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Salary Calculator: Understand Your True Take-Home Pay

Understanding your salary, how it translates to take-home pay, and how to compare different compensation packages is essential for career and financial planning. Your gross salary is just the starting point—taxes, deductions, and benefits all impact what you actually receive. Our comprehensive salary calculator guide will help you understand salary conversions, calculate take-home pay, compare compensation packages, and make informed decisions about job offers and salary negotiations.

Understanding Salary Components

Your salary consists of multiple components that determine your total compensation and take-home pay. Understanding these components helps you evaluate job offers, plan your budget, and negotiate effectively. From gross salary to net pay, each element plays a crucial role in your financial picture.

Gross Salary vs. Net Salary

Gross salary is your total compensation before any deductions, including base salary plus bonuses, commissions, or other income. This is what employers typically advertise and what you negotiate, but it's not what you actually take home. Net salary, also called take-home pay, is what you receive after all deductions including federal and state taxes, Social Security, Medicare, health insurance, retirement contributions, and other deductions. Net salary is what you can actually spend and save.

Salary Conversion: Understanding Different Pay Periods

To convert annual salary to monthly, divide by 12. To convert to weekly, divide by 52. To convert to hourly for a standard 40-hour workweek, divide by 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks). To convert hourly wage to annual salary, multiply by hours per week, then by 52 weeks. Remember to account for overtime, which is typically paid at 1.5 times the regular rate.

Understanding Payroll Deductions

Federal income tax is withheld based on your W-4 form and tax brackets. State income tax varies by state, from 0% to over 13%. Social Security tax is 6.2% of gross income up to the wage base limit ($168,600 for 2024), with employer matching. Medicare tax is 1.45% of all gross income with no wage base limit, plus an additional 0.9% surtax for high earners. Health insurance premiums are typically deducted from paychecks, with employers often covering a portion. Retirement contributions to 401(k) or similar plans reduce taxable income and may be matched by employers. Other common deductions include life insurance, disability insurance, FSAs, HSAs, union dues, and charitable contributions.

Using Our Salary Calculator

Our salary calculator helps you understand how your salary translates across different time periods and calculate your estimated take-home pay. Enter your salary (annual, monthly, or hourly), select pay frequency, enter hours per week for hourly workers, review breakdown to see annual, monthly, weekly, and hourly equivalents, and check take-home estimate to see estimated net pay after taxes.

Factors Affecting Take-Home Pay

Your W-4 form determines federal tax withholdings—claiming more allowances reduces withholdings but may result in owing taxes. Higher retirement contributions reduce take-home pay but provide tax benefits and employer matches. Health insurance and other benefits reduce take-home pay but provide valuable coverage. Overtime is paid at 1.5 times regular rate, significantly increasing earnings. Bonuses are subject to higher withholding rates (typically 22% federal) but may be adjusted when filing taxes.

Comparing Job Offers

When comparing job offers, look beyond base salary to total compensation including base salary, bonuses and commissions (variable compensation), benefits value (health insurance, retirement matches), take-home pay (what you'll actually receive), time off (vacation, sick leave, holidays), and growth potential (opportunities for raises and promotions).

Salary Negotiation Tips

Research market rates using salary calculators and job sites. Consider total compensation by factoring in benefits, retirement matches, and other perks. Negotiate strategically by focusing on value you bring. Consider timing—the best time to negotiate is when you have leverage during job offers or performance reviews. Think long-term by considering growth potential, not just starting salary.

Understanding Overtime Pay

Non-exempt employees are entitled to overtime pay at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours worked over 40 per week. Understanding overtime calculations helps you maximize earnings and ensure you're paid correctly. For example, if you earn $20 per hour and work 45 hours, you receive $800 regular pay plus $150 overtime pay, for a total of $950.

Conclusion

Understanding your salary and how it translates to take-home pay is essential for financial planning and career decisions. Our salary calculator helps you convert between different pay periods, estimate take-home pay, and compare compensation packages. Remember that gross salary is just the starting point—taxes, deductions, and benefits all impact what you actually receive. Use our calculator to make informed decisions about job offers, salary negotiations, and financial planning. With the right knowledge and tools, you can maximize your compensation and make the most of your earnings.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate take-home pay?

Take-home pay is gross salary minus federal tax, state tax, Social Security, Medicare, and other deductions like health insurance and retirement contributions.

What is the difference between gross and net salary?

Gross salary is your total earnings before deductions. Net salary (take-home pay) is your earnings after all taxes and deductions have been subtracted.

How do I convert hourly wage to annual salary?

Multiply hourly wage by hours worked per week, then by 52 weeks. For example, $20/hour × 40 hours/week × 52 weeks = $41,600 annually.