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// myloanmath
Salary Calculator
See what actually lands in your bank account — by paycheck, not just by year.
Take-home pay — biweekly
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Subtracts federal income tax, state tax (if applicable), and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) from each paycheck. Does not yet include pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions or health insurance premiums, which would reduce take-home pay further.
What actually comes out of a paycheck
Your salary and your take-home pay are two very different numbers. A $65,000 salary doesn't arrive as $65,000 spread evenly across your paychecks — federal income tax, FICA payroll taxes (Social Security and Medicare), and state income tax if your state has one, all come out first. This calculator subtracts all three to show the number that actually lands in your account each pay period.
Biweekly vs. semi-monthly: not the same thing
These two get confused constantly because they sound alike. Biweekly means every two weeks, which works out to 26 paychecks a year — and twice a year, you'll notice a month with three paychecks instead of two. Semi-monthly means twice a month, typically on fixed dates like the 1st and 15th, which is exactly 24 paychecks a year, always two per month, never three. For the same annual salary, biweekly paychecks are slightly smaller than semi-monthly ones, since the same total is split across more pay periods.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my paycheck less than salary divided by pay periods?
Federal tax, state tax (if your state has one), and FICA payroll taxes (Social Security and Medicare) all come out before you see the money — this calculator subtracts all three to show your real take-home pay per paycheck.
What's the difference between biweekly and semi-monthly pay?
Biweekly means every two weeks — 26 paychecks a year. Semi-monthly means twice a month, typically the 1st and 15th — 24 paychecks a year. They sound similar but produce a genuinely different per-paycheck amount for the same salary.
Does this include 401(k) or health insurance deductions?
Not yet — this shows take-home pay after federal tax, state tax, and FICA only. Pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions or health insurance premiums would reduce your paycheck further and aren't factored in here.