Seattle Paycheck Calculator

What this calculator does

The Seattle paycheck calculator estimates how much of your salary reaches your bank account after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and WA PFML and WA Cares premiums. It is built for people comparing a job offer, planning a budget after a raise, or checking whether their withholding looks right. It uses the 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction published by the IRS and the current Washington rules stored in the site's Washington tax engine.

Washington does not tax wages, so Seattle paychecks show federal income tax and FICA plus two small state premiums. The state does tax long-term capital gains above a standard deduction at 7% (9.9% on taxable gains above $1 million), and it enacted a 9.9% tax on household income over $1 million that is scheduled to start in 2028.

How to use it

1. Enter your annual salary before any deductions.
2. Pick how often you are paid — weekly, every two weeks, twice a month or monthly.
3. Choose your filing status. Married couples filing jointly get wider tax brackets and a larger standard deduction.
4. Add your 401(k) percentage and any pre-tax health premium per paycheck; both reduce taxable income.
5. Read the result, the breakdown table and the Reasoning box, then change one input at a time to see what moves the number.

The formula, in plain English

Take-home pay = gross pay − pre-tax deductions − federal income tax − FICA − state and local taxes. Federal income tax is figured on salary minus 401(k) and health deductions minus the 2026 standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 joint, $24,150 head of household), run through the seven federal brackets. Social Security is 6.2% of wages up to $184,500 and Medicare is 1.45% of all wages, plus 0.9% above $200,000 for single filers. Health premiums paid through a cafeteria plan skip FICA; 401(k) contributions do not.

Worked example for Seattle

A single filer earning $110,000, paid every two weeks, saving 5% in a 401(k) and paying $90 per paycheck for health coverage:

Estimated take-home pay per biweekly paycheck: $3,030.21. $78,785 a year after taxes and pre-tax deductions.

What affects take-home pay in Seattle

Washington paychecks include the Paid Family and Medical Leave premium (1.13% total in 2026, of which employees pay 71.43%) and the WA Cares long-term care premium of 0.58% of wages, unless you hold an approved exemption.

Beyond taxes, the biggest levers are retirement savings and benefits. Raising a 401(k) contribution lowers federal income tax right away, so each dollar saved costs less than a dollar of take-home pay. In Seattle, where there is no state income tax, that saving comes only from federal tax.

Common mistakes and tips

• Confusing salary with take-home pay when comparing offers across cities — compare net pay, not gross.
• Forgetting that bonuses are often withheld at a flat 22% federal rate, which can look like a higher tax than your real bracket.
• Assuming a raise pushes all income into a higher bracket. Only the dollars above each threshold are taxed at the higher rate.
• Checking withholding once a year: the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator can help you adjust your W-4 if you expect a big refund or bill.
• If you move to or from Seattle mid-year, you may file part-year returns in two states.

Frequently asked questions