From Gross to Take-Home

Pre-tax deductions (401(k) and health insurance) lower taxable income; federal tax comes from the 2024 progressive brackets, then FICA (6.2% + 1.45%) is withheld on gross. Take-home is gross minus all five deductions, split into monthly, biweekly, and weekly figures. State taxes are not included.

Worked Example

A single filer earning $75,000 with 6% 401(k) and $200/mo health insurance has $68,100 of taxable income. Federal tax is $10,035, FICA $5,738, and retirement + health $6,900 — leaving about $52,328 take-home, or $4,361/month.

What You Can Control

Of the five deductions, only federal and FICA taxes are mandatory. Raising your 401(k) contribution or choosing a cheaper health plan directly increases take-home pay — and because 401(k) money is pre-tax, each dollar contributed saves your marginal tax rate as well as the dollar itself.