Union Take-Home Pay Calculator

How to Use This Calculator

The number on your union scale card—$65/hour for electricians, $55/hour for plumbers—is not what hits your bank account. That’s gross. Your actual take-home is a lot smaller because of taxes, union deductions, and benefit contributions. Understanding what comes out and why is critical if you’re bidding jobs, estimating expenses, or planning finances.

To use this calculator, input your gross hourly rate (from your union’s wage determination), your hours worked that week, your state, and your filing status (single, married, head of household). Then select which deductions apply to you: union dues (usually 2-3% of gross), working dues or special assessments, pension contribution (sometimes employer-paid, sometimes deducted from check), and annuity (401k-like retirement account). The calculator will estimate federal withholding, FICA (Social Security and Medicare), state income tax if applicable, and those union deductions. The result is what actually appears in your account.

Real-world example: You’re a union electrician in New York earning $70/hour as your scale rate. You work 40 hours. Your gross is $2,800. But after federal income tax withholding (about $340), FICA ($214), state income tax ($120), union dues ($70), and pension deduction ($100), your take-home is closer to $1,956. That $70/hour only gets you about $49/hour in your pocket on a W-2 basis. This is why many union workers pick up side jobs or side hustles—they understand the gap between scale and spendable income.

Formula

Gross Pay Calculation: Gross = Hourly Rate × Hours Worked

Deductions:

1. FICA (Social Security + Medicare): 7.65% of gross (flat rate, applies to all)

   • Social Security: 6.2% (up to wage base limit)
   • Medicare: 1.45% (no cap)

2. Federal Income Tax Withholding: Varies by filing status, dependents, and W-4 elections

   • Uses IRS withholding tables
   • Influenced by allowances claimed on W-4

3. State Income Tax: Varies by state (0% in non-income-tax states like Texas, Florida, Nevada)

4. Union Dues: Typically 2-3% of gross or flat monthly rate

5. Working Dues/Assessments: Voluntary or contractual, typically $1-5 per day or per job

6. Pension Contribution: Often pre-tax (reduces taxable income)

   • Typical range: $3-8 per hour or percentage of gross
   • May be employer-paid (not on your check) or employee-deducted

7. Annuity (401k/Retirement Plan): Pre-tax, similar to pension

   • Sometimes capped by federal limits

Take-Home Pay: Take-Home = Gross − FICA − Federal Tax − State Tax − Union Dues − Pension − Annuity − Other Deductions

When to Use This

Use this calculator before accepting a job, switching states, or planning to take time off. If you’re moving from a low-tax state to California or New York, your take-home drops even if the scale rate is higher. If you’re considering working double-time to pay off debt, you need to know how much that extra work actually nets you after taxes and deductions hit harder at higher income. Union members especially need this—benefit contributions aren’t optional, and not knowing the gap creates cash flow problems mid-job.

Apprentices should run this too. You earn a percentage of journeyman scale, but you also pay the same union dues and deductions—so your take-home percentage is lower than your scale percentage. If you’re on a non-union project or side hustle, you’ll handle taxes differently (quarterly estimated taxes, self-employment tax), but this calculator helps you understand the union-scale baseline that many construction workers compare against.

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentage of my paycheck goes to union dues?

Union dues vary by local but typically run 2-3% of gross wages. Some locals charge a flat monthly rate instead ($30-60). Working dues or special assessments might add another $1-3 per day worked. So on a $2,800 weekly paycheck, expect $56-84 in standard dues alone. These are not taxes—they’re union membership fees that fund the local’s operations, apprenticeship program, and union hall. They’re deductible on your federal taxes as a job-related expense if you itemize, but most construction workers take the standard deduction now after tax changes.

How much does FICA take?

FICA is a flat 7.65% of your gross pay, with no deductions or exemptions. This breaks into 6.2% for Social Security (capped at a wage base—about $168,600 in 2026) and 1.45% for Medicare (no cap). So on a $70/hour rate, you lose $5.36 per hour to FICA alone. If you work 52 weeks at 40 hours weekly, FICA costs you about $11,149 per year. Self-employed workers pay double (the employer half too).

Are union pension contributions pre-tax?

Depends on the plan. Most union pensions are funded by employer contributions, not employee deductions—so they don’t appear on your check. But some locals allow or require employee deferrals for an enhanced pension, and those are pre-tax, meaning they reduce your taxable income. Annuities (401k plans) are almost always pre-tax. Check your pay stub—if you see “pension” or “401k” coming out, it’s pre-tax and reduces both FICA and income tax withholding. That’s why the benefit is valuable.

What states have no income tax?

Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming have no state income tax on wages. Moving from California (13% top rate) to Texas saves significant money. However, some of these states have higher sales tax or property tax. If you work in a high-tax state but live in a no-tax state, you may still owe that state tax on wages earned there—residency matters. Check your state’s reciprocity agreements if you work across state lines.

How do working dues differ from union dues?

Union dues are your membership obligation—you pay them whether you work or not to stay in good standing. Working dues or special assessments are charged only when you’re on a union job or earning union wages. The amount varies by local and situation. Some locals charge a small per-diem (like $1-2 per day worked), others charge per-job fees to fund specific programs. On a paid-off union job, you’re more likely to owe working dues than on casual work. Always ask your union hall what deductions to expect.