New Jersey Paycheck Calculator 2026
Calculate your New Jersey take-home pay instantly. Enter your salary or hourly wage and see net pay after federal income tax, New Jersey state tax (1.4%–10.75% brackets), Social Security (6.2%), and Medicare (1.45%) — all calculated privately in your browser.
2026 NJ employee contributions: TDI 0.19% + Family Leave 0.23% (first $171,100) and UI/workforce 0.425% (first $44,800).
New Jersey Payroll Tax Overview
New Jersey uses a graduated state income tax system with a top marginal rate of 10.75%. Lower income levels are taxed at lower rates, so your effective state tax rate will be below the 10.75% top bracket. Workers in New Jersey pay state income tax on top of federal income tax (10%–37%), Social Security (6.2%), and Medicare (1.45%).
The 2026 federal income tax brackets for single filers (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32): 10% on the first $12,400; 12% to $50,400; 22% to $105,700; 24% to $201,775; 32% to $256,225; 35% to $640,600; 37% above, applied after the $16,100 standard deduction ($32,200 married filing jointly). Pre-tax deductions (401k, health insurance, HSA) reduce your taxable income before both federal and state taxes are applied.
This calculator computes New Jersey tax bracket by bracket: wages minus pre-tax 401(k) deductions minus the $1,000 personal exemption ($2,000 married filing jointly), taxed on the 2026 single schedule (1.4% to $20,000, 1.75% to $35,000, 3.5% to $40,000, 5.525% to $75,000, 6.37% to $500,000, 8.97% to $1 million, 10.75% above) or the joint schedule, which head of household filers also use. New Jersey has no standard deduction. It also adds the 2026 employee payroll contributions: TDI 0.19% and Family Leave Insurance 0.23% on the first $171,100 of wages, and UI/workforce 0.425% on the first $44,800.
Federal vs New Jersey Tax Burden
For a New Jersey single filer earning $60,000 annually, 2026 federal income tax is about $5,020 (8.4% effective rate) after the $16,100 standard deduction, plus New Jersey state income tax of about $1,767 (on $59,000 after the $1,000 exemption, a 2.9% effective rate on gross), NJ UI/TDI/FLI contributions of $442, Social Security $3,720, and Medicare $870. Estimated annual take-home: about $48,180, or $1,853 biweekly.
States with graduated income tax rates like New Jersey apply higher rates only to income above each threshold — similar to how federal tax brackets work. Your effective state tax rate will be lower than the top 10.75% marginal rate unless nearly all your income falls in the top bracket.
To reduce your New Jersey paycheck tax burden, maximize pre-tax deductions: 401(k) contributions (up to $24,500 in 2026), HSA contributions (up to $4,400 for self-only coverage), and employer-sponsored health insurance premiums all lower both federal and state taxable income.
How to Use This New Jersey Paycheck Calculator
Enter your pay period (weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, monthly, or annual), then input either your annual gross salary or your hourly rate and average hours per week. Select your federal filing status — single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, or head of household — as this determines your federal tax brackets and standard deduction.
If you have pre-tax deductions such as a 401(k) contribution, health insurance premium, or HSA contribution, enter the total per-period dollar amount. These reduce your taxable income before federal and state taxes are calculated. The calculator will show federal income tax, Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%), New Jersey state income tax (1.4%–10.75% brackets), NJ UI/TDI/Family Leave contributions, your total deductions, and your net take-home pay — both per period and annualized.
Results are estimates based on standard assumptions and 2026 tax rates. Actual withholding may differ based on your W-4 elections, additional withholding, local taxes (in some cities), or retirement plan contribution limits. For precise payroll calculations, consult your payroll provider or a tax professional.
New Jersey Paycheck 403(b) State Tax Trap and PA Reciprocity
Two quirks of New Jersey payroll that most paycheck calculators get wrong: (1) only 401(k) deferrals are pre-tax for New Jersey income tax. New Jersey has excluded 401(k) elective deferrals from state wages since 1984 (N.J.S.A. 54A:6-21), but it does not follow the federal pre-tax treatment for 403(b) or 457 deferrals, HSA contributions or flexible spending accounts — those reduce federal taxable wages yet stay fully taxable for New Jersey. A teacher or hospital worker deferring $24,500 to a 403(b) in 2026 therefore pays New Jersey tax on that $24,500 as though it were cash pay — about $1,560 a year at the 6.37% bracket. This calculator subtracts the Pre-tax Deductions field from New Jersey income, so if your deductions are 403(b), 457, HSA or FSA money, enter only your 401(k) deferrals there for an exact New Jersey line. (2) New Jersey has full reciprocity with Pennsylvania: NJ residents who work in PA (or vice versa) pay income tax only to their home state under the NJ-PA Reciprocal Agreement. File NJ-165 with your PA employer to exempt PA withholding, then pay NJ tax only. This calculator uses NJ rates so it is already correct for NJ residents regardless of work location within the reciprocal pair. Updated 2026-07-16.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does New Jersey have state income tax?
Yes, New Jersey has a graduated state income tax with rates from 1.4% to 10.75%. The 10.75% top rate applies only to taxable income above $1 million.
What is the New Jersey state income tax rate?
For 2026 a single New Jersey filer pays 1.4% on the first $20,000 of taxable income, 1.75% to $35,000, 3.5% to $40,000, 5.525% to $75,000, 6.37% to $500,000, 8.97% to $1 million and 10.75% above that. Married filing jointly and head of household filers use a wider schedule with a 2.45% band. There is no standard deduction, only a $1,000 personal exemption per taxpayer.
How is take-home pay calculated in New Jersey?
Take-home pay in New Jersey is your gross pay minus federal income tax (10%–37%), Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%), New Jersey income tax (1.4%–10.75% brackets), the employee UI, TDI and Family Leave Insurance contributions, and any pre-tax deductions like 401(k) or health insurance.
What payroll taxes apply in New Jersey?
Employees in New Jersey pay federal income tax, FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%), New Jersey income tax at 1.4% to 10.75%, and three state payroll contributions for 2026: Temporary Disability Insurance 0.19% and Family Leave Insurance 0.23% on the first $171,100 of wages, and unemployment/workforce 0.425% on the first $44,800. Employers match Social Security and Medicare.
Does New Jersey have SDI or disability tax?
Yes. For 2026 New Jersey workers contribute 0.19% of wages to Temporary Disability Insurance and 0.23% to Family Leave Insurance, both on the first $171,100 of wages (maximum about $719 combined), plus 0.425% to unemployment and workforce funds on the first $44,800 (maximum $190.40). Source: NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development 2026 rate notice.
Do 401(k) contributions reduce New Jersey state income tax?
Yes for 401(k), no for most other plans. New Jersey excludes 401(k) elective deferrals from state wages (N.J.S.A. 54A:6-21), so a traditional 401(k) lowers both federal and New Jersey income tax. Contributions to 403(b) and 457 plans, HSAs and flexible spending accounts are not excluded: they lower federal taxable wages but stay taxable for New Jersey. Roth 401(k) contributions are after-tax for both.
If I live in New Jersey but work in Pennsylvania, which state tax do I pay?
You pay New Jersey state tax only, under the NJ-PA Reciprocal Personal Income Tax Agreement. File Form NJ-165 with your PA employer to exempt PA withholding, then report all wages to New Jersey. This calculator gives the correct result for NJ residents whether they work in NJ or PA. If your employer mistakenly withholds PA state tax, you must file PA Form REV-419 for a refund and pay NJ separately.