Social Security Wages Calculator
Calculate your W-2 Box 3 and Box 5 wages from gross pay
Frequently Asked Questions
Box 3 (Social Security wages) and Box 1 (federal taxable wages) are reduced by different things. Pre-tax cafeteria-plan benefits (health/dental/vision insurance, FSA) reduce BOTH boxes. But 401(k) and other retirement contributions only reduce Box 1 — they're still subject to Social Security and Medicare tax, so they stay in Box 3 and Box 5.
Yes — Box 3 cannot exceed the annual Social Security wage base, $184,500 for 2026. If your actual taxable wages exceed that, Box 3 is capped at the wage base even though your real earnings were higher.
No — unlike Social Security wages, Medicare wages (Box 5) have no cap. All wages subject to Medicare tax appear in Box 5, no matter how high your earnings are.
This estimates the standard calculation, but exact payroll systems can have additional nuances (multiple employers in one year, specific benefit plan structures) — check your actual W-2 and pay stubs for your exact reported figures.
Your Social Security tax is 6.2% of Box 3, and your Medicare tax is 1.45% of Box 5 (plus an extra 0.9% on Medicare wages over $200,000). This calculator shows both amounts alongside the wage figures.