W2 vs 1099 Calculator
See exactly how much more (or less) you take home as a contractor
All 50 states · 2026 tax brackets · Federal + State + SE Tax · Free forever
W2 vs 1099 Take-Home Calculator
All 50 states · Federal + State + SE Tax · 2026 tax brackets
Income & Location
W2 Benefits (Annual Value)
How It Works
Enter Your Income
Input your annual gross income and choose your state from all 50 US states.
We Run the Numbers
Our calculator applies 2026 federal brackets, your state rate, and all SE tax rules automatically.
See Your Comparison
Get a side-by-side breakdown showing exactly what you keep as W2 vs 1099.
The #1 Mistake People Make
Most people compare their W2 salary directly to a 1099 rate. That's wrong.
As a 1099 contractor, you pay both the employee and employer portions of Social Security and Medicare — that's 15.3% on your first $184,500 of income (2026 Social Security wage base, per IRS), compared to 7.65% as a W2 employee.
You usually need to earn noticeably more as a 1099 contractor just to break even with a W2 salary after accounting for SE tax and lost benefits. Our calculator shows you the exact number for your situation.