California paycheck calculator
Take-home pay in California after federal withholding, Social Security, Medicare and a graduated state income tax with 10 brackets from 1% to 13.3%, plus SDI. 2026 rules.
- ๐บ๐ธ US federal & state rules
- 2026 IRS Publication 15-T and state rates
- See sources
Take-home pay per 2 weeks
$2,169.18
$3,000.00 gross, 72.3% of it reaches your account
- Federal withholding
- $280.78
- Social Security
- $186.00
- Medicare
- $43.50
- California income tax
- $101.55
- SDI
- $39.00
- Pre-tax deductions
- $180.00
- Per year
- $56,398.55
This is an example. Enter your numbers above and press the button to see your own result.
A full year
| Gross pay | $78,000.00 |
|---|---|
| Pre-tax deductions | โ$4,680.00 |
| Federal income tax (9.4%) | โ$7,300.28 |
| Social Security and Medicare | โ$5,967.00 |
| California income tax (3.4%) | โ$2,640.17 |
| State payroll deductions | โ$1,014.00 |
| Take-home | $56,398.55 |
- Federal withholding follows IRS Publication 15-T for a 2020 or later W-4. State tax is a yearly estimate from your state's brackets divided by pay periods, so it can differ by a few dollars from the withholding table your employer uses.
- Social Security stops after $184,500 of wages in 2026. The calculator spreads that evenly across the year, while your real paychecks grow once you cross the cap.
Show the math
| Gross per paycheck | $78,000.00 รท 26 = $3,000.00 |
|---|---|
| 401(k), pre-tax | โ$180.00 |
| Federal taxable wages | $2,820.00 |
| Federal withholding (W-4 single) | โ$280.78 |
| Social Security 6.2% | โ$186.00 |
| Medicare 1.45% | โ$43.50 |
| California income tax (yearly estimate รท 26) | โ$101.55 |
| SDI | โ$39.00 |
| Take-home | $2,169.18 |
What to do next
How it works
Your gross pay per period comes from your salary or hourly rate. Pre-tax 401(k) and health deductions come off first. Federal withholding follows the IRS Publication 15-T method for your W-4 choices, then Social Security at 6.2% and Medicare at 1.45%.
For California, the calculator estimates your tax for the year using a graduated state income tax with 10 brackets from 1% to 13.3%. California allows a standard deduction of $5,706 for single filers and a personal credit of $153. That yearly figure is divided across your paychecks. Paychecks in California also show a state deduction for SDI (1.3%).
| Rate | Single, taxable income | Married filing jointly |
|---|---|---|
| 1% | $0 to $11,079 | $0 to $22,158 |
| 2% | $11,079 to $26,264 | $22,158 to $52,528 |
| 4% | $26,264 to $41,452 | $52,528 to $82,904 |
| 6% | $41,452 to $57,542 | $82,904 to $115,084 |
| 8% | $57,542 to $72,724 | $115,084 to $145,448 |
| 9.3% | $72,724 to $371,479 | $145,448 to $742,958 |
| 10.3% | $371,479 to $445,771 | $742,958 to $891,542 |
| 11.3% | $445,771 to $742,953 | $891,542 to $1,000,000 |
| 12.3% | $742,953 to $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 to $1,485,906 |
| 13.3% | over $1,000,000 | over $1,485,906 |
Things to keep in mind
California has no local income taxes, so the state line covers everything. Bonuses and commissions paid separately are withheld at flat supplemental rates, which the bonus calculator covers.
The state amount is a yearly estimate, not the withholding table your payroll system uses. Expect a small difference each paycheck that evens out at tax time.
Sources
Rules applied as of 2026-01-01. See the sources below for details.
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Worksheet 1A + Annual Percentage Method tables (p.10-12), dated Dec 3, 2025Checked 2026-10-19
- IRS Publication 15 (2026), What's New, dated Dec 15, 2025Checked 2026-10-19
- IRS Topic no. 751 (reviewed 24-Sep-2026)Checked 2026-10-19
- SSA, Federal Register 90 FR (2025-19763) 'Cost-of-Living Increase and Other Determinations for 2026' (Nov 3, 2025)Checked 2026-10-19
- Tax Foundation, State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026Checked 2026-10-19
Frequently asked questions
How much is taken out of a paycheck in California?
Federal withholding from your W-4, 6.2% Social Security, 1.45% Medicare and California income tax. California has a graduated state income tax with 10 brackets from 1% to 13.3%. California allows a standard deduction of $5,706 for single filers and a personal credit of $153. Paychecks in California also show a state deduction for SDI (1.3%).
What is the California income tax rate for 2026?
Rates run from 1% to 13.3% across 10 brackets. Most middle-income workers pay a marginal rate well below the top one.
Does California have local income taxes?
No. Cities and counties in California do not tax wages, so the state figure is the whole story.
Why is my real paycheck a little different?
Employers withhold state tax from a table, while this page estimates your yearly California tax and divides it by pay periods. Pre-tax benefits, bonuses and mid-year raises also shift the numbers. The yearly total should land close to your return.