About this calculator
California taxes wage income on a graduated scale in 2026, from 1% on the first dollars of taxable income up to a top rate of 13.3%, after a standard deduction of $5,900 (single) / $11,800 (married filing jointly). Federal tax is the same everywhere: the IRS 2026 brackets after the $16,100 single / $32,200 married standard deduction, plus FICA — 6.2% Social Security on the first $184,500 of wages and 1.45% Medicare on everything (with 0.9% more withheld past $200,000). What changes your take-home between states is almost entirely the state layer, which is why the same salary keeps noticeably different amounts in different states.
This is a withholding estimate for a single W-2 job, using the standard deduction and no credits, adjustments or pre-tax deductions (401(k), health premiums, HSA). Those reduce taxable wages in real payroll, so a real paycheck is often slightly higher than this estimate. Itemized deductions, a second job, bonuses (withheld at the 22% supplemental rate) and local taxes — which this page does not model unless a note below says otherwise — also move the real figure.
How to use it
- Enter your salary (or hourly rate and hours), how often you are paid, and your filing status.
- Read the take-home per paycheck, then the annual lines for each tax.
- Use the table to see the same numbers per paycheck and per year side by side — and compare with a neighbouring state page to price a move or a remote-work offer.
The formula
Payroll withholding annualizes each paycheck: the check is scaled to a year, taxed under the annual tables, and scaled back — so per-check figures here are the annual tax divided by the number of checks. Bonuses, overtime spikes and mid-year job changes make real checks differ slightly, and the difference settles when you file.
Worked example
A single filer in California earning $85,000, paid every two weeks in 2026: gross per check is $3,269.23. Federal income tax is $9,870 a year, Social Security $5,270, Medicare $1,233, and California income tax $3,516, plus $1,105 of state payroll taxes — leaving take-home pay of $2,462 per paycheck, $64,007 a year.
Sources: California FTB — 2026 Personal Income Tax Indexing Memorandum (Sep 2026) / 2026 Tax Rate Schedules; CA EDD 2026 SDI contribution rate announcement (https://www.caltax.org/regulatory-issues/ftb/2026-PIT-Indexing-Memo.pdf), checked October 2026. Last updated: October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the California income tax rate in 2026?
California taxes wage income on a graduated scale in 2026, from 1% on the first dollars of taxable income up to a top rate of 13.3%, after a standard deduction of $5,900 (single) / $11,800 (married filing jointly). The calculator applies the published 2026 table from California FTB to your taxable income after the deductions shown.
Why is my real paycheck a little different?
Pre-tax deductions are the usual reason: 401(k) contributions, health-insurance premiums and HSA/FSA amounts all come out before income tax is figured, which this estimate does not model. FICA almost always matches to the cent, because it applies to nearly every wage dollar; federal income tax varies with your W-4 (dependents, second jobs, extra withholding).
Are local taxes included for California?
This page models federal and state taxes only. A small number of cities and counties levy their own income tax; if yours does, your real take-home will be slightly lower than shown here.
How much is Social Security and Medicare on an California paycheck?
The same as everywhere in the US: 6.2% for Social Security on wages up to $184,500 in 2026, and 1.45% for Medicare on all wages, with an extra 0.9% Medicare withholding once wages from one employer pass $200,000. Employers pay a matching share that never appears on your check.
What is the extra 1.3% coming out of my California paycheck?
That is California State Disability Insurance (SDI), which funds the state's disability and paid-family-leave programs. The employee rate for 2026 is 1.3% of all wages — the old wage cap was removed in 2024, so it applies to every dollar. It is included in this page's 'state payroll taxes' line, separately from income tax.
Is this the same as filing my taxes?
No — it estimates withholding during the year for one W-2 job. Your actual tax return can differ because of credits, other income, itemized deductions and adjustments, and any over- or under-withholding comes back as a refund or a balance due. Married filing separately is not modeled here; separate filers face different brackets and deductions.
What formula does this california paycheck calculator use?
Federal tax = 2026 IRS brackets on (gross − $16,100/$32,200 standard deduction). FICA = 6.2% up to $184,500 + 1.45% on all wages (+0.9% over $200,000). California tax = state brackets on (gross − state deductions). Payroll withholding annualizes each paycheck: the check is scaled to a year, taxed under the annual tables, and scaled back — so per-check figures here are the annual tax divided by the number of checks. Bonuses, overtime spikes and mid-year job changes make real checks differ slightly, and the difference settles when you file. The worked example on this page applies the formula step by step with real numbers, so you can verify the result by hand.