Use this free Washington paycheck calculator to see your 2026 take-home pay from a salary or an hourly wage, in Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma or anywhere in the state. Washington has no state income tax, but it does take two small payroll premiums: Paid Family and Medical Leave and WA Cares. The calculator shows every deduction, with federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, per paycheck and per year.
How Washington Paycheck Taxes Work: 2026 Guide
Updated for 2026. Washington has no state or local income tax on wages. Your paycheck pays federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, plus two state premiums: Paid Family and Medical Leave (about 0.81% of wages in 2026, up from 0.66%) and the WA Cares long-term care premium (0.58%). The state minimum wage is $17.13 an hour, and Seattle's is $21.30. Every figure on this page comes from the Washington Employment Security Department, Labor & Industries, the IRS or SSA.
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How your Washington paycheck is calculated
Your employer starts with your gross pay, removes pre-tax benefits, withholds federal taxes and the two Washington premiums, 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
- Taxes and premiumsFederal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, paid leave and WA Cares
- After-tax deductionsRoth 401(k), union dues, garnishments
- Net payThe take-home amount paid to you
Washington has no state income tax: what is still taken out
| Deduction | 2026 rate | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | 10% to 37% by bracket | Taxable wages after the federal standard deduction, based on your W-4 |
| Social Security | 6.2% | Wages up to $184,500 |
| Medicare | 1.45%, plus 0.9% over $200,000 | All wages |
| Paid Family and Medical Leave | About 0.81% (71.43% of 1.13%) | Wages up to $184,500 |
| WA Cares Fund | 0.58% | All wages, no cap |
| Washington state income tax | None | No state or city tax on wages |
Washington does not tax wages, and no Washington city does either; Seattle's 2017 income tax on high earners was struck down by the courts. The state has a 7% tax on large long-term capital gains, but that is paid with a yearly return, not through your paycheck. Unemployment insurance is paid by employers only.
The new millionaires' tax: In March 2026 Washington passed a 9.9% tax on income over $1 million (Morgan Lewis). It does not start until January 1, 2028, with first payments due in 2029. It faces legal challenges and a repeal measure on the November 2026 ballot. It does not affect 2026 paychecks.
Paid Family and Medical Leave premium
Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave pays benefits when you take time off for your own serious health condition, a new child or a sick family member. The total premium is 1.13% of wages in 2026, up from 0.92% in 2025. Employees pay 71.43% of it, and employers with 50 or more workers pay the rest (Washington Employment Security Department). So your share is about 0.81% of your wages, or $807 a year on a $100,000 salary. It stops once your wages reach the Social Security wage base of $184,500, so the most anyone pays in 2026 is about $1,489.
WA Cares long-term care premium
The WA Cares Fund is Washington's public long-term care insurance. Workers pay 0.58% of all wages with no cap, or $580 a year on a $100,000 salary. Employers do not pay a share. From July 2026, eligible people can use a lifetime benefit of up to $36,500 (adjusted for inflation) for care such as in-home help. Some workers have an approved exemption, for example because they bought private long-term care insurance before November 2021, are military spouses or veterans with a 70% service-connected disability, or live outside Washington. If you have one, choose "Exempt" in the calculator.
Federal income tax brackets for 2026
Federal income tax is the only income tax on a Washington paycheck. These are the 2026 brackets set by the IRS:
| Rate | Single | Married filing jointly | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 to $12,400 | $0 to $24,800 | $0 to $17,700 |
| 12% | $12,400 to $50,400 | $24,800 to $100,800 | $17,700 to $67,450 |
| 22% | $50,400 to $105,700 | $100,800 to $211,400 | $67,450 to $105,700 |
| 24% | $105,700 to $201,775 | $211,400 to $403,550 | $105,700 to $201,750 |
| 32% | $201,775 to $256,225 | $403,550 to $512,450 | $201,750 to $256,200 |
| 35% | $256,225 to $640,600 | $512,450 to $768,700 | $256,200 to $640,600 |
| 37% | Over $640,600 | Over $768,700 | Over $640,600 |
The brackets apply to taxable income: your pay after pre-tax deductions and the standard deduction of $16,100 (single), $32,200 (married filing jointly) or $24,150 (head of household). A single filer earning $100,000 pays $13,170 in federal income tax, about 13.2% of gross pay.
