What to notice
Summary
StatePaychecks is a free, no-sign-up paycheck calculator website covering all 50 US states plus Washington, D.C. It calculates take-home pay after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and state/local taxes, updated for 2026 tax rules (IRS brackets, $184,500 Social Security wage base, and each state's 2026 rates). The homepage features a state selector, a per-state tax rate grid, a $65,000 salary comparison table showing which states keep the most/least take-home pay, and an FAQ section. The site also hosts additional calculators (hourly, bonus, overtime, 401(k), gross-up, federal income tax, self-employment tax, time card) plus reference guides, a methodology page, and standard about/privacy/contact pages. It's a legitimate, content-rich personal finance tool with structured data (FAQPage/Organization/WebSite schema), not a spam page.
Target audience
Employees and job seekers in the United States who want to know their real take-home pay after all taxes and deductions, including salaried and hourly workers. It's especially useful for people comparing job offers or considering a move to a different state, where tax differences of thousands of dollars per year matter. The additional calculators (bonus, overtime, 401(k), self-employment) also serve freelancers/1099 workers and financially curious individuals planning raises or retirement contributions.
Key features
- State-specific paycheck calculators for all 50 states and D.C., each with its own state income tax rates and local tax handling
- Take-home pay computed per paycheck and per year for both salary and hourly pay
- Full itemized pay stub: federal income tax, Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%), state taxes, 401(k) contributions, and health insurance deductions
- "What-if" analysis: how much a raise or overtime hour adds after tax, and the after-tax cost of 401(k) contributions
- Additional tools: hourly paycheck, bonus tax, overtime, 401(k) paycheck, gross-up, federal income tax, self-employment tax, and time card calculators
- $65,000 salary state-by-state comparison table (e.g., no-tax states keep ~$54,408/year vs. Oregon $49,593)
- 2026 tax-year accuracy: updated IRS brackets, standard deduction, and Social Security wage base
- Privacy-focused: "Nothing you enter leaves your browser" — no sign-up required
- Comprehensive FAQ and methodology page documenting every rate and source
- Mobile-responsive design with a sticky header, mobile pay-stub summary bar, and lightweight analytics/ads
Pain points
- Paycheck math is complex: take-home pay requires subtracting federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state/local taxes, and benefits — most people can't easily do this by hand
- State-to-state tax rules vary widely (brackets, flat rates, local taxes, disability/paid-leave programs), making comparisons confusing when considering a job offer or relocation
- Nine no-income-tax states vs. high-tax states (e.g., Oregon, Maryland, Hawaii) can differ by thousands of dollars a year for the same salary — a difference people often underestimate
- Confusion about how 401(k) contributions and health insurance affect net pay and the "tax break" on retirement savings
- Uncertainty about how raises, overtime, and bonuses actually add up after taxes
- Withholding uncertainty: W-4 choices, dependents, and employer withholding tables make estimates tricky, so people want a trustworthy estimate close to their real paycheck
- Keeping up with annual tax rule changes (new brackets, wage bases, state rate updates)
Usage instructions
On the homepage, pick your state from the dropdown (or click its card in the state grid) to land on that state's calculator page. Enter your gross pay (salary per year or hourly rate, plus pay frequency), and optionally add deductions such as 401(k) contributions and health insurance. The calculator instantly displays take-home pay per paycheck and per year, along with a full line-by-line pay stub breakdown (federal tax, Social Security, Medicare, state/local taxes, and benefits) and insights for raises, overtime, and 401(k) tax breaks. For salary-vs-state comparisons, use the $65,000 reference table, or consult the FAQ, methodology page, and guides for details on rates and accuracy.