California paycheck calculator 2026
Estimate your take-home pay in California after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, California income tax. Hourly or salary.
What comes out of your paycheck in CaliforniaHourly take-home pay in California
Full time (40 hours a week), biweekly paycheck, single filer with one job and no deductions.
| You earn | Gross per paycheck | Federal | Social Security & Medicare | State and local | Take-home | You keep | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15/h | $1,200.00 | −$60.15 | −$91.80 | −$26.01 | $1,022.04 | 85.2% | $26,573 |
| $20/h | $1,600.00 | −$108.15 | −$122.40 | −$48.16 | $1,321.29 | 82.6% | $34,354 |
| $25/h | $2,000.00 | −$156.15 | −$153.00 | −$75.06 | $1,615.79 | 80.8% | $42,011 |
| $30/h | $2,400.00 | −$204.15 | −$183.60 | −$106.66 | $1,905.59 | 79.4% | $49,545 |
| $40/h | $3,200.00 | −$364.38 | −$244.80 | −$189.36 | $2,401.46 | 75.0% | $62,438 |
Salary after taxes in California
Annual salary split into 26 paychecks.
| You earn | Gross per paycheck | Federal | Social Security & Medicare | State and local | Take-home | You keep | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $1,923.08 | −$146.92 | −$147.11 | −$68.98 | $1,560.07 | 81.1% | $40,562 |
| $75,000 | $2,884.62 | −$295.00 | −$220.68 | −$154.89 | $2,214.05 | 76.8% | $57,565 |
| $100,000 | $3,846.15 | −$506.54 | −$294.23 | −$263.86 | $2,781.52 | 72.3% | $72,320 |
California deductions, line by line
Example at $22 an hour, 80 hours, biweekly paycheck.
California · −$34.40
This is California state income tax. It uses the EDD exact calculation method, annualizing your pay for the period and subtracting the credit for your basic allowances on Form DE 4.
Source: CA EDD, Method B (2026)CA SDI (1.3%) · −$22.88
California withholds 1.3% of your wages for State Disability Insurance (SDI). The employee pays it, not the employer, and there is no cap.
Source: CA EDD, contribution rates (2026)If your situation has more to it
The assumptions behind the estimate
Assumes you filed Form DE 4 with the same filing status as your federal W-4 and your basic allowances: 1 if single or head of household, 2 if married.
What is not included
California daily overtime (after 8 h/day) is entered as overtime hours; it is not derived automatically.
Frequently asked questions
How much tax is taken out of a paycheck in California?
At $20 an hour and 40 hours a week, a biweekly paycheck of $1,600.00 has $108.15 of federal income tax, $122.40 of Social Security and Medicare and $48.16 of state taxes withheld. You take home $1,321.29, or 82.6%. This is an estimate for a single filer with one job and no deductions.
Does California have a state income tax on wages?
Yes. This is California state income tax.
Are there city or county taxes in California?
We found no local taxes withheld from employee paychecks in California.
Is overtime taxed more?
There is no special rate for overtime: it is added to your pay for the period and withholding is figured on the total, which is why the check grows less than you expect. From 2025 through 2028 you can deduct from federal income tax the extra half of your overtime (up to $12,500; $25,000 if married) if your income is under $150,000; it only lowers each paycheck's withholding if you entered it on your W-4.
How accurate is this paycheck calculator?
It uses the official 2026 withholding rules from the IRS and California. It is still an estimate: your employer knows your W-4, your deductions and your year-to-date earnings. It is not tax or legal advice.
Official sources
- IRS, Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods
- IRS, Publication 15 (2026), Employer's Tax Guide — Social Security and Medicare
- EDD, California Withholding Schedules for 2026 — Method B (DE 44), tablas 1 a 7
- EDD, Contribution Rates, Withholding Schedules, and Meals and Lodging Values (2026)