- 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 Washington for 2026
These results come from the calculator above for a single filer paid monthly, with no pre-tax deductions:
| Salary | Federal tax | Social Security + Medicare | Paid leave + WA Cares | Take-home per year | Per month | Total tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $3,820 | $3,825 | $694 | $41,661 | $3,472 | 16.7% |
| $60,000 | $5,020 | $4,590 | $832 | $49,558 | $4,130 | 17.4% |
| $75,000 | $7,670 | $5,738 | $1,040 | $60,552 | $5,046 | 19.3% |
| $100,000 | $13,170 | $7,650 | $1,387 | $77,793 | $6,483 | 22.2% |
| $150,000 | $24,734 | $11,475 | $2,081 | $111,710 | $9,309 | 25.5% |
| $200,000 | $36,734 | $14,339 | $2,649 | $146,278 | $12,190 | 26.9% |
A married couple filing jointly on $150,000 of combined pay takes home about $121,104 a year (19.3% in total taxes). With two children under 17, a couple earning $100,000 takes home about $87,723. An hourly worker on $25 an hour, 40 hours a week, earns $52,000 and takes home about $43,241 a year, or $3,603 a month.
Where a $75,000 Washington salary goes in 2026
Single filer, no pre-tax deductions, yearly amounts
Source: Digicalcy calculation using 2026 IRS, SSA and Washington ESD rates.
Washington take-home pay compared with other states
The same $100,000 salary for a single filer in 2026:
Take-home pay on a $100,000 salary in 2026
Single filer, no pre-tax deductions, yearly amounts
Washington's paid leave and WA Cares premiums cost about $1,387 a year at this salary, far less than a state income tax. Figures from our Texas, Arizona and California paycheck calculators.
Live in Washington but work in Oregon? Oregon taxes the wages you earn there, even if you live in Vancouver or elsewhere in Washington. Washington has no income tax to credit it against, so commuters pay Oregon's rate on their Oregon pay.
Paychecks in Seattle, Spokane and Tacoma
No Washington city taxes wages, so the same salary gives the same take-home pay in Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Bellevue, Vancouver and everywhere else in the state. What changes is the local minimum wage and living costs. In 2026 Seattle's minimum wage is $21.30 an hour, and Tukwila ($21.65), Burien, Renton, Everett, SeaTac, Bellingham and unincorporated King County also set rates above the state minimum.
How bonuses, overtime and tips are taxed in Washington
- Bonuses: Employers usually withhold a flat 22% federal income tax on bonuses, plus Social Security, Medicare, paid leave and WA Cares. There is no state income tax. On a $100,000 salary you keep about $6,896 of a $10,000 bonus. See the bonus tax calculator.
- Overtime: Washington pays 1.5 times the regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek, with no daily overtime. In 2026, salaried workers must earn at least $80,168.40 a year (2.25 times the minimum wage) to be exempt from overtime. The federal overtime deduction (up to $12,500, or $25,000 for joint filers) lowers your federal income tax for 2025 to 2028. See the overtime calculator.
- Tips: Washington does not allow a tip credit, so tipped workers get the full minimum wage plus tips. Qualified tips of up to $25,000 are deductible from federal income tax for 2025 to 2028. Social Security, Medicare, paid leave and WA Cares still apply.
How pre-tax deductions lower your Washington taxes
| Deduction | Federal income tax | Social Security and Medicare |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional 401(k), 403(b), 457 | Lowers | No change |
| Health, dental and vision premiums | Lowers | Lowers |
| HSA through payroll | Lowers | Lowers |
| Health and dependent care FSA | Lowers | Lowers |
| Transit and parking benefits | Lowers | Lowers |
A $10,000 401(k) contribution on a $100,000 Washington salary
Single filer, 2026, yearly amounts
The contribution saves $2,200 in federal income tax, so take-home pay falls by $7,800. Paid leave and WA Cares are not reduced by a 401(k).
Salary or hourly pay in Washington
For hourly pay, multiply your rate by your weekly hours and by 52. A full-time year is 2,080 hours. The Washington minimum wage is $17.13 an hour in 2026, or $35,630 a year full time, the highest state rate in the country (Washington L&I). Workers aged 14 and 15 can be paid 85%, or $14.56. A single full-time worker on $17.13 an hour takes home about $30,315 a year. At Seattle's $21.30 it is about $37,164.
