How this guide works

Set your region, salary and tax year at the top, then scroll. Each chapter takes one more line off your gross pay (pre-tax savings, income tax, National Insurance or FICA, student loan or state tax) and writes it onto a payslip that builds on the right. Nothing is stored and no account is needed; the link you copy at the end carries your numbers in the URL.

What is the difference between gross and take-home pay?

Gross pay is your headline salary before any deductions. Take-home (or net) pay is what actually reaches your bank account after income tax, National Insurance or FICA, any student loan repayment or state income tax, and pension contributions. The gap between the two is your total deductions, and it grows as you earn more because income tax is charged in rising bands.

Why is my marginal rate higher than my effective rate?

Income tax is charged in slices. Only the top slice of your income is taxed at your highest (marginal) rate; everything below it is taxed at lower rates. Your effective rate is the average across all of it, so it is always lower than your marginal rate. Moving into a higher bracket only ever taxes the part of your income above the threshold, never the whole amount.

What is the 60% tax trap in the UK?

Between 100,000 and 125,140 pounds of income, the tax-free Personal Allowance is withdrawn at a rate of 1 pound for every 2 pounds earned. Combined with 40% higher-rate tax, this gives an effective marginal rate of about 60% on that band, so a pay rise in this range is worth much less than it looks. Pension contributions are a common way to reduce income below the threshold.

How does US state income tax affect take-home pay?

State income tax is charged on top of federal tax and FICA, and it varies widely: some states have no income tax at all, while others charge progressive rates above 10%. This guide adds your state once you pick it, so the take-home figure reflects where you actually live. Local and city income taxes (such as New York City or Philadelphia) are not included.

Figures are estimates for guidance only and use published rates from HMRC, the IRS, SSA and Tax Foundation. The full calculator adds every US filing status, dependents and the Child Tax Credit, and a pay-frequency view. Always confirm with a qualified adviser before making decisions.