Tax Calculators
4 free tax tools
Marginal rate, effective rate and withholding are three different numbers.
Most confusion about US tax comes from conflating the bracket you are in with the rate you pay. Only income above each threshold is taxed at that bracket's rate, so almost nobody pays their headline rate on their whole income. These calculators separate the two, and show what actually leaves your paycheck.
Salary Calculator
Convert salary to take-home pay across hourly, weekly, monthly and yearly.
Open calculatorTax Bracket Calculator
Estimate your federal tax, effective rate and marginal rate for 2024 or 2025.
Open calculatorSelf-Employment Tax Calculator
Estimate the Social Security and Medicare tax you owe on self-employment income.
Open calculatorHourly Paycheck Calculator
Calculate take-home pay from an hourly wage after taxes and FICA.
Open calculator
A raise never leaves you worse off
The persistent myth that moving into a higher bracket can reduce take-home pay comes from misunderstanding how brackets work. Rates apply only to the income above each threshold, not retroactively to everything you earn. Crossing into the 24% band means the dollars above that line are taxed at 24% — the ones below it are untouched. Your effective rate, the blended figure across all your income, always stays well below your marginal rate.
State and local tax often decides the outcome
Federal tax is the same wherever you live; state tax is not. Nine states charge none at all, while others reach into double digits, and cities and counties in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Indiana and New York add their own layer on top. For a mid-income worker, the swing between the cheapest and most expensive states on the same salary runs to several thousand dollars a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between marginal and effective tax rate?+
Your marginal rate is what applies to your next dollar of income — the bracket you are in. Your effective rate is total tax divided by total income, blended across every bracket. The effective rate is always lower, often by ten points or more.
Can a raise push me into a higher bracket and cost me money?+
No. Higher rates apply only to the portion of income above each threshold, never to your whole income. A raise always leaves you with more after tax.
Why is my paycheck less than these calculators show?+
Usually local income tax, state payroll programmes such as paid leave or disability insurance, or post-tax deductions like union dues and Roth contributions. Withholding also depends on the W-4 you filed.