Smart Salary Calculator with Tax & Real Wage
Convert gross pay estimates to net take-home pay. Includes progressive tax bracket estimation and "Commute Cost" deduction to reveal your true hourly wage.
Income Details
Commute Factors
Net Pay Estimate (Yearly)
$0
After Fed Tax & FICA (approx)
TRUE Hourly Wage
$0.00
Adjusted for time & travel costs
Gross Hourly
$0.00
Effective Tax Rate
0%
Commute penalty
-$0.00/hr
Tax
Commute
Take Home
About
A raw salary figure is deceptive. It hides the impact of progressive tax brackets, FICA contributions, and the silent cost of commuting. This advanced calculator breaks down Gross Pay into Net Pay estimates using a simplified US Federal Tax model. It also introduces the "True Hourly" metric: a calculation that treats commute time as unpaid work hours and deducts travel costs from your net income, giving you the real value of your time.
net pay calculator
tax brackets
real hourly wage
salary conversion
take home pay
Formulas
1. Tax Estimation (Progressive):
Tax = n∑i=1 (Incomei × Ratei)
2. True Hourly Wage:
Wagetrue = (Paynet − Costcommute)(Hourswork + Hourscommute)
Reference Data
| Frequency | Multiplier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bi-Weekly | 26 | Standard corporate pay schedule |
| Semi-Monthly | 24 | 15th and 30th of each month |
| Monthly | 12 | Standard for rent/bills math |
| Quarterly | 4 | Used for bonuses/dividends |
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It uses the 2024 Federal Standard Deduction and Tax Brackets for a Single Filer as a baseline model. It does not account for State taxes, 401k, or specific deductions. Use it for a conservative "safe" estimate.
FICA stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It is a mandatory 7.65% deduction from your paycheck that funds Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%).