Seasonal Holiday Job Earnings Calculator
Leave at 0 if you are not sure. State rules vary too much for this tool to estimate them for you.
The National Retail Federation forecasts that retailers will hire 265,000 to 365,000 seasonal workers for the 2026 holidays, down from 442,000 in 2024 -- so it is worth planning for fewer hours than you hope for.
Rough estimate, not tax advice. Real paycheck withholding depends on your W-4, pay schedule, pre-tax benefits, tips, and local taxes, and a refund at tax time may change the final picture. Federal tax uses the IRS 2026 standard deduction and brackets. This tool does not know your state's rules.
Enter your hourly pay, weekly hours and number of weeks to see what a seasonal holiday job could pay, before and after rough tax estimates, and compare it with your own take-home goal.
How it works
- Enter your hourly pay and slide to your weekly hours and weeks of work
- Say whether it is your only income this year, and add a state tax rate if you know it
- See gross pay, estimated taxes, take-home pay, and how it compares with your goal
Frequently asked questions
How are taxes estimated?
Social Security and Medicare are 7.65% of pay. Federal income tax uses the IRS 2026 standard deduction and brackets: if this is your only income, much seasonal pay falls under the standard deduction and owes no income tax; otherwise it is taxed at the bracket you pick. State tax is whatever flat rate you enter.
Are the pay rates for specific employers?
No. Employer-specific pay claims change constantly and we could not verify them from a primary source, so the tool only uses the hourly pay you enter.
How is the seasonal hiring market looking?
The National Retail Federation forecasts retailers will hire 265,000 to 365,000 seasonal workers for the 2026 holidays, down from 442,000 in 2024, so plan for the possibility of fewer hours than you hope for.
Why might my real paycheck differ?
Withholding depends on your W-4, pay schedule, pre-tax benefits, tips, and local taxes, and a tax refund can change the final picture. This is a rough estimate, not tax advice.
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Update history
- 2026-10-02 Launched: estimate gross and rough after-tax earnings for a seasonal holiday job from hourly pay, weekly hours, and weeks worked.