Quick answer
On a $90,000 salary in 2026, a single filer contributing 6% to a 401(k) with $1,200 to an HSA takes home about $61,475 a year, or $2,364 per biweekly check, after federal, payroll and 5% state tax. The pre-tax deductions save about $2,199 of federal and payroll tax.
How the Take-Home Pay Calculator works, step by step
Enter your gross salary, filing status and pay frequency, then add your pre-tax deductions: a 401(k) percentage, annual HSA contributions and health insurance per check. The calculator subtracts all three from your gross pay before working out federal income tax, because pre-tax money is never taxed as wages. Deductions taken before tax are worth more than the same dollars taken after.
The 401(k) slider is a percentage of gross pay. At 6% on a $90,000 salary that is $5,400 a year. For 2026 the employee deferral limit is $24,500, or $32,500 from age 50, so a high earner can defer far more than the default. The calculator does not cap your entry, so check the limit yourself if you contribute heavily.
HSA contributions made through payroll escape federal income tax and payroll tax alike, which makes them the most tax-efficient line on the page. For 2026 the HSA limit is $4,400 for self-only coverage and $8,750 for family coverage, plus $1,000 from age 55. Health premiums through payroll do the same. A 401(k) deferral is different: it lowers federal and state tax but stays subject to payroll tax, so it does not lower that line.
Taxes are then figured on the reduced wages: federal brackets after the $16,100 single or $32,200 joint standard deduction, and state tax at the flat percentage you set. Payroll tax uses a wider base — gross pay minus only the HSA and health lines: Social Security at 6.2% up to the $184,500 wage base and Medicare at 1.45% on all of it. The result shows each line separately, plus net pay per check and per year.
The tax-saved line compares your federal and payroll tax against the same salary with no deductions. On the $90,000 example the deductions save about $2,199 a year, which is the real return on contributing: the money still belongs to you, in retirement or health savings, and the tax bill falls as well. Raising the 401(k) percentage shows the trade-off between today's paycheck and tomorrow's balance.
The formula
Taxable wages = gross salary minus 401(k) contributions, HSA contributions and health premiums. Federal tax = bracket tax on (taxable wages minus the standard deduction). Payroll tax = 6.2% of FICA wages up to $184,500 plus 1.45% of all FICA wages, where FICA wages = gross minus HSA and health premiums only. Net pay = gross salary minus deductions minus all taxes.
Worked example — try it on the calculator above
Worked example: $90,000 salary with 401(k), HSA and health cover
A single filer earns $90,000, contributes 6% ($5,400) to a 401(k), puts $1,200 into an HSA, and pays $85 per biweekly check ($2,210 a year) for health insurance. Taxable wages fall to $81,190, but FICA wages fall only to $86,590, because the 401(k) deferral stays subject to payroll tax. Federal tax is $9,032, Social Security is $5,369, Medicare is $1,256 and state tax at 5% is $4,060, for a total of $19,715. Net pay is $61,475 a year, or $2,364.41 per check. With no deductions at all, federal and payroll tax would total $17,855, so the deductions save $2,199 a year; state tax falls by $441. Doubling the 401(k) to 12% would cut net pay by about $3,942 a year while adding $5,400 to retirement, because the extra deferral saves about $1,458 of tax — federal and state tax only.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a pre-tax deduction?
Money taken from your pay before income tax is figured: traditional 401(k) and 403(b) contributions, HSA contributions made through payroll, and health, dental and vision insurance premiums. Roth 401(k) contributions are after-tax, so they do not lower your taxable wages and should not be entered here.
Does a bigger 401(k) contribution always raise my take-home pay?
No. It lowers your tax bill but also lowers your paycheck, because the contribution itself comes out of your pay. On a $90,000 salary, doubling a 6% contribution to 12% saves about $1,458 of tax but cuts net pay by about $3,942 a year. The $5,400 still belongs to you, inside the retirement account.
Why is my take-home pay lower than the salary calculator shows?
The salary calculator only subtracts federal tax and payroll tax. The take-home calculator also subtracts state tax, 401(k), HSA and health insurance, which is why its net figure is lower. Use this calculator when you want the number that actually lands in your bank account.
How much should I contribute to my 401(k)?
At minimum, contribute enough to get your employer's full match, since that is an immediate return on your money. Beyond that, the 2026 employee limit is $24,500, or $32,500 from age 50. This calculator shows the paycheck cost of any percentage; it does not recommend a specific amount.
Estimates, not advice. This calculator provides educational estimates based on the inputs you enter and the assumptions shown on this page. It is not financial, tax or investment advice, and it cannot see your full situation. Verify important figures against official sources, and consider a qualified professional for decisions about your own money. See our Disclaimer and Methodology.