Definitions
- Gross pay — wages before income tax, FICA, and most voluntary deductions.
- Net / take-home pay — cash after those withholdings and pre-tax benefits.
- Effective tax rate (in our tools) — total estimated federal + FICA + state tax divided by gross (W-2) or net profit (1099). It is not your marginal bracket.
Converting either way
The Net ↔ Gross calculator has two modes that use the same W-2 tax model:
- Net → Gross — you know the deposit you need; we solve for the annual gross that produces it.
- Gross → Net — you know the salary or period gross; we estimate take-home the same way as a simplified W-2 run.
When each direction helps
Use Net → Gross when negotiating from a budget (rent, savings rate, after-tax goals). Use Gross → Net when you already have an offer and want a quick after-tax read. For deeper benefit modeling (HSA, FSA, commuter), switch to the full W-2 paycheck calculator.
Pre-tax 401(k) contributions lower take-home for a given gross — so in Net → Gross mode they raise the salary required to hit the same cash target.
Not for 1099 math
Net ↔ Gross models W-2 employee wages. Contractors should use the 1099 calculator, which includes self-employment tax and different deduction rules.
Related tools
Disclaimer
Educational content only — not tax, legal, or financial advice. Calculator results depend on published rates and simplified assumptions. Confirm important decisions with a tax professional or the IRS. Explore all calculators or the rates & brackets we publish.