Use this free California paycheck calculator to see your 2026 take-home pay from a salary or an hourly wage. It shows every deduction: federal and California income tax, Social Security, Medicare and California SDI, per paycheck and per year.
How California Paycheck Taxes Work: 2026 Guide
Updated for 2026. California SDI is 1.3% of all wages, with no yearly cap. The California standard deduction is $5,900 for single filers and $11,800 for married couples filing jointly. The federal standard deduction is $16,100 and $32,200, and Social Security applies to the first $184,500 of wages. Every figure on this page comes from the FTB, EDD, IRS or SSA.
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How your California paycheck is calculated
Every California paycheck follows the same five steps. Your employer starts with your gross pay, removes pre-tax benefits, withholds federal and state taxes, takes any after-tax deductions and pays you the rest.
- Gross paySalary, or hours × rate, plus overtime, bonuses and tips
- Pre-tax deductions401(k), health premiums, HSA, FSA, commuter benefits
- TaxesFederal and California income tax, Social Security, Medicare, SDI
- After-tax deductionsRoth 401(k), union dues, garnishments
- Net payThe take-home amount paid to you
What is taken out of a California paycheck in 2026
| Deduction | 2026 rate | Applies to | Who sets it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | 10% to 37% by bracket | Taxable wages after the federal standard deduction | IRS, through your W-4 |
| California income tax | 1% to 12.3%, plus 1% over $1 million | Taxable wages after the California standard deduction | FTB, through your DE 4 |
| Social Security | 6.2% | Wages up to $184,500 | SSA |
| Medicare | 1.45%, plus 0.9% over $200,000 | All wages | IRS |
| California SDI | 1.3% | All wages, no cap | EDD |
California has no city or county income tax on wages. San Francisco and a few other cities charge business taxes measured by payroll or receipts, but employers pay those, not employees.
California income tax brackets for 2026
California taxes income in nine brackets from 1% to 12.3%. A further 1% Behavioral Health Services Tax applies to taxable income over $1 million, so the top rate is 13.3%. These are the official 2026 rate schedules published by the California Franchise Tax Board.
| Rate | Single or married filing separately | Married filing jointly | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1% | $0 to $11,456 | $0 to $22,912 | $0 to $22,927 |
| 2% | $11,456 to $27,157 | $22,912 to $54,314 | $22,927 to $54,316 |
| 4% | $27,157 to $42,861 | $54,314 to $85,722 | $54,316 to $70,018 |
| 6% | $42,861 to $59,498 | $85,722 to $118,996 | $70,018 to $86,654 |
| 8% | $59,498 to $75,197 | $118,996 to $150,394 | $86,654 to $102,356 |
| 9.3% | $75,197 to $384,109 | $150,394 to $768,218 | $102,356 to $522,385 |
| 10.3% | $384,109 to $460,927 | $768,218 to $921,854 | $522,385 to $626,864 |
| 11.3% | $460,927 to $768,213 | $921,854 to $1,536,426 | $626,864 to $1,044,771 |
| 12.3% | Over $768,213 | Over $1,536,426 | Over $1,044,771 |
The brackets apply to taxable income, not gross pay, and only the income inside each bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate. A single filer earning $100,000 has $94,100 of California taxable income after the standard deduction. That is $5,068.86 of tax before credits and $4,910.86 after the $158 personal exemption credit, about 4.9% of gross pay.
California standard deduction and credits for 2026
- Standard deduction: $5,900 for single and married filing separately; $11,800 for married filing jointly, head of household and qualifying surviving spouse.
- Personal exemption credit: $158 for single, separate and head of household filers; $316 for joint filers. It phases out at high incomes.
- Dependent exemption credit: $491 for each dependent.
- Renter's credit: $60 for single filers with California AGI of $55,830 or less; $120 for joint, head of household and surviving spouse filers with AGI of $111,660 or less. You claim it on your return, so it does not change your paychecks.
California's standard deduction is far smaller than the federal one ($5,900 against $16,100 for a single filer). That is why your California taxable income is usually higher than your federal taxable income.
