How the biweekly paycheck calculator works
Enter your salary or hourly wage, choose the biweekly pay frequency, select your state and filing status, and add any deductions. The calculator instantly divides your annual pay into 26 checks and subtracts each tax and deduction using official 2026 figures — so you see the exact amount that lands in your bank account.
Why biweekly pay has “three-paycheck” months
Because 26 paychecks don’t divide evenly into 12 months, two months each year contain a third paycheck. Many workers budget on two checks per month and treat those extra checks as bonus savings — a simple way to build an emergency fund or knock out debt.
What comes out of your biweekly check
Every biweekly paycheck is reduced by federal income tax (based on the 2026 brackets and your W-4), Social Security at 6.2% up to the $184,500 wage base, Medicare at 1.45%, your state and any local income tax, and voluntary deductions such as a traditional 401(k) and pre-tax health insurance. Pre-tax deductions lower your taxable income, which lowers your tax.
A worked biweekly example
A $65,000 salary paid biweekly is about $2,500 gross per check. After roughly $216 federal tax, $155 Social Security, $36 Medicare, and state tax, take-home is typically around $1,950–$2,000 depending on your state — before 401(k) or health deductions. Adjust the inputs above to match your situation exactly.