How this Texas paycheck calculator works
This Texas paycheck calculator turns your gross pay into your net pay. Gross pay is what you earn before taxes. Net pay, also called take-home pay, is the money that reaches your bank account. The tool follows the same steps that payroll systems use, and it updates as you type.
Step 1: Enter your pay
Choose Salary or Hourly. For salary, type your yearly pay. For hourly, type your hourly rate and the hours you work in one pay period. Add overtime hours if you have them. If you only know your hourly wage and want a yearly number, use the Hourly to Salary Calculator.
Step 2: Choose your pay frequency and filing status
Pay frequency sets how many paychecks you get each year: 52 for weekly, 26 for bi-weekly, 24 for semi-monthly, and 12 for monthly. Filing status changes your federal tax brackets and your standard deduction.
Step 3: Add your dependents
Enter the number of children under 17 and the number of other dependents. The tool turns them into the same credits that you would claim in Step 3 of Form W-4.
Step 4: Add deductions (optional)
Open More options to add 401(k) savings, health insurance, after-tax deductions, extra withholding, and other W-4 choices. You can skip this step. The tool then uses standard values.
Step 5: Read your take-home pay
The result shows your take-home pay for one paycheck and a clear split of each tax. It also shows your net pay per year, per month, per week, and per hour.
Texas state income tax is $0, so there is no state line in this formula.
Texas paycheck taxes and deductions for 2026
Texas is one of the states with no state income tax, so paychecks here are simpler. The table shows what comes out of a typical Texas paycheck in 2026.
| Item | 2026 rate or rule | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | 10% to 37%, based on taxable income and your W-4 | Employee |
| Social Security | 6.2% of wages up to $184,500 | Employee (employer pays a matching 6.2%) |
| Medicare | 1.45% of all wages, plus 0.9% on wages over $200,000 | Employee (employer matches the 1.45%) |
| Texas state income tax | None | Not applicable |
| Local (city or county) income tax | None | Not applicable |
| State disability insurance | Texas has no state program | Not applicable |
| Texas unemployment tax | Charged on the first $9,000 of each employee's wages | Employer only |
Does Texas have a state income tax?
No. Texas does not tax wages at the state level, and no Texas city or county charges a local income tax. For the same salary, your take-home pay is higher than in states that tax income. To see the difference, try the California Paycheck Calculator. Texas does collect other taxes, such as sales tax and property tax, so the savings show up in your paycheck but not always in your total budget.
Federal income tax
Your employer withholds federal income tax based on your Form W-4. For 2026, the standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married couples filing jointly, and $24,150 for heads of household. The seven tax rates are 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%. Each rate applies only to the part of your income that falls inside that bracket.
Social Security and Medicare (FICA)
FICA pays for Social Security and Medicare. Social Security is 6.2% of your pay up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500. Medicare is 1.45% of all your pay. Employers also withhold an extra 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax on pay above $200,000. Your employer pays a matching share of both taxes. Pre-tax 401(k) savings lower your income tax, but they do not lower Social Security or Medicare tax.
Texas unemployment tax (paid by employers)
Employers pay Texas unemployment tax on the first $9,000 of each employee's wages. This tax does not come out of your paycheck.
Texas paycheck calculator with dependents
Dependents can raise your take-home pay. On Form W-4, Step 3 lets you claim $2,200 for each qualifying child under age 17 and $500 for each other dependent. Your employer uses that amount to lower your federal income tax withholding all year. These amounts apply when your total income is $200,000 or less, or $400,000 or less if you are married filing jointly. This calculator applies the credits in the same way, and it does not apply them above those limits.
| Situation | Gross per paycheck | Federal income tax | Take-home per paycheck | Yearly credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single, no children, $60,000 | $2,307.69 | $193.08 | $1,938.08 | $0 |
| Head of household, 1 child, $60,000 | $2,307.69 | $67.23 | $2,063.92 | $2,200 |
| Married filing jointly, no children, $100,000 | $3,846.15 | $293.85 | $3,258.08 | $0 |
| Married filing jointly, 2 children, $100,000 | $3,846.15 | $124.62 | $3,427.31 | $4,400 |
If you and your spouse both work, claim each child on only one Form W-4. Otherwise the credit is counted twice.
Texas paycheck calculator with overtime
Texas follows the federal overtime law, called the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Most hourly (non-exempt) workers earn 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in one workweek. Texas has no daily overtime rule and no double-time rule. Hours over 8 in a day do not count as overtime unless your employer or contract says so.