California SDI: what it is and how much you pay
State Disability Insurance (SDI) funds California's Disability Insurance and Paid Family Leave programs. In 2026 employees pay 1.3% of all wages. There has been no yearly wage cap since 2024, so SDI never stops during the year. A $100,000 salary pays $1,300 a year, or $108.33 a month. The rate is set each year by the Employment Development Department.
SDI is figured on wages after Section 125 benefits such as health premiums, but traditional 401(k) contributions do not reduce it.
Federal taxes on every California paycheck
Federal income tax depends on your income, filing status and the choices on your W-4. For 2026 the brackets run from 10% to 37%, and the standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for joint filers and $24,150 for heads of household (IRS).
- Social Security: 6.2% of wages up to $184,500 in 2026, a maximum of $11,439 (SSA).
- Medicare: 1.45% of all wages. Employers also withhold an extra 0.9% on wages above $200,000 in a year.
Take-home pay examples in California for 2026
These results come from the calculator above for a single filer paid monthly, with no pre-tax deductions:
| Salary | Federal tax | CA tax | Social Security + Medicare | SDI | Take-home per year | Per month | Total tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $3,820 | $973 | $3,825 | $650 | $40,732 | $3,394 | 18.5% |
| $75,000 | $7,670 | $2,665 | $5,738 | $975 | $57,952 | $4,829 | 22.7% |
| $100,000 | $13,170 | $4,911 | $7,650 | $1,300 | $72,969 | $6,081 | 27.0% |
| $150,000 | $24,734 | $9,561 | $11,475 | $1,950 | $102,280 | $8,523 | 31.8% |
| $200,000 | $36,734 | $14,211 | $14,339 | $2,600 | $132,116 | $11,010 | 33.9% |
A married couple filing jointly on $150,000 of combined pay takes home about $115,905 a year (22.7% in total taxes). An hourly worker on $25 an hour, 40 hours a week, earns $52,000 and takes home about $42,193 a year, or $3,516 a month. For comparison, the same $100,000 salary takes home about $79,180 in Texas, which has no state income tax and no SDI. Try it with our Texas paycheck calculator.
Where a $75,000 California salary goes in 2026
Single filer, no pre-tax deductions, yearly amounts
Source: Digicalcy calculation using 2026 IRS, FTB, SSA and EDD rates.
How bonuses, overtime and tips are taxed in California
- Bonuses: Employers often withhold a flat 22% federal tax and a flat 10.23% California tax on bonuses (EDD), plus Social Security, Medicare and SDI. Your real tax is settled when you file. On a $100,000 salary, the actual tax on a $10,000 bonus is about $4,025, so you keep about $5,975. See the bonus tax calculator.
- Overtime: California pays 1.5 times the regular rate for hours over 8 in a day or 40 in a week, and double time for hours over 12 in a day. Overtime is taxed as ordinary wages. See the overtime calculator.
- Tips and the new federal deductions: The federal deductions for qualified tips (up to $25,000) and the overtime premium (up to $12,500, or $25,000 for joint filers) cover 2025 to 2028. They lower federal income tax only. California has not adopted them (EY), and Social Security, Medicare and SDI still apply. This calculator applies them to federal tax only.
How pre-tax deductions change your California take-home pay
Pre-tax deductions do not all work the same way in California:
| Deduction | Federal income tax | California income tax | Social Security and Medicare | CA SDI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional 401(k), 403(b), 457 | Lowers | Lowers | No change | No change |
| Health, dental and vision premiums | Lowers | Lowers | Lowers | Lowers |
| HSA through payroll | Lowers | No change: California taxes HSA contributions | Lowers | Lowers |
| Health and dependent care FSA | Lowers | Lowers | Lowers | Lowers |
| Transit and parking benefits | Lowers | Lowers | Lowers | Lowers |
A $10,000 401(k) contribution on a $100,000 salary
Single filer, 2026, yearly amounts
The contribution saves $3,130 in income tax, so take-home pay falls by only $6,870.
