How to calculate take home pay

Lisa CCU RN, RN · Oct 23, 2005

You have to know if there is state income tax as well as federal and then there is FICA and Medicaid to be deducted. I'm not sure if those are even the same things. I would talk to payroll and ask them because a lot of variables go into this. You could have health insurance, long term disability, short term disability if you have dependents makes a difference, your marital status.... Like I said, would depend on your situation. Talk to payroll.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Oct 23, 2005

Well, I've been trying to figure this out for years! In general, I have found that my total deductions (and this includes all the different taxes, medical insurance, dental insurance, there's also a disability tax in California) always seemed to take up about 33% of my gross salary. That always seemed to get me a pretty accurate estimate. So, in your case your 2-week gross salary would be $1944. By my method about $642 would be the amount taken out leaving you a take home amount of $1302. But, remember, this is just an approximation. It could actually end up being a little more or a little less.

GoldenFire5 · Oct 23, 2005

You can go to salary.com and type in RN for the zip code of the hospital (or use 92101), then click on the tab for Net Paycheck Estimate, and it will give you the info you need. Even though the example is set for the median salary, you can adjust the net paycheck for the gross you'll be making.

As far as deductions... you can claim from 0 on up. Others will know much more about this than me, but you can typically claim 1 deduction per dependant. The more deductions you claim, the less tax is taken from your gross pay. As for me, I don't have any kids or own a home, so I claim 0. That means I have the most possible tax taken out of my paycheck, and when it comes time to file for annual taxes, it ends up about even (meaning I don't get a refund or owe a payment). This all may be obvious to you... I don't know how taxes in the UK work.

Salary.com also has a cost-of-living adjustment which will compare cost-of-living vs. typical salaries for two locations.

Good luck! San Diego's a great place to live.

fergus51 · Oct 23, 2005

Also, you need to know if this is your base rate or your blended rate. If it is your blended rate, you will get 27/hr for every hour you work. If it is your base rate, you will get 27/hr for the first 8 hours, then time and a half for the last 4 ($40).

kimhaw · Oct 23, 2005

go to paycheckcity.com and click on personal calculators and it will let you pick your state and give you the exact calculations you need. They have always been close for me or the same as my paycheck.