California Paycheck Calculator
See your real take-home pay in California — federal tax, state tax (6% (approx.)), Social Security, and Medicare, all in one place.
Income
What actually comes out of your paycheck
Enter your gross salary and state, and this estimates federal income tax (using current marginal tax brackets), state income tax, Social Security (6.2%), and Medicare (1.45%) withholding, then shows what's left — per year and per paycheck. Pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions reduce the income both federal and state tax are calculated on.
About California's state tax
California has one of the highest state income tax structures in the country, with progressive brackets — this uses a blended approximation rather than the full bracket table.
Also useful: Take-Home Pay Estimator (all 50 states) and Paycheck Allocator.
Frequently asked questions
Actual paycheck withholding also depends on your W-4 elections, local taxes, health insurance premiums, and other benefits deductions — state tax here is a blended-rate approximation, not your state's exact bracket structure.
FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) funds Social Security and Medicare — 6.2% and 1.45% of gross wages respectively, matched by your employer. Social Security tax stops applying above an annual wage cap that adjusts yearly; Medicare tax has no cap.
Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming, and New Hampshire charge no state income tax on wages.