California Paycheck Calculator
California stacks a 1%–12.3% state tax and uncapped 1.3% SDI on top of federal — see what actually reaches your account.
Data years: 2026 federal + 2025 California brackets (the latest FTB tables — CA indexes each fall) + 2026 SDI. Estimates use 2026 federal tables, the standard deduction and no credits; actual withholding varies with your W-4. Includes the CA personal exemption credit; SDI 1.3% has no wage cap.
How California paychecks work
California layers three state-side deductions on top of federal tax and FICA:
California tax brackets (2025 FTB tables — the latest official, single filer)
| Rate | Taxable income (single) | Rate | Taxable income (single) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1% | $0 – $11,079 | 9.3% | $72,725 – $371,479 |
| 2% | $11,080 – $26,264 | 10.3% | $371,480 – $445,771 |
| 4% | $26,265 – $41,452 | 11.3% | $445,772 – $742,953 |
| 6% | $41,453 – $57,542 | 12.3% | $742,954+ |
| 8% | $57,543 – $72,724 | Married-joint thresholds are exactly double. CA standard deduction: $5,706 single / $11,412 married. | |
Worked example
Single, $80,000 in California: federal ≈ $8,770, FICA $6,120, CA state tax ≈ $3,195 (after the $153 exemption credit), SDI $1,040 → take-home ≈ $60,875/year ($2,341.35 biweekly) — a 23.9% total burden. The same salary in Texas keeps about $4,235 more per year.
The details that surprise people
- SDI lost its cap. Since 2024 the 1.3% State Disability Insurance applies to every dollar — a $500k earner now pays $6,500/year of SDI (it used to stop around $1,600). It funds disability leave and Paid Family Leave, and it’s why CA paystubs sting even before income tax.
- The 9.3% bracket is CA’s workhorse: it covers taxable income from ~$73k to ~$371k (single) — most professionals live their whole careers inside it.
- Millionaire’s surcharge: taxable income above $1M pays +1% (the Behavioral Health Services Tax, renamed from Mental Health Services Tax in 2025), taking the top marginal rate to 13.3% — modeled by this calculator automatically.
- No local wage taxes: unlike NYC or Philadelphia, California cities don’t tax paychecks — San Francisco and LA salaries compute identically.
- Bracket vintage: CA indexes brackets each fall; this page uses the latest official FTB tables and is updated when new ones publish.
How this estimate is calculated
- Federal income tax: 2026 IRS brackets with the 2026 standard deduction ($16,100 single / $32,200 married filing jointly), no credits or itemizing.
- FICA: Social Security 6.2% up to the $184,500 wage base + Medicare 1.45% (plus 0.9% additional above $200k single / $250k married).
- Pre-tax deductions (401(k), traditional retirement) reduce federal and state taxable income but not FICA wages.
- Results estimate your annual tax liability spread across paychecks — real per-check withholding depends on your W-4 and settles at tax time.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $80,000 after taxes in California?
About $60,875/year — roughly $2,341 per biweekly check — for a single filer with the standard deduction and no pre-tax benefits. That includes ≈$3,195 CA income tax (after the $153 personal exemption credit) and $1,040 of uncapped SDI.
What is CA SDI and why is it on every dollar now?
State Disability Insurance (1.3% in 2026) funds disability and Paid Family Leave benefits. Legislation effective 2024 removed its wage ceiling to shore up the fund, so unlike Social Security’s $184,500 cap, SDI applies to unlimited wages.
Is California really a 13.3% tax state?
Only at the very top: 12.3% is the highest regular bracket (taxable income above ~$743k single), plus the 1% mental-health surcharge above $1M. A $100k earner’s effective CA rate is closer to 4–5% — high, but nothing like the headline number.
Do 401(k) contributions reduce California tax?
Yes — CA follows the federal treatment for traditional 401(k) deferrals, reducing both federal and state taxable income (but never FICA or SDI, which apply to gross wages).
Last reviewed: 2026-08-24 · Report an issue