Weekly pay calculator
If you are paid weekly (52 paychecks per year), enter your weekly gross to estimate net pay after federal, state, and FICA taxes. Weekly pay is common in hospitality, retail, and construction — industries where workers need frequent cash flow.
How weekly pay affects withholding
Employers annualize your weekly wages (multiply by 52) to determine the correct federal withholding bracket, then divide back down to one period. This means each weekly check reflects the same effective annual tax rate as biweekly or monthly pay — the per-period amount is simply smaller. FICA (Social Security at 6.2% and Medicare at 1.45%) applies identically regardless of pay frequency.
Weekly vs biweekly paycheck comparison
A $60,000 annual salary splits into about $1,154 gross per week (52 checks) versus $2,308 gross per two weeks (26 checks). Net take-home per dollar is the same, but weekly pay helps with short-term budgeting while biweekly may align better with monthly bills. Use this calculator to see exact net for your weekly scenario, including state tax and optional 401(k) deductions.
Tips for weekly-paid workers
Track overtime carefully — hours over 40 in a single week qualify for 1.5× pay under federal rules, and that extra income is taxed in the same period. If your gross fluctuates week to week, run the calculator with your typical and high-OT weeks separately to plan savings and expenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is take-home pay calculated?
We estimate employer-style withholding: federal income tax (IRS Pub 15-T / W-4), state income tax when applicable, local tax when ZIP-mapped, Social Security, and Medicare. Pre-tax 401(k) and benefits reduce taxable wages per IRS rules.
What taxes are deducted from my paycheck?
Typical US paychecks withhold federal income tax, state income tax (unless you are in a no-tax state like TX/FL), Social Security (6.2% up to the wage base), Medicare (1.45%), and sometimes local city tax (e.g. NYC).
Is this paycheck calculator accurate?
It is built for paycheck withholding accuracy using Pub 15-T, FICA, state tables, and local ZIP rates — the same category as ADP and PaycheckCity free tools. Your real payslip can still differ due to benefits, rounding, or employer setup. See /methodology.
Should I use hourly or salary mode?
Use salary mode for fixed pay per period. Use hourly mode for an hourly rate, weekly hours, and overtime at 1.5×. Both produce federal, state, and FICA estimates.
Which states matter most for take-home pay?
California and New York (especially NYC) generally withhold more state/local tax. Texas and Florida have no state wage income tax, so take-home is often higher at the same gross salary.