An NJ paycheck calculator estimates take-home pay by starting with gross wages and subtracting pre-tax deductions, federal income tax, Social Security (6.2% on wages up to $184,500 in 2026), Medicare (1.45%, plus 0.9% on wages over $200,000), New Jersey income tax withholding and four small state payroll contributions. For 2026, New Jersey workers pay 0.3825% for unemployment insurance and 0.0425% for workforce funds on the first $44,800 of wages, plus 0.19% for disability insurance and 0.23% for family leave insurance on the first $171,100. Using those rates, a single worker earning $60,000 keeps an estimated $47,994 a year, or about $1,846 per biweekly paycheck.
Key Takeaways
- Federal taxes: income tax withholding based on your Form W-4, plus 6.2% Social Security and 1.45% Medicare.
- Social Security cap: the 6.2% tax stops once 2026 wages reach $184,500, a maximum of $11,439.
- NJ withholding uses your NJ-W4 filing status, rate tables A through E and $1,000 per allowance.
- 2026 NJ payroll contributions: 0.425% combined for UI and workforce funds, 0.19% for TDI and 0.23% for FLI.
- TDI and FLI rates fell in 2026, from 0.23% and 0.33% in 2025.
- No local wage tax on employees: the Newark and Jersey City payroll taxes are charged to employers.
Rates were checked against the IRS, the Social Security Administration, the NJ Division of Taxation and the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development in September 2026. All examples are estimates. This guide is general information, not tax or financial advice.
How an NJ Paycheck Calculator Works, Step by Step
You do not need special software to estimate your pay. Any NJ paycheck calculator, including a pencil-and-paper version, follows the same steps your payroll department uses. Working with annual figures and then dividing by the number of paychecks is the simplest method.
- Find your gross pay, including overtime, bonuses and commissions.
- Subtract pre-tax deductions, such as traditional 401(k) deferrals.
- Estimate federal income tax using your W-4 and the 2026 IRS brackets.
- Calculate FICA taxes: 6.2% for Social Security and 1.45% for Medicare.
- Estimate NJ income tax withholding using your NJ-W4 and the state rate table.
- Add NJ payroll contributions for UI, workforce funds, TDI and FLI.
- Subtract after-tax deductions, such as Roth 401(k) contributions or union dues.
Paychecks per year
| Pay frequency | Paychecks per year | Divide annual figures by |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 52 | 52 |
| Biweekly | 26 | 26 |
| Semimonthly | 24 | 24 |
| Monthly | 12 | 12 |
Hourly workers can multiply their hourly rate by hours worked in the period. Our NJ minimum wage guide lists the current hourly floor for each type of worker.
Pre-Tax Deductions in an NJ Paycheck Calculator
Gross pay is everything you earn before deductions. Pre-tax deductions then reduce the wages that some taxes are based on. For example, traditional 401(k) deferrals lower federal income tax, but they do not lower Social Security or Medicare tax.
New Jersey has its own rules. According to the NJ Division of Taxation, 401(k) contributions up to the federal limit are excluded from New Jersey wages. However, New Jersey does not let you exclude contributions to plans such as 403(b), 457 and 414(h) plans, the federal Thrift Savings Plan or IRAs. As a result, a teacher or public employee who saves in a 403(b) or 457 plan still has NJ tax withheld on that money. Check your pay stub or W-2 to see how each deduction is treated.
Federal Income Tax in 2026
Your employer withholds federal income tax based on the Form W-4 you filed. For a simple estimate with a standard W-4, subtract the 2026 standard deduction from annual wages and apply the brackets. The IRS set the 2026 standard deduction at $16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married couples filing jointly and $24,150 for heads of household.
| Rate | Single: taxable income | Married filing jointly: taxable income |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | Up to $12,400 | Up to $24,800 |
| 12% | Over $12,400 to $50,400 | Over $24,800 to $100,800 |
| 22% | Over $50,400 to $105,700 | Over $100,800 to $211,400 |
| 24% | Over $105,700 to $201,775 | Over $211,400 to $403,550 |
| 32% | Over $201,775 to $256,225 | Over $403,550 to $512,450 |
| 35% | Over $256,225 to $640,600 | Over $512,450 to $768,700 |
| 37% | Over $640,600 | Over $768,700 |
Actual withholding follows IRS Publication 15-T and can differ from this estimate. Extra withholding, the multiple-jobs checkbox, dependent credits and deductions entered on your W-4 all change the result. In addition, federal law now allows deductions for up to $25,000 of qualified tips and up to $12,500 of qualified overtime pay ($25,000 for joint filers) for tax years 2025 through 2028, which can lower your federal tax.
