How California paycheck taxes work
- California income tax: rates from 1% to 13.3% for 2026.
- Before tax, California subtracts a standard deduction of $5,706 single and $11,412 married filing jointly ($11,412 head of household) and a personal credit of $153 ($306 for a married couple) taken off the tax.
- State payroll deductions: CA SDI 1.3%.
- California taxes HSA contributions even though they're pre-tax federally. The calculator follows California's rule.
- California's top rate includes a 1% Behavioral Health Services Tax on taxable income over $1 million.
- Employees pay State Disability Insurance (SDI) of 1.3% of all wages in 2026. There's no wage cap.
- California doesn't recognize health savings accounts, so HSA contributions are taxed by the state even though they're tax-free federally.
- California publishes its 2026 brackets late in the year. The brackets here are the most recent official schedule (2025), with the 2026 standard deduction.
California income tax rates for 2026
| Rate | Single | Married filing jointly |
|---|---|---|
| 1% | $0 – $11,079 | $0 – $22,158 |
| 2% | $11,079 – $26,264 | $22,158 – $52,528 |
| 4% | $26,264 – $41,452 | $52,528 – $82,904 |
| 6% | $41,452 – $57,542 | $82,904 – $115,084 |
| 8% | $57,542 – $72,724 | $115,084 – $145,448 |
| 9.3% | $72,724 – $371,479 | $145,448 – $742,958 |
| 10.3% | $371,479 – $445,771 | $742,958 – $891,542 |
| 11.3% | $445,771 – $742,953 | $891,542 – $1,000,000 |
| 12.3% | $742,953 – $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 – $1,485,906 |
| 13.3% | over $1,000,000 | over $1,485,906 |
How your take-home pay is calculated
Take-home = Gross pay − 401(k) − health − HSA − federal income tax − Social Security − Medicare − California income tax − state payroll − local tax
Federal income tax uses the 2026 brackets and standard deduction. Social Security is 6.2% of pay up to $184,500 a year; Medicare is 1.45% of all pay plus 0.9% above $200,000. Pre-tax health and HSA payroll deductions lower all of these; 401(k) lowers income tax only.
California take-home pay examples
Single filer, paid every two weeks, no 401(k) or other pre-tax deductions, no local tax:
| Salary | Federal tax | Social Security + Medicare | State income tax | State payroll | Take-home a year | Per biweekly check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $3,820.00 | $3,825.00 | $1,039.53 | $650.00 | $40,665.47 | $1,564.06 |
| $75,000 | $7,670.00 | $5,737.50 | $2,774.57 | $975.00 | $57,842.93 | $2,224.73 |
| $100,000 | $13,170.00 | $7,650.00 | $5,054.98 | $1,300.00 | $72,825.02 | $2,800.96 |
Worked example, $75,000 salary:
- Federal: $75,000 − $16,100 standard deduction = $58,900 taxable. Tax = $1,240 + $4,560 + 22% × $8,500 = $7,670.00.
- Social Security 6.2% = $4,650.00. Medicare 1.45% = $1,087.50.
- California taxable income $69,294.00, California income tax $2,774.57.
- CA SDI: $975.00.
- Take-home: $57,842.93 a year, or $2,224.73 every two weeks. That's 22.9% of pay in taxes.
What this calculator simplifies
- Tax is worked out for the whole year and spread evenly over your paychecks. Employers use withholding tables, so a real check can differ by a few dollars; you settle the difference when you file.
- Federal tax uses the 2026 standard deduction only. Dependents, itemized deductions and the new tips, overtime and senior deductions aren't included (W-4 Step 3 credits can be entered under More options).
- State tax covers a typical W-2 employee who lives and works in the state. State credits for dependents, renters, earned income and similar aren't included.
- California's exemption credit phases out at high incomes; that isn't included.
- State payroll deductions use your wages after pre-tax health and HSA (the same pay Social Security uses).
Compare states on the paycheck calculator by state, or see federal tax bracket by bracket in the income tax calculator.
Sources
- California EDD: contribution rates and withholding schedules (SDI 1.3% for 2026)
- California EDD: 2026 withholding schedules, Method B
- FTB: 2026 Form 540-ES instructions (standard deduction)
- FTB: California doesn't conform to federal HSA rules (bill analysis)
- Tax Foundation: State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026
- IRS IR-2025-103: 2026 tax inflation adjustments
- SSA contribution and benefit base ($184,500 for 2026)
- IRS Topic 560, Additional Medicare Tax
State figures: 2025 brackets and credit (latest published), 2026 standard deduction and SDI. Last reviewed October 2026.