Net to Gross Calculator
Enter the take-home pay you want per paycheck, pick your state and pay frequency, and the calculator finds the gross pay that produces it after 2026 federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and state tax.
How to Use the Net to Gross Calculator
- Enter the net (take-home) amount you want for each paycheck.
- Choose how often you are paid, your state and filing status.
- Add a traditional 401(k) contribution per paycheck if you make one.
- Read the gross pay needed and the yearly gross pay it equals.
What Net to Gross Means
A gross-up (also called net to gross) works backwards from the amount you want to receive to the amount before taxes. Employers use it for sign-on bonuses and relocation payments, and workers use it to find the salary that supports a target take-home pay.
Net to Gross Formula
For a flat-rate payment such as a bonus: Gross = Net / (1 - total tax rate). With 22% federal flat withholding, 7.65% FICA and no state tax, the total rate is 29.65%, so a $1,000 bonus needs a gross payment of $1,000 / 0.7035 = about $1,421.46.
Regular pay is different. Income tax is progressive, so there is no single rate, and this calculator finds the gross by testing amounts until take-home matches your target.
Net to Gross Examples
Single filer, paid biweekly, no deductions, 2026 rules:
| State | Take-home per check | Gross per check needed |
|---|---|---|
| Texas or Florida (no state tax) | $2,000.00 | $2,384.76 |
| California | $2,000.00 | $2,523.03 |
| New York | $2,000.00 | $2,542.19 |
The same take-home needs a higher gross in states with income tax. Texas with a $5,000 monthly take-home target needs about $6,061.36 gross per month, roughly $72,736 a year.
Gross to Net vs Net to Gross
Gross to net starts from pay before tax and finds take-home. Net to gross does the reverse. For gross to net, use the salary paycheck calculator or the hourly paycheck calculator.
Gross-Ups for Bonuses and Payments
Bonuses are usually withheld at 22% federal plus FICA and state tax. Because the gross-up itself is taxable, the employer also pays matching FICA on the larger amount. Read how bonuses are taxed and the net-to-gross guide for methods.
What the Calculator Does Not Include
It uses standard deductions, the traditional 401(k) field and state programs modelled on this site. It does not include health insurance, garnishments, local taxes or itemized deductions, so a real paycheck may differ. See how take-home pay is calculated.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you calculate gross from net pay?
For a flat tax rate, divide net by (1 minus the total tax rate). For regular pay, test gross amounts until the take-home matches, which this calculator does for you.
What is a gross-up?
A gross-up increases a payment so that after taxes the recipient receives a target net amount.
Why is the gross so much higher than the net?
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and state tax come out of gross pay, so the gross must cover both the take-home and those taxes.
Is net to gross the same as a raise calculator?
No. It finds the pay needed for a target take-home. To see what a raise adds, use the salary paycheck calculator.
Does it work for hourly workers?
Yes. Divide the gross per paycheck by your hours in that pay period to get the hourly rate. Or use the salary to hourly calculator.
How these numbers are figured: 2026 IRS withholding rules (Publication 15-T) and state figures last verified September 2026. Results are estimates. Read the full methodology and sources.