Gross vs. Net Income
Gross income is your total pay before anything is taken out; net income — your take-home pay — is what actually lands in your account after taxes, payroll deductions, and benefits. Lenders and budgets use different ones, which is why the same salary can feel like two numbers.
Mortgage and DTI calculations use gross income, while your monthly budget should run on net income, since that's what you can actually spend. The gap between them — often 20–35% — is a common reason a payment that looks affordable on paper feels tight in practice.
Put it to work
Take-Home Pay Calculator
See your actual paycheck after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare, 401(k), health premiums, and state tax — per paycheck and per year (2026 figures).
Salary to Hourly Calculator
Convert an annual salary to hourly, weekly, biweekly, and monthly pay — adjusted for your real hours and weeks worked.
50/30/20 Budget Calculator
Split your after-tax income the 50/30/20 way — needs, wants, savings — with monthly dollar targets and the yearly savings it produces.