not. This calculator assumes an hourly, overtime-eligible worker.

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