Alabama Paycheck Calculator (2026)

See what actually reaches your bank account from an Alabama paycheck. The calculator applies the IRS 2026 percentage method for federal withholding, Social Security and Medicare, and the Alabama Department of Revenue withholding formula — which, unlike most states, subtracts your federal withholding before it works out state tax. An optional local rate covers cities with an occupational tax.

How to use this tool

1. Enter your gross pay as a yearly salary or per paycheck, and pick how often you are paid.
2. Match your federal W-4: filing status, the Step 2 box and any Step 3 credit amount.
3. Add pre-tax 401(k) and cafeteria-plan (health, FSA, HSA) deductions per paycheck.
4. Choose the exemption on your Alabama Form A-4 and your number of dependents.
5. Add a local occupational tax rate if your city charges one.

Formula

Alabama withholding = tax on (annual wages − standard deduction − annual federal withholding − personal exemption − dependents) ÷ pay periods

Federal withholding: annual taxable wages minus $8,600 ($12,900 married filing jointly) unless the Step 2 box is checked, run through the 2026 withholding brackets, minus Step 3 credits, divided by pay periods.

Social Security is 6.2% of wages up to $184,500 in 2026; Medicare is 1.45% plus 0.9% on wages over $200,000. 401(k) deferrals lower income tax but not Social Security or Medicare; section 125 deductions lower all three.

Example

A single employee paid $2,000 every two weeks, A-4 “S”, no dependents or pre-tax deductions. Federal: $52,000 − $8,600 = $43,400, so $1,240 + 12% × $23,500 = $4,060 a year, or $156.15 a paycheck. Social Security is $124.00 and Medicare $29.00. Alabama: $52,000 − $2,500 − $4,060 − $1,500 = $43,940 taxable; tax $2,157 a year, $82.96 a paycheck. Take-home: $1,607.88.