Overtime is added to your gross pay and taxed like your other wages. Your take-home pay still goes up, but not by the full overtime amount, because federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare still apply. To work out overtime pay on its own, use the Overtime Pay Calculator.
| Overtime hours | Gross per paycheck | Federal income tax | Take-home per paycheck | Overtime premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 hours | $1,600.00 | $108.15 | $1,369.45 | $0.00 |
| 5 hours | $1,750.00 | $126.15 | $1,489.97 | $50.00 |
| 10 hours | $1,900.00 | $144.15 | $1,610.50 | $100.00 |
| 15 hours | $2,050.00 | $162.15 | $1,731.02 | $150.00 |
The new federal overtime deduction
A new federal deduction lets you subtract the overtime premium from your taxable income when you file your tax return. The premium is the extra half in time-and-a-half pay. The limit is $12,500 per person, or $25,000 for married couples filing jointly. The deduction phases out above $150,000 of income ($300,000 for joint filers). It only covers overtime that the FLSA requires, and it covers tax years 2025 through 2028.
The deduction does not lower your paycheck taxes by itself. Overtime pay is still subject to federal income tax withholding, Social Security, and Medicare. If you want to see the benefit in each paycheck, you can add your expected deduction in Step 4(b) of a new Form W-4. You can enter the same amount in More options in this calculator. Starting in 2026, your employer must report qualified overtime in Box 12 of your Form W-2 with code TT.
Texas take-home pay examples for 2026
These estimates use a single filer, bi-weekly pay, no dependents, the standard deduction, and no extra deductions. Your numbers will differ if your situation is different. Enter your own details in the calculator for a personal result.
Texas salary paycheck examples
| Annual salary | Gross per paycheck | Take-home per paycheck | Take-home per year | Share paid in taxes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $1,538.46 | $1,320.00 | $34,320 | 14.2% |
| $60,000 | $2,307.69 | $1,938.08 | $50,390 | 16.0% |
| $80,000 | $3,076.92 | $2,504.23 | $65,110 | 18.6% |
| $100,000 | $3,846.15 | $3,045.38 | $79,180 | 20.8% |
| $150,000 | $5,769.23 | $4,376.58 | $113,791 | 24.1% |
Texas hourly paycheck examples (40 hours a week)
The Texas minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, so the first row shows pay at the minimum wage.
| Hourly rate | Gross per paycheck | Take-home per paycheck | Take-home per year | Share paid in taxes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $7.25 | $580.00 | $535.63 | $13,926 | 7.7% |
| $15.00 | $1,200.00 | $1,048.05 | $27,249 | 12.7% |
| $20.00 | $1,600.00 | $1,369.45 | $35,606 | 14.4% |
| $25.00 | $2,000.00 | $1,690.85 | $43,962 | 15.5% |
| $30.00 | $2,400.00 | $2,012.25 | $52,318 | 16.2% |
| $40.00 | $3,200.00 | $2,590.82 | $67,361 | 19.0% |
Texas pay rules every worker should know
- Minimum wage: $7.25 per hour, the same as the federal minimum wage. Tipped workers must earn at least $2.13 per hour in base pay, and tips must bring the total to $7.25.
- Pay frequency: Under the Texas Payday Law, most employees must be paid at least twice a month. Employees who are exempt from overtime must be paid at least once a month.
- Overtime: 1.5 times the regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek.
- Exempt employees: Most salaried exempt workers must earn at least $684 per week ($35,568 per year) and meet a job duties test.
The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) enforces the Texas Payday Law. If you think you were not paid correctly, you can contact the TWC.
How to increase your take-home pay in Texas
- Check your W-4. Update it after a marriage, a new child, or a second job. Too much withholding means a smaller paycheck all year.
- Claim your dependents. Enter the child and dependent credits in Step 3 so your employer withholds less tax.
- Plan for overtime. If you work regular overtime, you can add the expected deduction in Step 4(b) to see the benefit in each paycheck.
- Use pre-tax benefits. Health plan premiums, flexible spending accounts (FSA), and commuter benefits can lower the pay that is taxed.
- Save in a 401(k) on purpose. It lowers your income tax now, but it also lowers your take-home pay. Social Security and Medicare still apply to that money.
- Read your pay stub every period. Mistakes in hours, rate, or deductions are easy to fix when you find them early.
Paycheck terms explained
- Gross pay
- Your total pay before any taxes or deductions.
- Net pay (take-home pay)
- The amount you receive after all taxes and deductions.
- Withholding
- The tax your employer takes from each paycheck and sends to the government for you.
- Form W-4
- The federal form that tells your employer how much federal income tax to withhold.
- FICA
- The federal payroll taxes for Social Security and Medicare.
- Pay period
- The time covered by one paycheck, such as one week or two weeks.
- Pre-tax deduction
- Money taken from your pay before income tax is figured, such as 401(k) savings or health insurance.
- After-tax deduction
- Money taken from your pay after taxes, such as Roth 401(k) savings or union dues.
- Supplemental wages
- Extra pay such as bonuses, commissions, and severance. Employers often withhold tax on these at flat rates.
- Exempt and non-exempt employees
- Exempt workers are not eligible for overtime. Non-exempt workers are eligible for overtime pay.
