What percentage of your paycheck do you keep?

kranky

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
21,019
156
106
When computing the amount, people should remember not to count voluntary deductions. We go through this at work all the time.

"Something's wrong, I'm only getting about 60% of my salary in take-home pay!"
Let's see your paycheck, OK?
"See, that's only 60% of the gross. I have a friend who works for XYZ and we make about the same amount, but he gets a lot more take-home pay! Something's wrong."
What about this deduction for the 401k plan?
"What about it?"
What about these deductions for the group legal services plan, child care account, dental plan, and life insurance? These are all voluntary deductions.
"What's your point?"
My point is that you are really getting about 75% of your gross pay. But you chose to have additional deductions made. So you have to include those if you want to determine what percentage of your gross your take-home pay is.
"Why?"
 

KLin

Lifer
Feb 29, 2000
30,439
751
126
Originally posted by: kranky
When computing the amount, people should remember not to count voluntary deductions. We go through this at work all the time.

"Something's wrong, I'm only getting about 60% of my salary in take-home pay!"
Let's see your paycheck, OK?
"See, that's only 60% of the gross. I have a friend who works for XYZ and we make about the same amount, but he gets a lot more take-home pay! Something's wrong."
What about this deduction for the 401k plan?
"What about it?"
What about these deductions for the group legal services plan, child care account, dental plan, and life insurance? These are all voluntary deductions.
"What's your point?"
My point is that you are really getting about 75% of your gross pay. But you chose to have additional deductions made. So you have to include those if you want to determine what percentage of your gross your take-home pay is.
"Why?"

Well in that case, I take 71% instead of 64% :)
 

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
26,066
4,712
126
When I was a student (nearly 9 years) I kept about 97% of my income. Students don't pay social security or medicare when paid by a university (nice little perk in the law). And I was just above the poverty level so that the income tax (state and federal) was small. Actually I tended to pay about double for state income taxes as I did for federal income taxes (which is not what the state wants to happen).

Now I have a real job and have to start paying social security, medicare, and the income tax bracket im in is much higher. I take home about 69% of what I earn. I plan to change it though. They are taking a bit too much out.
 

SuperTool

Lifer
Jan 25, 2000
14,000
2
0
I take home 43%. The rest goes in Taxes, about 23%, 401K, about 20%, benefits about 5%, and employee stock purchase 10% after taxes.