California·Updated for 2026·Figures in USD · California income tax and 1.3% SDI included
California Paycheck Calculator (2026)
California takes state income tax and 1.3% State Disability Insurance (SDI) out of every paycheck, on top of federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare. Enter your salary or hourly wage to see your take-home pay, worked out with the IRS's and EDD's own 2026 methods.
Your pay
$
Before taxes
California withholding (DE 4)
Blank follows your federal status
Blank uses 1, or 2 if married with one income
W-4 details (optional)
$2,200 each
$500 each
$
$
Including the overtime or tips deduction you expect
$
Pre-tax deductions (optional)
Traditional, not Roth
%
$
Pre-tax premiums through your employer
Enter your salary. Your take-home pay appears here as you type — there is no button to press.
Calculating
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Federal income tax follows IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Worksheet 1A, for a W-4 from 2020 or later. Your employer may round to whole dollars.
Figures last verified October 25, 2026. Withholding follows IRS Publication 15-T for 2026; Social Security and Medicare follow Publication 15 for 2026.
California take-home pay by salary
Single, paid every two weeks, with a standard W-4 and no pre-tax deductions:
Salary
Gross per paycheck
Federal income tax
Social Security + Medicare
CA tax + SDI
Take-home per paycheck
Take-home per year
$40,000
$1,538.46
$100.77
$117.69
$44.65
$1,275.35
$33,159.04
$50,000
$1,923.08
$146.92
$147.11
$68.98
$1,560.07
$40,561.68
$60,000
$2,307.69
$193.08
$176.54
$99.36
$1,838.71
$47,806.50
$75,000
$2,884.62
$295.00
$220.68
$154.89
$2,214.05
$57,565.47
$100,000
$3,846.15
$506.54
$294.23
$263.86
$2,781.52
$72,319.51
Hourly pay in California
40 hours a week, paid weekly, single:
Hourly wage
Gross per week
Taxes per week
Take-home per week
Take-home per year
$15.00
$600.00
$88.99
$511.01
$26,572.52
$20.00
$800.00
$139.36
$660.64
$34,353.28
$25.00
$1,000.00
$192.11
$807.89
$42,010.28
Minimum wage in California
California's minimum wage for 2026 is $16.90 an hour. Working 40 hours a week at $16.90, single and paid weekly, you earn $676.00 a week and take home $568.08 after taxes, or $29,540.06 a year.
Minimum wage
Hourly
Gross per week
Taxes per week
Take-home per week
Take-home per year
California
$16.90
$676.00
$107.92
$568.08
$29,540.06
Minimum wage as last verified on October 30, 2026. Taxes per week include everything this calculator withholds in California.
A worked example
$60,000 a year, single, paid every two weeks. Each paycheck is $2,307.69. For federal income tax, the employer multiplies it by 26 ($59,999.94), subtracts the $8,600 standard adjustment ($51,399.94), and applies the IRS table: $1,240.00 plus 12% of the amount over $19,900, or $5,019.99 a year. Divided by 26, that is $193.08. Social Security is $143.08 and Medicare $33.46. California income tax is $69.36 and SDI $30.00, leaving $1,838.71.
Married filing jointly on $100,000 with two children under 17, paid every two weeks, takes home $3,289.35 a paycheck, with $124.61 of federal income tax.
What California takes from a paycheck
On $60,000 paid every two weeks, single with one allowance, California income tax is $69.36 and SDI$30.00 a paycheck, on top of federal taxes. California's rates are progressive, from 1.1% to 14.63% on yearly taxable income over $1 million, so the state share grows with pay.
How much is taken out of a paycheck in California?
Federal income tax, Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%), California income tax and 1.3% State Disability Insurance (SDI). On a $60,000 salary paid every two weeks, single, that is $193.08 of income tax and $176.54 of Social Security and Medicare, leaving $1,838.71 a paycheck.
How is California income tax withholding worked out?
With the EDD's Method B. If your paycheck is at or below the low-income exemption, nothing is withheld. Otherwise your yearly wages, less the state standard deduction ($5,706, or $11,412 for heads of household and married filers with two or more allowances), go through the 2026 rate table, and a credit of $168.30 for each DE 4 allowance is subtracted.
What is California SDI?
State Disability Insurance, which funds disability and paid family leave benefits. In 2026 it is 1.3% of all wages, with no wage limit since January 1, 2024.
How many allowances should I claim on my DE 4?
That depends on your household; the DE 4 worksheet walks you through it. This calculator uses 1 allowance, or 2 if you are married with one income, unless you change it under California withholding.
My spouse also works. What should I choose?
EDD recommends using the single status for California, or withholding an extra flat amount, so that too little is not withheld for a two-income couple.
How is federal income tax withholding worked out?
Your employer annualizes each paycheck, subtracts a standard adjustment ($8,600, or $12,900 if married filing jointly, unless you checked the Step 2 box), applies the IRS withholding table, then divides by your number of paychecks and subtracts any dependent credits. This calculator follows the same IRS worksheet.
When does Social Security stop being taken out?
Once your pay for the year reaches $184,500, the 2026 wage base. Medicare has no cap, and an extra 0.9% applies to pay over $200,000.
Do 401(k) contributions lower my taxes?
A traditional 401(k) contribution lowers your federal income tax withholding, but Social Security and Medicare are still taken from it. Pre-tax health premiums through a cafeteria plan lower all three.
What about no tax on overtime or tips?
The overtime and tips deductions are claimed on your tax return, but you can ask your employer to withhold less now by adding the deduction you expect to Step 4(b) of a new W-4. Enter it under W-4 details to see the effect.
