Illinois Salary Calculator
If you’re employed in Illinois or planning to relocate there, understanding your paycheck after taxes and deductions is crucial. Whether you’re budgeting for living expenses, determining your 401(k) contributions, or evaluating a job offer, having clarity on your net income is key.
That’s why we built the Illinois Salary Calculator — a user-friendly tool that breaks down your gross pay, taxes, and deductions to help you estimate your take-home income accurately.
This guide will walk you through how the calculator works, how to use it step by step, offer practical examples, and answer common questions related to salary and taxation in Illinois.
🛠️ What Is the Illinois Salary Calculator?
The Illinois Salary Calculator is a powerful online tool that estimates your net pay after accounting for:
- Federal income tax
- Illinois state tax (flat 4.95%)
- FICA taxes (Social Security and Medicare)
- County/local taxes (Cook County, Chicago, or other counties)
- 401(k) contributions
- Health insurance premiums
- Federal withholding allowances
You simply enter your information, and the tool instantly displays your gross pay, total deductions, and net pay for each pay period — as well as your annual and monthly summaries.
✅ How to Use the Illinois Salary Calculator (Step-by-Step)
- Enter Employee Name:
Input the employee’s full name (used for display purposes only). - Input Annual Salary (USD):
Enter your total yearly gross salary before any deductions. - Select Pay Frequency:
Choose how often you’re paid:- Weekly
- Bi-Weekly (every two weeks)
- Semi-Monthly (twice a month)
- Monthly
- Choose Filing Status:
Pick your federal tax filing status:- Single
- Married Filing Jointly
- Head of Household
- Married Filing Separately
- Federal Withholding Allowances:
Enter the number of allowances you claim on your W-4. More allowances reduce taxable income. - 401(k) Contribution (%):
If you contribute to a retirement plan, input the percentage of your income that goes toward your 401(k). - Health Insurance Premiums:
Input your monthly health insurance costs if deducted from your paycheck. - County Tax Rate:
Choose your location for accurate local taxation:- Cook County (0.25%)
- Chicago City Limits (0.5%)
- Other Illinois counties (0.2%)
- None
- Click “Calculate”:
Hit the Calculate button to view detailed results instantly. - Reset If Needed:
Use the Reset button to start over with a clean form.
📊 Example: Bi-Weekly Paycheck Calculation
Scenario:
- Name: Sarah L.
- Annual Salary: $65,000
- Pay Frequency: Bi-Weekly
- Filing Status: Single
- Allowances: 1
- 401(k): 5%
- Health Insurance: $300/month
- County Tax: Cook County
Results:
- Gross Pay (Bi-Weekly): $2,500.00
- Deductions:
- Federal Tax: ~$220
- Illinois State Tax: ~$124
- Social Security: ~$155
- Medicare: ~$36.25
- County Tax: ~$6.25
- 401(k): $125
- Health Insurance: ~$150
- Net Bi-Weekly Pay: ~$1,683
- Annual Net Income: ~$43,758
- Average Monthly Net: ~$3,646
💡 Why Use a Salary Calculator?
🔹 Know Your True Take-Home Pay
Most job offers quote gross salary, not what actually lands in your bank. This tool gives you the real numbers.
🔹 Plan for Retirement Contributions
See the impact of contributing to your 401(k), which reduces taxable income and builds retirement savings.
🔹 Compare Jobs or Offers
Quickly assess how different roles, salaries, or locations affect your net income.
🔹 Adjust Benefits Effectively
Input various health insurance premiums or deductions to understand how benefits affect take-home pay.
🧠 FAQs: Illinois Salary & Taxes
1. What is the Illinois state income tax rate?
A flat 4.95% for all income levels, regardless of filing status.
2. Are local/county taxes common in Illinois?
Yes, especially in Cook County and Chicago, where additional percentages apply.
3. How often should I use this calculator?
Any time your salary, tax filing status, deductions, or job location changes.
4. Does the tool calculate Social Security and Medicare taxes?
Yes. Social Security is 6.2%, and Medicare is 1.45% of gross pay.
5. What are withholding allowances?
They reduce your taxable income and lower your federal tax. Each allowance deducts about $4,300 annually from taxable income.
6. Can I input bonuses or extra income?
This version is for base salary only. For bonuses, manually add them to your annual income before inputting.
7. Is overtime included?
Only if you add overtime earnings to your annual salary.
8. What’s the maximum taxable income for Social Security?
As of 2025, it’s capped at $147,000 annually.
9. Is the tool accurate for self-employed individuals?
No. It’s optimized for W-2 employees only.
10. Does it adjust federal tax brackets based on marital status?
Yes, tax brackets change depending on your filing status.
11. Can I save or print my results?
Yes, once calculated, results can be copied, screenshotted, or printed from your browser.
12. Are Illinois state taxes progressive?
No. Illinois uses a flat tax rate, unlike federal taxes.
13. Is 401(k) deducted pre-tax in this calculator?
Yes, contributions reduce your taxable income.
14. Can I input multiple deductions?
Yes — for retirement, health insurance, and county tax — with more features planned for future updates.
15. Does this reflect 2025 tax rates?
Yes, based on the latest 2025 IRS brackets and Illinois tax laws.
16. What happens if I don’t input all required fields?
You’ll receive an alert asking for valid, complete information.
17. Can I use this for budgeting purposes?
Absolutely. It’s ideal for budgeting your monthly expenses based on actual net income.
18. What if I work in Illinois but live in another state?
Use the tool with your Illinois workplace location — that’s where your taxes are based.
19. Does this include dependent or child tax credits?
No. This calculator simplifies the estimate based on withholdings only.
20. Is my data stored or shared?
No. All calculations are done client-side — nothing is saved or transmitted.
📌 Final Thoughts
The Illinois Salary Calculator is a reliable, instant tool for getting a crystal-clear view of your paycheck. From federal taxes to retirement and county deductions, it covers every major aspect affecting your income — so you can make smarter financial decisions with confidence.
Give it a try today and take control of your financial picture!