{
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  "@type": "Dataset",
  "name": "How do you calculate FICA taxes on a paycheck?",
  "description": "FICA is 7.65% of gross wages: 6.2% for Social Security (on the first $176,100 earned in 2025) plus 1.45% for Medicare (no cap). On a $1,500 weekly check, FICA is $114.75 — $93.00 Social Security and $21.75 Medicare.",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/answers/how-to-calculate-fica-taxes",
  "dateModified": "2026-10-01",
  "creator": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "RevenueLab",
    "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi"
  },
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "keywords": [
    "Freelancer Paycheck Calculator",
    "Take-Home Pay Calculator",
    "Paycheck Estimator"
  ],
  "distribution": {
    "@type": "DataDownload",
    "contentUrl": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/page.json?path=answers%2Fhow-to-calculate-fica-taxes",
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  "json": {
    "type": "answer",
    "question": "How do you calculate FICA taxes on a paycheck?",
    "shortAnswer": "FICA is 7.65% of gross wages: 6.2% for Social Security (on the first $176,100 earned in 2025) plus 1.45% for Medicare (no cap). On a $1,500 weekly check, FICA is $114.75 — $93.00 Social Security and $21.75 Medicare.",
    "tableTitle": "FICA on common paycheck sizes (2025)",
    "columns": [
      "Gross pay",
      "Social Security (6.2%)",
      "Medicare (1.45%)"
    ],
    "rows": [
      {
        "label": "$1,000 biweekly",
        "value": "$62.00",
        "note": "Medicare $14.50 → total $76.50"
      },
      {
        "label": "$2,000 biweekly",
        "value": "$124.00",
        "note": "Medicare $29.00 → total $153.00"
      },
      {
        "label": "$3,000 biweekly",
        "value": "$186.00",
        "note": "Medicare $43.50 → total $229.50"
      },
      {
        "label": "$5,000 semimonthly",
        "value": "$310.00",
        "note": "Medicare $72.50 → total $382.50"
      }
    ],
    "context": "FICA is charged on gross pay before the standard deduction or 401(k) — pre-tax retirement contributions do not reduce it, though some cafeteria-plan benefits (health premiums, HSA) do. Once your year-to-date wages pass $176,100, the 6.2% stops and your check jumps noticeably. High earners also pay an extra 0.9% Medicare surtax on wages over $200,000 (single). Self-employed workers pay both halves — 15.3% — though half is deductible.",
    "methodology": "Rates set by federal law: 6.2% OASDI up to the annual wage base ($176,100 in 2025), 1.45% Medicare uncapped, plus 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax above $200,000 (single) / $250,000 (married filing jointly).",
    "dateModified": "2026-10-01",
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      {
        "label": "Freelancer Paycheck Calculator",
        "to": "/freelancer-paycheck-calculator"
      },
      {
        "label": "Take-Home Pay Calculator",
        "to": "/paycheck-take-home-calculator"
      },
      {
        "label": "Paycheck Estimator",
        "to": "/paycheck-estimator"
      }
    ],
    "relatedReading": [
      {
        "label": "How to calculate take-home pay",
        "to": "/answers/how-to-calculate-take-home-pay"
      }
    ]
  }
}