When you leave a job, Washington employers must pay your final wages by the end of the pay period, usually on the next regular payday. In some jobs, a few cents per hour also comes out of your pay for the workers' share of L&I workers' compensation; this calculator does not include it.
Why your actual paycheck may differ from this estimate
- This calculator estimates your tax for the full year. Employers withhold federal tax using IRS withholding tables and your W-4, so each check can be a little higher or lower.
- Some employers pay part or all of the employee paid leave premium for you.
- Small employee deductions for L&I workers' compensation, charged per hour in some jobs, are not included.
- Social Security and the paid leave premium stop once your wages pass $184,500, so late-year paychecks of high earners are larger. WA Cares has no cap.
How to increase your take-home pay in Washington
- Check your withholding with the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator and update your W-4 after a raise, a new job or a change in your family. Washington has no state withholding form.
- Use pre-tax benefits such as a 401(k), HSA, FSA and commuter benefits to lower your federal income tax.
- If you earn tips or overtime, keep records so you can claim the federal tips and overtime deductions when you file.
How this calculator works
The calculator estimates your full-year federal tax and divides it by your pay periods. It uses the 2026 federal brackets, standard deduction and credits (Rev. Proc. 2025-32, including the 2025 tax law changes), the 2026 Social Security wage base and Medicare rates, the employee share of Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave and the 0.58% WA Cares premium. Washington has no state or local income tax. For joint filers, enter combined household wages. Results are estimates, not tax advice.
Last reviewed: October 28, 2026.
Washington Paycheck Calculator FAQs
How much is $100,000 after taxes in Washington?
A single filer earning $100,000 in Washington takes home about $77,793 a year in 2026, or $6,483 a month. That is after $13,170 federal income tax, $7,650 Social Security and Medicare, $807 Paid Family and Medical Leave and $580 WA Cares. Washington has no state income tax.
What percentage of my paycheck goes to taxes in Washington?
For a single filer in 2026, total taxes and premiums take about 16.7% of a $50,000 salary, 19.3% of $75,000, 22.2% of $100,000 and 25.5% of $150,000. That includes federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, paid leave and WA Cares.
Does Washington have a state income tax?
No. Washington does not tax wages, and no Washington city does either. A 9.9% tax on income over $1 million was passed in 2026, but it does not start until 2028 and faces legal and ballot challenges. It does not affect 2026 paychecks.
What is paid leave and WA Cares on my Washington paycheck?
Paid Family and Medical Leave funds paid time off for illness, a new child or caring for family. Employees pay about 0.81% of wages in 2026, up to $184,500 of wages. WA Cares funds long-term care benefits and costs 0.58% of all wages. On a $100,000 salary the two cost about $1,387 a year.
How much is $60,000 after taxes in Washington?
A single filer earning $60,000 in Washington takes home about $49,558 a year in 2026, or $4,130 a month, after $5,020 federal income tax, $4,590 Social Security and Medicare and $832 for paid leave and WA Cares.
Is a Washington salary calculator the same as a paycheck calculator?
For Washington 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.
Does Seattle have a city income tax?
No. Seattle's 2017 income tax on high earners was struck down by the courts, and no Washington city taxes wages. Seattle does have a higher minimum wage: $21.30 an hour in 2026.
What is the minimum wage in Washington in 2026?
The Washington minimum wage is $17.13 an hour in 2026, or $35,630 a year full time. Tipped workers must get the full minimum wage plus tips. Several cities set higher rates, including Seattle at $21.30 and Tukwila at $21.65.
How is overtime paid in Washington?
Washington pays 1.5 times the regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. Salaried workers must earn at least $80,168.40 a year in 2026 to be exempt from overtime. Overtime is taxed as wages, but the federal overtime deduction can lower your income tax for 2025 to 2028.
More paycheck and tax calculators
- California Paycheck Calculator: take-home pay with state income tax and SDI
- Arizona Paycheck Calculator: take-home pay with a flat 2.5% state income tax
- Texas Paycheck Calculator: take-home pay with no state income tax
- Tennessee Paycheck Calculator: take-home pay with no state income tax
- Overtime Calculator: time and a half pay
- Bonus Tax Calculator: how much of a bonus you keep
- Federal Tax Withholding Calculator: check your W-4