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W-2 vs 1099 Take-Home Calculator

Compare a W-2 offer with a 1099 offer side by side, then see the 1099 rate you need to match the W-2 package after taxes and benefits.

Your situation

Filing status

State income tax rate (%) optional · use effective rate

W-2 offer

Pay type

Annual salary ($)

Employer health insurance value ($/yr)

401(k) match (%)

Paid days off / year

PTO is already in W-2 pay. Used to compare unpaid 1099 days.

1099 offer

Pay type

Hourly rate ($)

Billable hours / week

Business expenses ($/yr)

Unpaid days off / year

Unpaid days reduce 1099 billable weeks (5 workdays/week). Expenses reduce taxable profit.

To match this W-2 package, the 1099 rate needs to be at least

—

W-2 cash take-home

—

— / month

1099 cash take-home

—

— / month

Breakdown

Line	W-2	1099

How it works

2026 federal brackets and standard deduction from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32. Social Security wage base $184,500.
W-2: employee FICA 7.65% (6.2% SS up to the wage base + 1.45% Medicare), plus Additional Medicare Tax 0.9% above the filing-status threshold. Federal tax on taxable income after the standard deduction. Optional flat state rate.
1099: self-employment tax 15.3% on 92.35% of net profit (SS portion capped). Half of SE tax is deductible. Simplified 20% QBI deduction (assumes you qualify; phaseouts and W-2-wage limits for some businesses are ignored).
Package match: W-2 package = cash take-home + employer health value + 401(k) match. The breakeven 1099 hourly rate is found with a binary search so 1099 take-home equals that package.
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Estimate only — not tax, legal, or financial advice. Real returns depend on credits, withholding, retirement contributions, health coverage, state rules, QBI limitations, and other facts. Talk to a tax professional before you decide.