The gap between offer and paycheck
The salary on the offer letter is never the salary that reaches your bank account. Between the two sit federal income tax, the 7.65% FICA payroll tax, and — in most states — a state income tax. Seeing that gap up front changes how you read a job offer and how you build a realistic budget.
This calculator is intentionally simplified: it applies the standard deduction, 2024-style federal brackets, and a flat rate for state tax to give you a fast, honest ballpark. It leaves out credits, pre-tax retirement contributions and local taxes, so treat the result as a planning estimate rather than a filing figure. For the exact numbers, always check your payslip or a tax professional.
