{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Dataset",
  "name": "How does a 401(k) contribution change your take-home pay?",
  "description": "A traditional 401(k) contribution costs less than it saves because it comes out before income tax. Contributing $200 per check in the 22% bracket reduces take-home by only about $156 — the other $44 is tax you no longer owe.",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/answers/how-to-calculate-take-home-pay-after-401k",
  "dateModified": "2026-10-01",
  "creator": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "RevenueLab",
    "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi"
  },
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "keywords": [
    "Take-Home Pay Calculator",
    "Paycheck Estimator",
    "NYC Paycheck Calculator"
  ],
  "distribution": {
    "@type": "DataDownload",
    "contentUrl": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/page.json?path=answers%2Fhow-to-calculate-take-home-pay-after-401k",
    "encodingFormat": "application/json"
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  "json": {
    "type": "answer",
    "question": "How does a 401(k) contribution change your take-home pay?",
    "shortAnswer": "A traditional 401(k) contribution costs less than it saves because it comes out before income tax. Contributing $200 per check in the 22% bracket reduces take-home by only about $156 — the other $44 is tax you no longer owe.",
    "tableTitle": "Cost of a $200/check 401(k) contribution by tax bracket",
    "columns": [
      "Marginal bracket",
      "Take-home reduction",
      "Tax saved"
    ],
    "rows": [
      {
        "label": "10%",
        "value": "$180",
        "note": "$20 saved per check"
      },
      {
        "label": "12%",
        "value": "$176",
        "note": "$24 saved per check"
      },
      {
        "label": "22%",
        "value": "$156",
        "note": "$44 saved per check"
      },
      {
        "label": "24%",
        "value": "$152",
        "note": "$48 saved per check"
      }
    ],
    "context": "Traditional contributions reduce federal and (almost always) state income tax, but not FICA — you still pay 7.65% on the full gross. Roth 401(k) contributions are the opposite: full tax now, tax-free withdrawals later, so they reduce take-home dollar-for-dollar. If your employer matches, the match doesn't touch your check at all — it's added on top. The 2025 employee contribution limit is $23,500 ($31,000 if you're 50+).",
    "methodology": "Take-home reduction = contribution × (1 − marginal federal rate − marginal state rate). FICA unchanged because 401(k) deferrals are still subject to Social Security and Medicare tax. State savings vary; examples use federal only.",
    "dateModified": "2026-10-01",
    "relatedCalculators": [
      {
        "label": "Take-Home Pay Calculator",
        "to": "/paycheck-take-home-calculator"
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      {
        "label": "Paycheck Estimator",
        "to": "/paycheck-estimator"
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      {
        "label": "NYC Paycheck Calculator",
        "to": "/nyc-paycheck-calculator"
      }
    ],
    "relatedReading": [
      {
        "label": "How to calculate net pay from gross",
        "to": "/answers/how-to-calculate-net-pay-from-gross"
      }
    ]
  }
}