Alabama paycheck calculator

Take-home pay in Alabama after federal and Alabama income tax, Social Security, Medicare and your deductions, using the 2026 withholding rules.

State you live and work in

2026 rules for Alabama.

City or county tax

Only if you live (or work) where it applies.

Pay

I'm paid

Salary (per year, before taxes)

How often you're paid

Your Form W-4

Filing status

Children under 17

$2,200 each in Step 3, if your income is $200,000 or less ($400,000 married filing jointly).

Other dependents

$500 each in Step 3.

Pre-tax and after-tax deductions

401(k) or 403(b) contribution

Traditional (pre-tax). Put a Roth contribution under after-tax deductions.

Health insurance, HSA and FSA

Pre-tax premiums and contributions through payroll; they also lower Social Security and Medicare.

After-tax deductions

Roth 401(k), union dues, garnishments.

More Form W-4 options

Step 2: two jobs, or married and your spouse works

Only if you checked the box in Step 2(c) of your W-4.

Step 4(a): other income (per year)

Step 4(b): deductions (per year)

From the W-4's Deductions Worksheet: tips, overtime, car loan interest, the senior deduction, itemizing.

Step 4(c): extra withholding

Take-home pay per paycheck

$1,841.57

$47,880.87 a year from $59,999.94 gross, 26 paychecks.

Gross pay, each deduction and take-home pay, per paycheck and per year
Item	Per paycheck	Per year
Gross pay	$2,307.69	$59,999.94
Federal income tax	−$193.08	−$5,020.08
Social Security	−$143.08	−$3,720.00
Medicare	−$33.46	−$870.00
Alabama income tax	−$96.50	−$2,508.99
Take-home pay	$1,841.57	$47,880.87

Taxes as a share of pay: 20.2%
Federal taxable wages (year): $59,999.94

Estimates for planning, not tax advice. Your employer's payroll may round differently, and your tax bill when you file can differ from what's withheld.

How Alabama taxes your paycheck in 2026

Alabama taxes wages at 2%, 4% and 5%, reaching the top rate after the first $3,000 of taxable income ($6,000 married). For withholding, employers subtract a standard deduction that shrinks as pay rises, your federal income tax withholding, a $1,500 personal exemption ($3,000 married or head of family) and an exemption for each dependent. Traditional 401(k) contributions and pre-tax health premiums are not taxed. Birmingham and some other localities also charge an occupational tax on wages earned there, 1% in Birmingham.

Alabama withholding rates, 2026: single or married filing separately
Taxable income	Rate
$0 to $500	2%
$500 to $3,000	4%
Over $3,000	5%

Alabama withholding rates, 2026: married filing jointly
Taxable income	Rate
$0 to $1,000	2%
$1,000 to $6,000	4%
Over $6,000	5%

Alabama withholding rates, 2026: head of household
Taxable income	Rate
$0 to $500	2%
$500 to $3,000	4%
Over $3,000	5%

Standard deduction: $2,500 single or married filing separately; $5,000 married filing jointly; $2,500 head of household.
Exemptions: $1,500 for you, $1,500 for a spouse, $500 per dependent.
A traditional 401(k) lowers your Alabama taxable wages; pre-tax health premiums do.

City and county taxes

Alabama has no city income tax, but some cities and counties levy an occupational (license) tax on wages earned there, withheld by the employer whether or not you live there. Birmingham's is 1% of gross pay for work done in the city. A few other cities and counties have their own occupational taxes; check your pay stub or ask your employer.

What this calculator simplifies

Alabama lets you subtract the federal income tax withheld from your pay before figuring Alabama tax. The calculator uses the federal withholding it works out for the same paycheck, so if your actual federal withholding is different, your Alabama withholding will be a little different too.
Your standard deduction and dependent exemptions depend on your yearly pay. The standard deduction slides from $3,000 down to $2,500 between $25,999 and $35,500 of wages ($8,500 to $5,000 married, $5,200 to $2,500 head of family), and each dependent is worth $1,000 up to $50,000 of wages, $500 up to $100,000 and $300 above that; the calculator follows these amounts.
We assume Form A-4 claims "S" if you are single, "M" if married (both spouses' exemptions) and "H" for head of household, plus every dependent. A married couple who both work, each claiming "S" or one claiming "0", would have more withheld.
This is withholding, not your final Alabama tax. On the return, the deduction is for the federal income tax you actually paid for the year, and the standard deduction and dependent exemption are based on your Alabama adjusted gross income.
The Birmingham occupational tax is 1% of gross pay. The calculator figures it on wages after pre-tax health premiums, while some employers figure it before them. Occupational taxes elsewhere in Alabama are not listed.

Sources

ALDOR: Withholding Tax Tables and Instructions for Employers and Withholding Agents (January 2026)
ALDOR: Form A-4, Employee's Withholding Exemption Certificate
City of Birmingham Code of Ordinances, Title 3, Chapter 2: Occupational Tax
IRS Publication 15-T (2026) for federal withholding, and Publication 15 (2026) for Social Security and Medicare.

How every number is worked out is on the methodology page.