Salary or hourly pay in California
For hourly pay, multiply your rate by your weekly hours and by 52. A full-time year is 2,080 hours. California's statewide minimum wage is $16.90 an hour from January 1, 2026, which is $35,152 a year full time. Many cities and some industries require more. Salaried employees classed as exempt from overtime must earn at least $70,304 a year in 2026 (California DIR).
Why your actual paycheck may differ from this estimate
- This calculator estimates your tax for the full year. Employers withhold using the IRS and EDD withholding tables and your W-4 and DE 4, so each check can be a little higher or lower.
- Bonuses are often withheld at flat rates (22% federal, 10.23% California) instead of your real rate.
- Social Security stops once your wages pass $184,500, so late-year paychecks of high earners are larger.
- Some benefits are taken only from certain paychecks, and in some years biweekly pay has 27 pay dates instead of 26.
- Credits such as the renter's credit and CalEITC are claimed when you file, not through your paycheck.
How to increase your take-home pay in California
- Check your federal withholding with the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator and update your W-4 and DE 4 after a raise, a new job or a change in your family.
- Use pre-tax benefits such as a 401(k), FSA and commuter benefits. Remember that HSA contributions are not free of California tax.
- Claim California credits you qualify for when you file, such as the renter's credit, CalEITC and the Young Child Tax Credit.
How this calculator works
The calculator estimates your full-year tax and divides it by your pay periods. It uses the 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (Rev. Proc. 2025-32, including the 2025 tax law changes), the FTB's 2026 California rate schedules, deductions and credits, the 2026 Social Security wage base and the 2026 SDI rate. For joint filers, enter combined household wages. Results are estimates, not tax advice.
Last reviewed: October 28, 2026.
California Paycheck Calculator FAQs
How much is $100,000 after taxes in California?
A single filer earning $100,000 in California takes home about $72,969 a year in 2026, or $6,081 a month. That is after $13,170 federal income tax, $4,911 California income tax, $7,650 Social Security and Medicare and $1,300 SDI, with no pre-tax deductions.
What percentage of my paycheck goes to taxes in California?
For a single filer in 2026, total taxes take about 18.5% of a $50,000 salary, 22.7% of $75,000, 27% of $100,000 and 31.8% of $150,000. The share rises with income because federal and California income taxes are both progressive.
What is CA SDI on my paycheck?
CA SDI is State Disability Insurance. It funds California's Disability Insurance and Paid Family Leave benefits. In 2026 employees pay 1.3% of all wages, with no yearly cap, so a $100,000 salary pays $1,300.
What is the California state income tax rate?
California's rates run from 1% to 12.3% across nine brackets, plus a 1% tax on taxable income over $1 million. In 2026 a single filer reaches the 9.3% bracket on taxable income above $75,197.
Is a salary calculator the same as a paycheck calculator?
For California take-home pay, yes. Both estimate how much of your pay you keep after taxes and deductions. This calculator works for salaried and hourly workers and shows results per paycheck and per year.
How are bonuses taxed in California?
Employers usually withhold a flat 22% federal tax and 10.23% California tax on bonuses, plus Social Security, Medicare and SDI. The real tax is settled on your return. On a $100,000 salary you keep about $5,975 of a $10,000 bonus.
Do California cities have a local income tax?
No. No California city or county taxes employees' wages. Some cities, such as San Francisco, charge business taxes measured by payroll or receipts, but employers pay those, not employees.
Does California tax tips and overtime?
Yes. The federal deductions for tips and overtime for 2025 to 2028 lower only federal income tax. California has not adopted them, so tips and overtime are fully taxed by California, and Social Security, Medicare and SDI still apply.
What is the minimum wage in California in 2026?
The statewide minimum wage is $16.90 an hour from January 1, 2026. Many cities and some industries require more. Salaried employees exempt from overtime must earn at least $70,304 a year.
More paycheck and tax calculators
- Texas Paycheck Calculator: take-home pay with no state income tax
- Overtime Calculator: time and a half and double time pay
- Bonus Tax Calculator: how much of a bonus you keep
- Federal Tax Withholding Calculator: check your W-4