Paycheck After 401(k) Calculator 2026

Paycheck After 401(k) Calculator

Contributing to a 401(k) lowers your paycheck by less than you put in, because each dollar saved cuts your taxable income. Enter your salary and contribution to see your new take-home pay and the real after-tax cost of every dollar you save.

● Tax-break aware ● Per-paycheck impact ● 2026 $24,500 limit

💰 Your 401(k) paycheck

Saving costs less than it looks

How a 401(k) really affects your paycheck

A traditional 401(k) contribution comes out before federal income tax, so it lowers your taxable income. That means a dollar saved reduces your take-home by less than a dollar — the difference is the tax you would have paid. The higher your bracket, the cheaper it is to save.

Worked example: $90,000, contributing 10%

On a $90,000 single salary, contributing 10% means $9,000 into your 401(k). Without it, take-home is about $72,145. With it, taxable income drops and federal tax falls by roughly $1,980 — so take-home only falls to about $74,125 minus the $9,000 saved. In other words, $9,000 of retirement savings costs you only about $7,020 in lost take-home. Every $1 saved costs about 78 cents.

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The 2026 limits: You can contribute up to $24,500 to a 401(k) in 2026, plus an $8,000 catch-up if you're 50 or older. Many employers also match a percentage — free money that this paycheck math doesn't even count.

Traditional vs. Roth

This tool models a traditional (pre-tax) 401(k), which cuts today's tax bill. A Roth 401(k) uses after-tax dollars, so it doesn't change your current paycheck but grows tax-free. To see the contribution limits and employer match in detail, use the 401(k) contribution calculator.

Paycheck after 401(k) FAQ

How much does a 401(k) reduce my paycheck?

By less than you contribute, because the contribution is pre-tax. In the 22% bracket, every $1 you put in lowers your take-home by only about 78 cents — the other 22 cents is federal tax you would have paid anyway.

What is the real cost of contributing to a 401(k)?

The real cost is your contribution minus the tax you save. Contributing $9,000 in the 22% bracket saves about $1,980 in federal tax, so the true hit to your take-home is roughly $7,020. State tax savings, where they apply, lower the cost further.

What is the 401(k) contribution limit for 2026?

The 2026 employee elective-deferral limit is $24,500, with an additional $8,000 catch-up contribution allowed for workers aged 50 and over. These limits are set by the IRS and adjusted for inflation each year.

Does a 401(k) lower my Social Security and Medicare tax?

No. Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce your federal and state income tax, but Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) are still calculated on your full gross wages, exactly as shown in this calculator.