Social Security and Medicare
FICA taxes are flat percentages, which makes them the easiest part of any NJ paycheck calculator. Social Security takes 6.2% of wages until you earn $184,500 in 2026, so the most a worker pays for the year is $11,439. Medicare takes 1.45% of all wages with no cap. Once your wages from one employer pass $200,000 in a year, your employer also withholds an additional 0.9% Medicare tax on the wages above that amount.
NJ Income Tax Withholding and the NJ-W4
New Jersey withholding is based on Form NJ-W4, which is separate from the federal W-4. On it, you choose a filing status and the number of allowances you claim. Each allowance reduces your annual wages subject to withholding by $1,000.
Your filing status sets the default rate table. Single and married filing separately use Rate A. Married filing jointly, head of household and qualifying widow(er) use Rate B. Couples who both work can use the wage chart on the NJ-W4 to choose Rate C, D or E instead, which helps prevent under-withholding.
| Annual wages after allowances | Rate A withholding |
|---|---|
| $0 to $20,000 | 1.5% |
| $20,000 to $35,000 | $300 plus 2.0% over $20,000 |
| $35,000 to $40,000 | $600 plus 3.9% over $35,000 |
| $40,000 to $75,000 | $795 plus 6.1% over $40,000 |
| $75,000 to $500,000 | $2,930 plus 7.0% over $75,000 |
| $500,000 to $1,000,000 | $32,680 plus 9.9% over $500,000 |
| Over $1,000,000 | $82,180 plus 11.8% over $1,000,000 |
Rate B uses wider brackets: 1.5% up to $20,000, then 2.0%, 2.7%, 3.9%, 6.1%, 7.0%, 9.9% and 11.8% above $1 million. These withholding percentages are higher than the actual New Jersey income tax rates of 1.4% to 10.75%, so many workers receive a state refund when they file. The Division of Taxation’s current withholding tables have applied since October 1, 2020.
NJ Paycheck Calculator Inputs: 2026 Payroll Contributions
New Jersey is one of the few states where workers pay into unemployment insurance. Every NJ paycheck calculator should include these four deductions, which often appear on pay stubs as NJ SUI, NJ SDI and NJ FLI.
| Contribution | 2025 worker rate | 2026 worker rate | 2026 wage base | 2026 maximum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment insurance (UI) | 0.3825% | 0.3825% | $44,800 | $171.36 |
| Workforce development and supplemental workforce funds | 0.0425% | 0.0425% | $44,800 | $19.04 |
| Temporary disability insurance (TDI) | 0.23% | 0.19% | $171,100 | $325.09 |
| Family leave insurance (FLI) | 0.33% | 0.23% | $171,100 | $393.53 |
Maximums are the rate multiplied by the wage base. The wage bases rose from $43,300 and $165,400 in 2025, but the lower TDI and FLI rates mean most workers pay a little less in 2026. These contributions fund the benefits explained in our NJ family leave guide. Workers covered by an approved private disability plan may see a different TDI deduction.
Are There Local Taxes on NJ Paychecks?
New Jersey towns do not charge a local income tax on employees. Newark and Jersey City do have payroll taxes, but both are employer taxes. Newark charges employers 1% of wages for services performed in the city, or 0.5% for employers whose workforce is more than 50% Newark residents. Jersey City charges employers 1% of gross payroll, exempts the wages of Jersey City residents, and its ordinance bars employers from deducting the tax from employee pay.
Commuters are a different case. Under the New Jersey and Pennsylvania reciprocal agreement, Pennsylvania residents are not subject to NJ income tax on wages earned in New Jersey. NJ residents who work in New York generally have New York tax withheld and then claim a credit for taxes paid to another jurisdiction on their NJ return.
