Hourly Paycheck Calculator 2026

Includes overtime at 1.5× and the new federal overtime and tips deductions.

Updated 2026-10-03 · 2026 IRS figures

Bi-weekly take-home pay$1,690.85$43,962 per year · effective tax rate 15.5% · marginal 12.0%

	Bi-weekly	Annual
Gross pay	$2,000.00	$52,000
Federal income tax	-$156.15	-$4,060
Social Security (6.2%)	-$124.00	-$3,224
Medicare	-$29.00	-$754
Take-home pay	$1,690.85	$43,962

Take-home $43,962 84.5%
Federal income tax $4,060 7.8%
Social Security $3,224 6.2%
Medicare $754 1.5%

Take-home pay vs. taxes at every income level

Take-home pay
Total taxes

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Key 2026 federal tax facts

For 2026, Social Security tax of 6.2% applies to wages up to $184,500, up from $176,100 in 2025.
Medicare tax of 1.45% applies to all wages with no cap, plus a 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax on wages above $200,000 ($250,000 for married couples filing jointly).
The 2026 standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married couples filing jointly, and $24,150 for heads of household.
The seven federal income tax rates of 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% and 37% were made permanent by the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act.
In 2026 the 37% top rate applies to taxable income over $640,600 for single filers and over $768,700 for married couples filing jointly.
The Child Tax Credit is $2,200 per qualifying child for 2026, of which up to $1,700 is refundable.

How an hourly paycheck is built

Gross pay for an hourly worker is hours × rate, plus overtime. The FLSA requires covered employees to be paid at least 1.5× their regular rate for every hour over 40 in a workweek. Each workweek stands on its own: an employer cannot average 45 hours one week and 35 the next to avoid overtime.

Example: at $22 an hour with 5 hours of overtime every week, weekly gross is 40 × $22 + 5 × $33.00 = $1,045, or $2,090 every two weeks and $54,340 a year.

Per biweekly check	Texas	California
Gross pay	$2,090.00	$2,090.00
Federal income tax	$153.75	$153.75
Social Security + Medicare	$159.89	$159.89
State income tax	$0.00	$47.44
State payroll (e.g. SDI)	$0.00	$27.17
Take-home	$1,776.36	$1,701.75

Why a big overtime week gets taxed more

Employers figure federal withholding with IRS Publication 15-T, which treats each paycheck as if you earned that amount every pay period of the year. A check with 20 hours of overtime is withheld as though that were your normal pay, so it can land in a higher withholding bracket than your actual annual income justifies.

You are not taxed more in the end. Your real tax is computed on your annual income when you file, and any over-withholding comes back as a refund. The estimate above averages hours across the year, which is closer to your true liability than any single pay stub.

From 2025 through 2028 you can also deduct the overtime premium (the extra half-time) up to $12,500 on your federal return. In the example, that premium is $2,860 a year, and the take-home figures above include its effect on federal tax.

Minimum wage and tipped wages

The federal minimum wage has been $7.25 an hour since July 24, 2009. Where a state or city sets a higher minimum, the employer must pay the higher rate. Tipped employees can be paid a cash wage as low as $2.13 an hour under federal law, as long as tips bring them to at least $7.25 for every hour worked; many states require more.

Things that change an hourly paycheck

Hours: fewer scheduled hours lower both gross pay and withholding. Use the average hours you actually work, not your contract hours.
Pay frequency: weekly, biweekly and semi-monthly checks divide the same annual tax differently but don’t change the yearly total.
Pre-tax deductions: a traditional 401(k) contribution lowers income tax but not Social Security and Medicare; section 125 health premiums lower both. The 2026 401(k) limit is $24,500.
State programs: some states take payroll contributions for disability or paid family leave, which come out of every check up to any wage cap.
Holiday and weekend pay: the FLSA does not require premium pay for weekends or holidays, so any such premium is set by your employer, contract or state law.

Reading an hourly pay stub

Regular hours × rate: should equal hours worked up to 40 per workweek times your base rate.
Overtime hours × 1.5 × rate: check the overtime rate shown is at least one and a half times your regular rate, including any shift differentials that form part of your regular rate.
Year-to-date gross: useful for checking whether you have passed the Social Security wage base or for estimating annual income.
Federal and state withholding: these follow your W-4 and state certificate and swing with each check’s size.
Social Security and Medicare: always 6.2% and 1.45% of taxable wages until you reach the wage base, so these are the easiest lines to verify.

Frequently asked questions

How is overtime taxed?

Overtime is taxed like regular wages for withholding. From 2025–2028 the premium half of FLSA overtime is deductible on your federal return, up to the annual cap.

Why was more tax taken from my overtime check?

Withholding treats each check as if you were paid that much every period, so a large check is withheld at a higher rate. Your actual tax is based on annual income, and over-withholding is refunded when you file.

Does the FLSA require overtime after 8 hours in a day?

No. Federal law only requires overtime for hours over 40 in a workweek. A few states, such as California, add daily overtime rules.

Do paid holidays or sick hours count toward overtime?

Under the FLSA, overtime is based on hours actually worked. Paid time off for holidays, vacation or sickness generally does not count toward the 40-hour threshold unless your employer or state law says otherwise.

How do I estimate my paycheck if my hours change every week?

Enter your average weekly hours over the last few months. The result shows a typical check; individual checks will be higher or lower with your hours.

What is time and a half for $22 an hour?

$22 × 1.5 = $33.00 for each overtime hour. For federal tax purposes, the extra $11.00 per hour is the part that can be deducted under the overtime deduction.

Sources

Figures are taken from official government publications and were last reviewed on 2026-10-03.