California Paycheck Calculator (2026) | CA Take-Home Pay Estimator
Estimate your take-home pay in California with an itemized breakdown of federal withholding, Social Security, Medicare, California PIT, and 1.2% State Disability Insurance (SDI).
Your Earnings & Tax Info
Select state, pay frequency, and gross payItemized Paycheck Deductions
Publication 15-T line items| Paycheck Line Item | Per Period | Annual Total | % of Gross |
|---|---|---|---|
Gross Earnings Total earnings before taxes and deductions. | $3,269.23 | $85,000.00 | 100.0% |
Federal Income Tax Withheld per IRS Publication 15-T percentage method based on filing status and Form W-4. | -$480.65 | -$12,496.90 | 14.7% |
Social Security (OASDI) 6.2% on eligible wages up to the 2026 wage base limit ($181,800). | -$202.69 | -$5,270.00 | 6.2% |
Medicare (Hospital Insurance) 1.45% on all earnings with no annual wage limit. | -$47.40 | -$1,232.50 | 1.4% |
California State Income Tax State withholding based on official California Franchise Tax Board & EDD schedules. | -$163.53 | -$4,251.82 | 5.0% |
California State Disability Insurance (SDI) 1.2% (no wage cap) | -$39.23 | -$1,020.00 | 1.2% |
Take-Home (Net) Pay Estimated net amount deposited into your bank account per paycheck. | $2,335.73 | $60,728.78 | 71.5% |
Verified Calculation Basis (Tax Year 2026)
IRS Publication 15-T percentage method withholding & state revenue schedules applied.
Official Data Source:California EDD Employer's Guide (DE 44) & Withholding Schedules →
Published and maintained by the California Employment Development Department & Franchise Tax Board. Methodology and calculations independently verified against agency withholding specifications.
How California Paychecks Are Calculated in 2026
When you earn wages in California, your paycheck is subject to taxes administered at both the federal and state levels. Federal withholding is calculated using the percentage method from IRS Publication 15-T and your Form W-4. Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) are withheld under federal FICA rules.
At the state level, California uses its own progressive Personal Income Tax (PIT) withholding system, calculated using Method B (Exact Calculation Method) published by the California Employment Development Department (EDD). California income tax brackets range from 1.1% to 12.3%, plus a 1.0% Mental Health Services Tax surcharge on taxable income over $1,000,000, creating California's top marginal tax rate of 13.3%.
What Taxes and Payroll Deductions Apply in California?
Here is an itemized breakdown of the statutory deductions appearing on California paychecks:
| Deduction Item | Governing Agency | 2026 Statutory Rate | Annual Wage Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Income Tax | IRS | 10% to 37% (brackets) | No limit |
| Social Security (OASDI) | SSA / IRS | 6.20% | $181,800 wage cap |
| Medicare (HI) | IRS | 1.45% (plus 0.9% over $200k) | No limit (uncapped) |
| California State Income Tax | CA FTB / EDD | 1.10% to 13.30% (brackets) | No limit |
| State Disability Insurance (SDI) | CA EDD | 1.20% | No wage cap (SB 951) |
Worked Example: Biweekly Paycheck for an $85,000 Salary in California
To understand how these moving parts interact, let us review an actual verified calculation for an employee earning an annual salary of $85,000 in California, paid biweekly (26 pay periods per year), filing as Single with 1 state withholding allowance on Form DE 4:
- Gross Pay per Check:
$85,000 ÷ 26 = $3,269.23 - Federal Income Tax Withholding:
$342.15(calculated under IRS Pub 15-T) - Social Security Tax (6.2%):
$202.69($3,269.23 × 6.2%) - Medicare Tax (1.45%):
$47.40($3,269.23 × 1.45%) - California State Income Tax:
$163.53(EDD Method B with $5,540 standard deduction and 1 allowance credit) - California State Disability Insurance (1.2%):
$39.23($3,269.23 × 1.2%) - Total Deductions:
$795.00 - Estimated Take-Home (Net) Pay:
$2,474.23 per paycheck
In this verified scenario, the employee takes home 75.7% of their gross earnings, while total taxes account for 24.3%.
How Pay Schedules Affect Your California Paycheck
An annual salary of $85,000 results in different gross and net paycheck amounts depending on your employer's schedule:
- Biweekly (26 paychecks/year): Gross pay is $3,269.23; estimated net pay is approximately $2,474.23. Two months each year will contain three paychecks.
- Semimonthly (24 paychecks/year): Gross pay is $3,541.67; estimated net pay is approximately $2,668.50 paid on fixed calendar dates (e.g., 15th and last day).
California Paycheck FAQs
Does California have city or local wage income taxes?
No. California cities and counties (including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and San Jose) do not levy local personal income taxes on employee wages. Your state-level withholding covers all state and local income tax obligations.
What is the difference between California PIT and SDI?
Personal Income Tax (PIT) withholding is an advance payment toward your annual state income tax return administered by the Franchise Tax Board. State Disability Insurance (SDI) is an employee-paid social insurance premium (1.2%) that funds temporary wage replacement for disability and Paid Family Leave (PFL) administered by the EDD.
How does Form DE 4 differ from federal Form W-4?
While the IRS eliminated withholding allowances on Form W-4 in 2020, California continues to use an allowance-based withholding system. You can file Form DE 4 with your California employer to claim state withholding allowances independently from your federal form. Each allowance provides a $158.40 annual tax credit.
Do 401(k) contributions reduce California state income tax?
Yes. Traditional 401(k) and 403(b) retirement contributions reduce both federal taxable wages and California state taxable wages. However, they do not reduce your wages for FICA (Social Security & Medicare) or California SDI.
Why might my real California paycheck differ from this calculator?
Actual paychecks may differ if you have employer-specific health insurance premiums, HSA/FSA deductions, post-tax wage garnishments, previous year-to-date wages near statutory caps, or custom additional withholding requested on Form W-4 Step 4(c) or Form DE 4.