NJ Paycheck Calculator Examples for 2026
The NJ paycheck calculator table below shows estimated take-home pay at five salaries. Assumptions: single filer, standard deduction, 2026 rates, biweekly pay, a standard federal W-4, an NJ-W4 with single status and one allowance (Rate A), and no pre-tax deductions or credits.
| Annual salary | Est. total taxes | Est. annual take-home | Est. per biweekly check | Share withheld |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $6,774.00 | $33,226.00 | $1,277.92 | 16.9% |
| $60,000 | $12,006.40 | $47,993.60 | $1,845.91 | 20.0% |
| $80,000 | $18,626.40 | $61,373.60 | $2,360.52 | 23.3% |
| $100,000 | $26,040.40 | $73,959.60 | $2,844.60 | 26.0% |
| $150,000 | $45,139.40 | $104,860.60 | $4,033.10 | 30.1% |
Detailed example: $60,000 single worker
| Item | Annual estimate | Per biweekly check |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $60,000.00 | $2,307.69 |
| Federal income tax | $5,020.00 | $193.08 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $3,720.00 | $143.08 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | $870.00 | $33.46 |
| NJ income tax withholding (Rate A) | $1,954.00 | $75.15 |
| NJ UI and workforce funds | $190.40 | $7.32 |
| NJ TDI | $114.00 | $4.38 |
| NJ FLI | $138.00 | $5.31 |
| Estimated take-home pay | $47,993.60 | $1,845.91 |
The per-check UI and workforce figure is an annual average. In practice, about $9.81 is taken from each check until wages reach $44,800, and then it stops. In addition, this worker’s actual 2026 NJ income tax on $59,000 of taxable income would be about $1,767, so the Rate A withholding of $1,954 would likely lead to a small state refund.
How caps affect a high salary
For a single worker earning $250,000, the same NJ paycheck calculator steps show the caps at work. Social Security stops at $11,439, TDI stops at $325.09 and FLI stops at $393.53. Medicare, however, rises to $4,075 because of the 0.9% additional tax on the $50,000 above $200,000. Estimated federal income tax is $51,304 and Rate A NJ withholding is $15,110, leaving estimated take-home pay of about $167,163.
Tips to Make Your Estimate More Accurate
- Use your pay stub to confirm which deductions are pre-tax for federal and NJ purposes.
- Review your NJ-W4 if you had a large state refund or balance due last year.
- Two-earner couples should use the NJ-W4 wage chart, since Rate B alone can leave too little withheld.
- Bonuses are often withheld differently, so a bonus check may not match a regular one.
- Compare with your W-2 in January to see how close your NJ paycheck calculator estimate was.
More NJ Money and Work Guides
If your hours are cut or you lose your job, our NJ unemployment guide explains how to file. You can also see how state tax dollars are spent in our NJ budget FY2027 explained article. Browse more in our Money & Taxes section or return to the homepage.
Frequently Asked Questions About the NJ Paycheck Calculator
How do I calculate my take-home pay in NJ?
Start with gross pay, subtract pre-tax deductions, then subtract federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, NJ income tax withholding and the NJ UI, workforce, TDI and FLI contributions.
What are the NJ SUI, SDI and FLI rates for 2026?
In 2026, workers pay 0.3825% for unemployment insurance and 0.0425% for workforce funds on the first $44,800, plus 0.19% for disability insurance and 0.23% for family leave insurance on the first $171,100.
What is the Social Security wage base for 2026?
Social Security tax of 6.2% applies to the first $184,500 of 2026 wages, for a maximum of $11,439. Medicare tax of 1.45% has no cap.
How much is taken out of a $60,000 paycheck in NJ?
For a single filer with a standard W-4 and 2026 rates, estimated total taxes are about $12,006 a year, leaving about $47,994, or roughly $1,846 per biweekly check.
Does New Jersey have local income taxes?
No. New Jersey towns do not tax employee wages. Newark and Jersey City payroll taxes are paid by employers.
Why do I get a New Jersey tax refund every year?
NJ withholding tables use percentages that are higher than the actual income tax rates in several brackets, so many workers have more withheld than they owe.
Are 401(k) contributions taxed in New Jersey?
Contributions to a 401(k) up to the federal limit are excluded from NJ wages, but contributions to 403(b), 457 and similar plans are not excluded.
What is the NJ-W4 form?
The NJ-W4 is the state withholding certificate where you choose a filing status, rate table and number of allowances, each worth $1,000 a year.
Putting Your NJ Paycheck Calculator Math to Work
An NJ paycheck calculator is simply gross pay minus pre-tax deductions, federal income tax, FICA, NJ withholding and four small state contributions. With 2026 rates of 6.2% and 1.45% for FICA, 0.425% for UI and workforce funds, 0.19% for TDI and 0.23% for FLI, you can estimate take-home pay within a few dollars. Compare your estimate with your next pay stub, and update your W-4 or NJ-W4 if the numbers do not line up.
