How this net to gross calculator works
Take-home pay is gross pay minus taxes and deductions, and the taxes depend on the gross pay, so there is no single percentage that turns net into gross. The calculator runs the same 2026 paycheck calculation as the take-home pay calculator, then searches for the smallest gross pay, to the cent, whose take-home pay reaches your target. Take-home pay never falls as gross pay rises, so the answer is the lowest gross pay that gets you there.
- Your target. Take-home pay per paycheck, or per year, which is split across your paychecks.
- A trial gross pay. Pre-tax deductions come out, then federal income tax withholding from the IRS Publication 15-T percentage method, Social Security, Medicare and any state tax you enter.
- The search. The gross pay is raised or lowered until take-home pay matches your target to the cent.
Gross pay = take-home pay + 401(k) + pre-tax deductions + federal tax + Social Security + Medicare + state tax + after-tax deductions
Worked examples
What the results mean
Gross pay per paycheck is the amount before anything is taken out. Yearly salary is that amount times the number of paychecks. Hourly divides the yearly figure by 2,080 hours, a 40-hour week for 52 weeks. Effective tax rate is total taxes (federal, Social Security, Medicare and state) divided by gross pay.
If a take-home target lands between two possible paychecks, the calculator shows the lowest gross pay that reaches at least your target. The take-home pay in the table can then be a cent or so above what you entered.
2026 numbers used
| Item | 2026 figure |
|---|---|
| Social Security tax (employee) | 6.2% on wages up to $184,500 |
| Medicare tax (employee) | 1.45% on all wages |
| Additional Medicare Tax | 0.9% on wages above $200,000 in the year |
| Standard deduction behind the withholding tables | $16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, $24,150 head of household |
| Federal tax rates | 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, 37% |
| 401(k) employee limit | $24,500 ($32,500 age 50 and over, $35,750 ages 60 to 63) |
Assumptions and limits
- Federal withholding uses the standard percentage method for a Form W-4 filed in 2020 or later. The Step 2 multiple jobs box is not modeled.
- State tax is either zero or a flat rate you choose. Real state withholding uses each state's own tables.
- Local and city income taxes, state disability or family leave payroll taxes, garnishments and employer-specific rules are not included.
- The target is for a regular paycheck early in the year. Social Security tax stops once yearly wages pass $184,500, so later paychecks in the year are larger. See the FICA tax calculator.
- Bonuses and other supplemental pay are withheld differently. Use the bonus tax calculator for those.
- This works for salaried pay. For hourly pay, use the hourly equivalent shown above, then the hourly to salary calculator.
Sources
Rules reviewed October 2026 against: IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods; IRS Publication 15 (2026), Employer’s Tax Guide; IRS 2026 tax inflation adjustments (Rev. Proc. 2025-32); Social Security Administration, contribution and benefit base; IRS 2026 retirement plan limits. Tax law and limits change, so confirm current figures with the IRS or a tax professional.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between net pay and gross pay?
Gross pay is what you earn before anything is taken out. Net pay, also called take-home pay, is what is left after taxes and deductions. Going from net to gross means adding the taxes and deductions back.
Can I just divide my take-home pay by 0.8 to get gross pay?
Only as a rough guess. Your real tax share depends on your income, filing status, 401(k) contributions, pre-tax benefits and state, so it is not a fixed 20%. This calculator runs the full 2026 paycheck calculation in reverse instead of using one percentage.
How do I turn a yearly take-home goal into a salary?
Choose per year as the target, enter the yearly take-home pay you want and pick your pay schedule. The calculator splits it across your paychecks and finds the gross pay that produces it.
Why does a 401(k) contribution raise the gross pay I need?
Your 401(k) contribution comes out of each paycheck before you see it, so to keep the same take-home pay you need to earn more. It also lowers your federal income tax withholding, so the extra gross pay needed is less than the contribution itself.
Does this include my state income tax?
Only as a flat rate you enter, because real state withholding uses each state's own tables. Choose none if your state does not tax wages. Local taxes and state payroll programs are not included.