Enter your details
Example data
| Annual Salary | Pay Frequency | Employee Method | Employee Input | Employer Match | Pre-tax | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | Biweekly | Percent | 4% | 50% | Yes | 22% |
| $85,000 | Monthly | Fixed | $220 / pay | 25% | No | 24% |
| $45,000 | Weekly | Percent | 3% | 100% | Yes | 12% |
These rows are illustrative sample scenarios for comparison.
Formula used
- Periods per year depends on pay frequency (52, 26, 24, 12).
- Employee annual = salary × employee_rate (percent method) or employee_fixed × periods (fixed method), then apply employee cap (if set).
- Employee per pay = employee_annual ÷ periods.
- Employer annual = employee_annual × employer_match_pct, then apply employer caps (if set).
- Total annual = employee_annual + employer_annual.
- Net paycheck impact per pay = employee_per_pay × (1 − tax_rate) if pre-tax; otherwise employee_per_pay.
How to use this calculator
- Enter your annual salary and select your pay frequency.
- Choose a contribution method: percent of salary or fixed per paycheck.
- Fill the related employee input, and optionally set an annual cap.
- Enter your employer match percent and any employer caps you know.
- Select whether deductions are pre-tax and add a tax rate estimate.
- Press “Calculate” to see annual totals and per-pay impacts above.
Contribution components and assumptions
This calculator models total health funding as the sum of employee deductions and employer contributions. Inputs include annual salary, pay frequency, employee method, match percentage, and optional caps. Results are shown per pay period and annually to compare schedules. Pay frequency maps to calendars: weekly 52, biweekly 26, semi‑monthly 24, and monthly 12 periods.
Employee contribution sizing
With a percent method, annual employee contribution equals salary multiplied by the selected rate. With a fixed method, annual contribution equals the per‑pay amount times periods per year. An optional annual cap limits the employee amount, reflecting plan maximums or affordability targets. Example: a 4% election on $60,000 yields $2,400 per year, or about $92.31 per biweekly paycheck.
Employer match and caps
Employer contribution is calculated as a percentage of the employee annual contribution. Two controls are supported: a maximum annual employer amount and an employer cap expressed as a percentage of salary. Using caps mirrors benefit policies and prevents overstated matching. Example: a 50% match on $2,400 equals $1,200 annually, but a $1,000 employer max reduces the match to $1,000.
Net paycheck impact
To estimate take‑home effects, the calculator applies a marginal tax rate when deductions are pre‑tax. Net impact per pay equals employee per‑pay contribution multiplied by one minus the tax rate. When deductions are after‑tax, net impact equals the full employee per‑pay amount. At a 22% rate, a $92.31 pre‑tax deduction has an estimated net impact near $72.00.
Using the results for decisions
Compare scenarios by adjusting contribution rates, match rules, and pay frequency. Focus on employee annual cost, employer share of total funding, and net paycheck impact. Review total funding to see premium support for the plan year. Higher match rates increase employer share and reduce your cost for the same coverage level. Export CSV or PDF summaries to document options and align coverage with cash‑flow goals.
FAQs
It limits the total employee deduction for the year. Use it when your plan sets a maximum, or when you want to model an affordability ceiling while keeping per‑pay amounts consistent across pay periods.
Yes, by entering the combined payroll deduction you expect. If your premium changes mid‑year or depends on dependents, run multiple scenarios and compare the totals and net paycheck impacts.
Pre‑tax deductions typically reduce taxable income. The calculator applies your estimated marginal tax rate to approximate the take‑home effect. If deductions are after‑tax, the net impact equals the full payroll deduction.
Use an estimate that reflects your current bracket, not your effective rate. If you are unsure, try a range such as 15%, 22%, and 30% to see how sensitive the net impact is.
Set the match percent to approximate the flat contribution relative to your annual employee amount, then use the employer maximum annual field to lock the employer contribution to the known flat value.
Exports include key metrics and the calculated results. Your latest inputs are stored in your session for convenience; re-run the calculator before downloading if you changed scenarios or opened the page in a new browser session.