Updated for 2026 · checked October 2026
California Paycheck Calculator
California withholds state income tax at 1.1% to 14.63% under the EDD's 2026 Method B tables, plus 1.3% State Disability Insurance (SDI) with no wage cap.
California take-home pay biweekly
$1,838.71
$47,806.52 a year · effective tax rate 20.3%
| Gross pay | $2,307.69 |
|---|---|
| Federal income tax | −$193.08 |
| Social Security | −$143.08 |
| Medicare | −$33.46 |
| State income tax | −$69.36 |
| Local tax | −$0.00 |
| State payroll taxes | −$30.00 |
| 401(k) and health insurance | −$0.00 |
| Take-home pay | $1,838.71 |
Estimate based on 2026 IRS Publication 15-T and official state withholding tables. How we calculate
California paycheck: key facts for 2026
- California withholds state income tax at 1.1% to 14.63% under the EDD's 2026 Method B tables, plus 1.3% State Disability Insurance (SDI) with no wage cap.
- A $60,000 salary in California takes home about $47,807 a year ($1,838.71 every two weeks) as a single filer in 2026.
- A $100,000 salary in California takes home about $72,320 a year, an effective tax rate of 27.7%.
- Federal withholding follows IRS Publication 15-T (2026); Social Security is 6.2% up to $184,500 and Medicare is 1.45%.
How California calculates your paycheck
- The EDD's Method B starts with a low-income exemption: a single filer earning $18,896 a year or less has no state income tax withheld.
- Your employer subtracts a standard deduction ($5,706 for single filers, $11,412 for married filers with two or more allowances and heads of household).
- The rest is taxed on the 2026 schedule, from 1.1% up to 14.63%. Withholding rates are set at 110% of California's tax rates, and the top rate applies above $1 million.
- Each allowance on your DE 4 or W-4 then reduces the tax by $168.30 a year.
- SDI takes 1.3% of all wages in 2026; the taxable wage limit was removed in 2024.
Take-home pay by salary in California (2026)
What common salaries leave you with after every tax, for a single filer paid every two weeks with no 401(k) or other pre-tax deductions. Use the calculator above for your own situation.
| Salary | Federal tax | Social Security + Medicare | State and local | Take-home (year) | Per paycheck | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $1,420 | $2,295 | $634 | $25,651 | $986.57 | 14.5% |
| $40,000 | $2,620 | $3,060 | $1,161 | $33,159 | $1,275.35 | 17.1% |
| $50,000 | $3,820 | $3,825 | $1,793 | $40,562 | $1,560.06 | 18.9% |
| $60,000 | $5,020 | $4,590 | $2,583 | $47,807 | $1,838.71 | 20.3% |
| $75,000 | $7,670 | $5,738 | $4,027 | $57,565 | $2,214.06 | 23.2% |
| $100,000 | $13,170 | $7,650 | $6,860 | $72,320 | $2,781.52 | 27.7% |
| $125,000 | $18,734 | $9,563 | $9,743 | $86,961 | $3,344.64 | 30.4% |
| $150,000 | $24,734 | $11,475 | $12,625 | $101,166 | $3,890.98 | 32.6% |
| $200,000 | $36,734 | $14,339 | $18,390 | $130,537 | $5,020.64 | 34.7% |
Hourly wage to take-home pay in California
Full-time is 40 hours a week for 52 weeks (2,080 hours), single filer, paid biweekly.
| Hourly wage | Gross a year | Take-home a year | Per biweekly paycheck | Take-home per hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00 an hour | $31,200 | $26,573 | $1,022.03 | $12.78 |
| $18.00 an hour | $37,440 | $31,248 | $1,201.85 | $15.02 |
| $20.00 an hour | $41,600 | $34,353 | $1,321.29 | $16.52 |
| $25.00 an hour | $52,000 | $42,011 | $1,615.79 | $20.20 |
| $30.00 an hour | $62,400 | $49,545 | $1,905.59 | $23.82 |
| $40.00 an hour | $83,200 | $62,438 | $2,401.45 | $30.02 |
| $50.00 an hour | $104,000 | $74,672 | $2,872.01 | $35.90 |
California withholding rates for 2026
Annual withholding schedule applied to wages after deductions and allowances. Payroll systems divide these by your number of pay periods.
| Annual taxable wages over | Up to | Rate on this band |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $11,079 | 1.1% |
| $11,079 | $26,264 | 2.2% |
| $26,264 | $41,452 | 4.4% |
| $41,452 | $57,542 | 6.6% |
| $57,542 | $72,724 | 8.8% |
| $72,724 | $371,479 | 10.23% |
| $371,479 | $445,771 | 11.33% |
| $445,771 | $742,953 | 12.43% |
| $742,953 | $1,000,000 | 13.53% |
| $1,000,000 | and above | 14.63% |
| Annual taxable wages over | Up to | Rate on this band |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $22,158 | 1.1% |
| $22,158 | $52,528 | 2.2% |
| $52,528 | $82,904 | 4.4% |
| $82,904 | $115,084 | 6.6% |
| $115,084 | $145,448 | 8.8% |
| $145,448 | $742,958 | 10.23% |
| $742,958 | $891,542 | 11.33% |
| $891,542 | $1,000,000 | 12.43% |
| $1,000,000 | $1,485,906 | 13.53% |
| $1,485,906 | and above | 14.63% |
| Annual taxable wages over | Up to | Rate on this band |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $22,173 | 1.1% |
| $22,173 | $52,530 | 2.2% |
| $52,530 | $67,716 | 4.4% |
| $67,716 | $83,805 | 6.6% |
| $83,805 | $98,990 | 8.8% |
| $98,990 | $505,208 | 10.23% |
| $505,208 | $606,251 | 11.33% |
| $606,251 | $1,000,000 | 12.43% |
| $1,000,000 | $1,010,417 | 13.53% |
| $1,010,417 | and above | 14.63% |
Federal taxes on every California paycheck
Wherever you work in the U.S., three federal items come out of each paycheck. Federal income tax is withheld with the IRS percentage method: your employer annualizes your pay, subtracts $8,600 ($12,900 if married filing jointly) unless you checked the two-jobs box on Form W-4, applies the 2026 withholding brackets of 10% to 37%, and subtracts $2,200 for each child under 17 you claimed. Social Security takes 6.2% of wages up to $184,500, and Medicare takes 1.45%, plus 0.9% on wages above $200,000.
Frequently asked questions
What is CA SDI on my paycheck?
SDI is State Disability Insurance, which funds disability and Paid Family Leave benefits. In 2026 it is 1.3% of all wages with no annual cap. The EDD has announced 1.4% for 2027.
Why is California withholding lower than my tax bracket?
Withholding uses the EDD's tables after the standard deduction and an allowance credit of $168.30 per allowance, so the amount withheld is usually well below your top bracket rate.
Do California cities charge income tax?
No California city withholds income tax from wages. San Francisco's payroll taxes are paid by employers, not deducted from your pay.
How many allowances should I claim on a DE 4?
Usually one per person you support. More allowances mean less withheld each paycheck and a smaller refund.
Paycheck calculators for other states
Sources
Every rate and threshold on this page comes from these official publications. Last checked October 31, 2026.