Texas Paycheck Calculator (2026)
Get your real per-paycheck take-home — biweekly, semimonthly, weekly, or monthly. We model federal income tax, FICA, and your pre-tax 401(k) and HSA the way payroll actually treats them, so the numbers line up with your stub.
Estimates use 2026 projected federal brackets, the standard deduction for your filing status, and current FICA rates. Texas has no state income tax, so your gross is not reduced by any state withholding.
The anatomy of a Texas pay stub
Open any Texas pay stub and you’ll see roughly the same six sections, regardless of employer. The header has gross wages and year-to-date totals. The middle has your pre-tax deductions: 401(k) traditional, HSA, Section 125 health premiums, and dependent-care FSA. Below that, taxes: federal income tax (FIT), Social Security (OASDI), and Medicare. Then post-tax deductions like Roth 401(k), ESPP contributions, life insurance, and any garnishments. The bottom shows net pay — what actually lands in your bank account.
What you’ll not see in Texas: a state income tax line, a state disability insurance line (no SDI like California), or a local income tax line (no city or county wage taxes). That alone is often $5,000–$15,000 a year of extra take-home for relocators from CA, NY, NJ, or OR at typical professional salaries.
How pay frequency affects you
Pay frequency doesn’t change your annual taxes — but it changes cash flow. Biweekly schedules give you 26 paychecks plus two “extra” checks per year (months where you get paid three times), which many people use to fund vacations or extra savings. Semimonthly is steadier (always twice a month) but gives you 24 paychecks. Weekly schedules are great for budgeting variable expenses but make benefit deductions feel smaller and more frequent.
Maximizing take-home in Texas
- Max your 401(k) — at the 2026 projected limit of ~$24,500 for under-50 (and an extra $7,500 catch-up for 50+), you’re shielding nearly $25k from federal tax. In a 24% bracket, that’s ~$6,000 in real savings.
- Use an HSA if you have HDHP coverage — HSAs shelter from federal tax and FICA. In Texas with no state tax to add, that’s the most efficient dollar you can put away.
- Consider a Mega Backdoor Roth — many Texas tech employers (Apple, Meta, Tesla, Indeed) support after-tax 401(k) with in-plan Roth conversion, letting you stash an extra $40k+ tax-advantaged.
Frequently asked questions
How often do most Texas employers run payroll?
Biweekly (every two weeks, 26 paychecks per year) is the most common in Texas. Semimonthly (twice a month, 24 checks) is common for salaried roles, especially in oil & gas and finance. Weekly is normal in trades, food service, and retail. Monthly is rare outside of executive comp.
Why does my actual paycheck not match the calculator exactly?
A few things can shift it: post-tax deductions (Roth 401k, garnishments, after-tax health), employer-paid benefits that show on your stub but don't affect take-home, and Texas employers occasionally include workers' comp riders. Our calculator focuses on the major federal and FICA flows that drive 95%+ of the variance.
Does Texas withhold anything from my paycheck?
Effectively no — Texas does not have a state income tax, so there's no state withholding line. You will see federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare. If your employer offers benefits, you'll also see pre-tax 401(k), HSA, health premiums, and any post-tax deductions (Roth contributions, life insurance, etc.).
Can I check this against my W-2?
Yes. Box 1 of your W-2 should roughly match (gross − pre-tax 401k − Section 125). Box 3 (SS wages) should match (gross − Section 125). Box 5 (Medicare wages) is similar. Federal withholding (box 2) is what was actually withheld, not necessarily your final tax. The calculator estimates your full-year tax, not just withholding.
How do I figure out my biweekly take-home from an annual offer?
Take your gross annual offer, subtract pre-tax 401(k) and HSA, apply the federal tax estimate from the calculator, subtract FICA, and divide by 26. The calculator does all of this automatically — just set pay frequency to biweekly.