✦ 2024 Tax Math · Free Calculator

1099 vs W2 Take-Home Calculator

See your true after-tax income as a contractor vs employee — including SE tax, benefits, and your break-even rate.

🏢W2 Employee Income
$
💼W2 Benefits Value
$
%
💻1099 Contractor Income
$
%
After-Tax Take-Home Income
W2 Employee
$0
$0/hr effective
vs
1099 Contractor
$0
$0/hr effective
⚖️
$0/hr
Break-Even 1099 Rate
📋
$0
Self-Employment Tax You Pay
📈
+$0
Net Difference (1099 minus W2)
🏢 W2 Employee — Income Breakdown
Gross Annual Salary$0
− FICA (SS + Medicare 7.65%)−$0
− Federal Income Tax (2024 brackets)−$0
− State Income Tax−$0
= Net Take-Home Pay$0
+ Employer Benefits Value+$0
= Total W2 Compensation Value$0
💻 1099 Contractor — Income Breakdown
Gross Contract Revenue$0
− Business Expenses−$0
= Net Self-Employment Earnings$0
− Self-Employment Tax (15.3% on 92.35%)−$0
− Federal Income Tax (after SE deduction)−$0
− State Income Tax−$0
= Net Take-Home Pay$0
True Hourly Equivalent (after all taxes + expenses)$0/hr

🎁 Benefits Gap Analysis

Your W2 benefits are worth approximately $0/year: health insurance ($0), PTO value ($0), and 401k match ($0). As a 1099 contractor you fund these yourself — factor this into your rate negotiation.

📋 Self-Employment Tax Explained

As a W2 employee, your employer pays half of your FICA taxes (7.65%). As a 1099 contractor, you pay both halves — 15.3% total on 92.35% of your net earnings. This is the single largest financial shock for new contractors. The good news: you can deduct 50% of SE tax from your federal taxable income.

Formula: SE Tax = Net Earnings × 92.35% × 15.3%
Deduction: 50% of SE Tax reduces your federal taxable income.

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🏆
1099 Contractor Wins — +$0 more per year
Your contractor income outpaces W2 after taxes. Optimize it.
💰
W2 Employee Wins — $0 more per year
Your W2 package is stronger than contracting. Optimize it further.
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  • 🧮 1099 Expense Tracker — Excel template for self-employed

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Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for educational purposes only and is not tax advice. Tax laws change and individual circumstances vary. Consult a qualified CPA or tax professional for your situation. Figures based on 2024 US federal tax brackets for a single filer taking the standard deduction ($14,600).