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Hi, EGreene21!  I agree, it would be difficult to estimate what your 2024 AGI will be while we are still in tax year 2024, especially if you think you are going to be close to or in the phase-out area for contributing to a Roth IRA.  However, the good news is that you don't have to estimate your AGI and guess on making a Roth contribution during calendar year 2023 - you actually have until the tax return filing deadline (not including extensions) to make a contribution to an IRA for the prior tax year.

So, what that means is this: You don't have to make a 2024 IRA contribution in calendar year 2024. You would prepare your tax return for 2024 in early 2025, when you have all your official tax reporting documents and other information to prepare the return.  After preparing your return, you will know exactly what your 2024 AGI is. You then technically have until the due date of the 2024 tax return, April 15, 2025 to make an IRA contribution for tax year 2024.  Just make sure you make the actual contribution by the due date of the return - and MAKE SURE you tell the IRA trustee that the contribution you are making is for tax year 2024, NOT tax year 2025.

You can use your current paycheck to get an idea of taxable income generated from that job, but do NOT use the net pay. The net pay is what you receive after deductions such as FICA taxes and certain employee benefit deductions which are NOT considered pre-tax amounts. Often paychecks will show an amount of "taxable wages" or "federal taxable wages" - this is the amount that for the full year, ultimately will be listed on your W2 for taxable wages, and this is the amount you want to review to see if your taxable wages are within that IRA contribution level.  Keep in mind that you will want to consider any other income you have for the year and how that other income will impact limitations on IRA contributions, so in the end it would be best to wait until early 2025 to make an IRA contribution for tax year 2024.