Why Is My Paycheck Smaller Than My Salary?
Your salary is the amount before anything is taken out. Your paycheck is what is left after taxes and deductions, which is why it can look surprisingly small.
What comes out of a paycheck
Federal income tax is withheld based on your pay and your W-4. Social Security tax is 6.2% of wages up to a yearly limit ($184,500 in 2026), and Medicare tax is 1.45% of all wages, with an extra 0.9% on high earners. Together, Social Security and Medicare are the 7.65% called FICA. Many states and some cities also charge income tax, though several states do not tax wages at all.
Pre-tax and post-tax deductions
Traditional 401(k) contributions, health insurance premiums and HSA contributions are often taken out before income tax, which lowers your taxable income. Other items, such as Roth contributions, come from money that has already been taxed.
An example
Take a single filer earning $75,000 with no 401(k) contribution. FICA is $5,737.50. Federal income tax, using the 2026 standard deduction of $16,100, is about $7,670. That leaves about $61,590 a year, or roughly $2,369 every two weeks, before any state tax, health premiums or other deductions.
How to check your numbers
Compare your pay stub with an estimate for your state, since state taxes vary widely. If you consistently get a large refund or owe a large bill at tax time, review your W-4 withholding with your employer.
Use our take-home pay calculator for your salary, or pick your state to include its income tax rules.