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Net to Gross Pay Calculator
Most calculators start with your salary and tell you what you take home. This net to gross pay calculator works the other way round: tell it the take-home pay you need, and it works out the gross pay that gets you there, after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare, state tax, your 401(k) and health cover are taken out.
Example filled in: take-home pay of $1,740.12 every two weeks, single, in Texas — that takes about $60,000 a year in gross pay.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the take-home pay you want each paycheck.
- Choose filing status, state, and pay frequency.
- Add pre-tax deductions (401(k) and health).
- This gross pay calculator tries gross pay figures until the take-home pay matches the amount you asked for, then shows the gross pay per period and per year, with the full breakdown.
Formula
There is no single formula for this one, because tax brackets change as pay rises. The calculator starts low, tries a gross pay, works out the take-home pay with the same 2026 figures as the Paycheck Calculator — standard deduction ($16,100 single / $32,200 married filing jointly in 2026), federal tax from simplified 2026 brackets, FICA = 6.2% Social Security on wages up to $184,500 + 1.45% Medicare (+0.9% over $200,000), plus state tax — and narrows in until the take-home pay matches your number to the cent.
Worked example — $1,740.12 take-home in Texas
Take-home pay of $1,740.12 every two weeks, single, in Texas, with 5% going to a 401(k) and $120 a paycheck for health cover: the gross pay you need is $59,999.81 a year — in round numbers, $60,000 — or $2,307.69 a paycheck. Check it the other way round on the Paycheck Calculator: $60,000 a year, single, biweekly, Texas, gives $1,740.12 take-home a paycheck. The same take-home pay in California needs a little more gross pay, because California takes $52.46 of state tax plus $30.00 of disability insurance (SDI) a paycheck on that pay.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the answer "about" $60,000, not exactly $60,000?
Because the calculator works to the cent. A gross pay of $59,999.81 a year gives exactly $1,740.12 take-home a paycheck; $60,000 a year gives $1,740.12 too, once the figures are rounded to cents. In real life, ask for $60,000.
What if my employer takes out other things, like dental or parking?
Add them to the health premium box as one total per paycheck. The calculator only needs the total taken out before tax, not what each part is called.
Does this work for hourly pay?
Yes. Work out the gross pay per period above, then multiply by the number of pay periods in a year and divide by your hours (hours per week × 52) to get the hourly rate. Or use the Salary to Hourly Calculator once you have the yearly figure.
How much gross pay do I need to take home $1,700?
It depends on your state and deductions, but as a guide: to take home $1,700 every two weeks in Texas, single, with 5% going to a 401(k) and $120 a paycheck for health cover, you need about $58,627 a year in gross pay. Put your own take-home number into the calculator above and it works out the exact figure for your state.
Sources and 2026 figures. IRS Publication 15-T; IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32. Standard deduction 2026: $16,100 single / $32,200 married filing jointly. Social Security wage base 2026: $184,500. Social Security 6.2%, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% over $200,000). Results are estimates, not tax advice.
Estimate, not tax advice. This calculator uses simplified 2026 tables for illustration. Verify your withholding with IRS Publication 15-T and a tax professional.