2026 Employer Cost Tool
What Salary Do You Need to Take Home Your Target Pay?
Enter the take-home pay you want and your state. ExactTakeHome works backwards to find the gross salary required after federal withholding, FICA, and state income tax in 2026.
Employer gross-up on a bonus? Try the Bonus Tax Calculator →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a gross-up calculator?
A gross-up calculator works backwards from your desired net (take-home) pay to tell you the gross salary you need to earn. It accounts for federal income tax withholding, Social Security, Medicare, and state income tax.
What gross salary do I need to take home $5,000 a month?
Enter $60,000 as your annual target net in the ExactTakeHome gross-up calculator and select your state. The required gross salary ranges from approximately $75,000 (Texas — no state tax) to over $95,000 (California — high state tax).
Data Sources & Methodology
ExactTakeHome tax data is sourced from official government publications and verified against primary sources. Last verified: .
- Federal withholding: IRS Publication 15-T — Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods
- Social Security wage base: SSA 2026 Social Security Wage Base
- Medicare rates: IRS Topic No. 751 — Social Security and Medicare Withholding Rates
- State income tax: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts — Texas has no state income tax; federal withholding only