Paycheck Calculator 2026
California Paycheck Calculator
Estimate take-home pay in California after federal income tax, California state tax, and FICA. The state rate below is pre-filled — adjust it for local taxes if needed.
Pre-filled with a progressive state income tax (about 6.0% for a typical middle income). Estimates use current (2025) federal brackets and standard deductions and don't account for pre-tax deductions, credits, or every local rule — your actual paycheck may differ. Gusto runs these figures exactly on every payroll.
California payroll taxes
California has the nation's most progressive income tax (up to 13.3%) plus State Disability Insurance (SDI) withheld from wages.
On top of any state tax, every California paycheck has federal income tax withheld based on the employee's W-4, plus Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%). Employers also pay federal and state unemployment taxes. See the full breakdown in our payroll taxes guide.
Run California payroll automatically
Calculating this by hand every pay period is error-prone. Gusto handles California payroll end to end — it calculates federal, state, and local taxes, files and pays them for you, and pays your team by direct deposit. Check Gusto's pricing, or get a $300 Visa card when you run your first payroll.