California Paycheck Calculator
Calculate your take-home pay per paycheck for salary and hourly jobs after federal & California taxes
Updated for 2024 tax year on Jul 06, 2024
Calculate your paycheck in these states
How to calculate your California paycheck
Table of Contents
Overview of California
As the most populous US state, California has a population of over 39 million (2019). It is an economic powerhouse, more significant than all but eight countries. The state is known for plenty of American icons.
Brief summary:
- the income tax rate ranges from 1% to 13.3%
- no local income tax
- subject to State Disability Insurance (SDI)
- has standard deductions
Understanding your California paycheck
Living and working in the Golden State has its perks, but understanding how your California paycheck works can be a bit perplexing. Let’s dive into the various aspects, including income taxes, deductions, etc.
Your California paycheck begins with your gross income, which is subject to federal income taxes and FICA taxes. The Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes you a combined rate of 7.65% for Social Security and Medicare. Your employer will match this amount.
If you’re making over $200,000, you will be subject to an additional 0.9% Medicare tax. This is known as the Additional Medicare Tax, and it applies only to employees, not employers.
Your federal tax withholding is determined by the information provided on your Form W-4. This form allows you to specify your filing status, number of dependents, and any additional amounts you’d like withheld. Your pay frequency will also impact the taxes withheld from each paycheck.
Your marital status influences your tax withholding rates. Consider regular retirement fund contributions, as it reduces your taxable income and tax liability.
California has a progressive state income tax system, with rate varies depending on income. In addition, employees contribute to the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program, a form of payroll tax. It covers short-term disability and paid family leave benefits.
California offers a standard deduction for taxpayers, which reduces your taxable income. The amount of the standard deduction depends on your filing status. Instead of personal exemptions, California provides tax credits based on the number of dependents you claim, further reducing your tax liability.
Finally, your California paycheck may include post-tax deductions, such as wage garnishments, charitable donations, or after-tax retirement contributions. These deductions are taken from your net pay after taxes have been withheld.
Calculate your California paycheck
Calculating your California state income tax is similar to the steps we listed on our main paycheck calculator page:
- Determine your gross income
- Annual salary
Annual salary = Gross income - Hourly wage
Hourly wage × Hours worked per day × Days worked per week × Weeks worked per year = Your weekly paycheck
- Annual salary
- Work out your total federal income tax
- Gross income adjusted
Gross income − Pre-tax deductions = Gross income adjusted - Federal taxable income
Gross income adjusted − Federal standard/itemized deductions = Federal taxable income - Federal income tax liability
Federal taxable income × Federal income tax rate = Federal income tax liability - Federal payroll tax liability
Gross income × Federal payroll tax rate = Federal payroll tax liability
- Gross income adjusted
- Calculate your total California state income tax
- California state taxable income
Gross income adjusted − California state standard/itemized deductions = California state taxable income - California state income tax liability
California state taxable income × California state income tax rate = California state income tax liability - California state payroll tax liability
Gross income × California state payroll tax rate = California state payroll tax liability
- California state taxable income
- Figure out your net pay
You need to account for any other deductions such as health insurance, 401(k) contribution, as well as additional withholdings.
Gross income − (Total income tax liability + Total payroll tax liability + Total pre-tax deductions + Total post-tax deductions + Total withholdings) = Your net pay - Divide your net pay by your pay frequency
- Daily
Your net pay / Days worked per week / Weeks worked per year = Your daily paycheck - Weekly
Your net pay / 52 = Your weekly paycheck - Bi-weekly
Your net pay / 26 = Your bi-weekly paycheck - Semi-monthly
Your net pay / 24 = Your semi-monthly paycheck - Monthly
Your net pay / 12 = Your monthly paycheck - Quarterly
Your net pay / 4 = Your quarterly paycheck - Semi-annual
Your net pay / 2 = Your semi-annual paycheck - Annual
Your net pay = Your annual paycheck
- Daily
State payroll tax
| Tax year | Tax name | Percent of taxable wage | Up to taxable wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | State Disability Insurance (SDI) | 1.1% | Unlimited |
| 2023 | 0.9% | $153,164 | |
| 2022 | 1.1% | $145,600 | |
| 2021 | 1.2% | $128,298 | |
| 2020 | 1% | $122,909 |
State income tax brackets
Each filer type has different progressive tax rates. Refer to Tax Foundation for more details.
| Tax year | Filing status | Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Single Married, Filing Separately |
$0 - $10,412 | 1% |
| $10,412 - $24,684 | 2% | ||
| $24,684 - $38,959 | 4% | ||
| $38,959 - $54,081 | 6% | ||
| $54,081 - $68,350 | 8% | ||
| $68,350 - $349,137 | 9.3% | ||
| $349,137 - $418,961 | 10.3% | ||
| $418,961 - $698,271 | 11.3% | ||
| $698,271 - $1,000,000 | 12.3% | ||
| $1,000,000 and over | 13.3% | ||
| Married, Filing Jointly or Widow(er) | $0 - $20,824 | 1% | |
| $20,824 - $49,368 | 2% | ||
| $49,368 - $77,918 | 4% | ||
| $77,918 - $108,162 | 6% | ||
| $108,162 - $136,700 | 8% | ||
| $136,700 - $698,274 | 9.3% | ||
| $698,274 - $837,922 | 10.3% | ||
| $837,922 - $1,000,000 | 11.3% | ||
| $1,000,000 - $1,396,542 | 12.3% | ||
| $1,396,542 and over | 13.3% | ||
| Head of Household | $0 - $20,839 | 1% | |
| $20,839 - $49,371 | 2% | ||
| $49,371 - $63,644 | 4% | ||
| $63,644 - $78,765 | 6% | ||
| $78,765 - $93,037 | 8% | ||
| $93,037 - $474,824 | 9.3% | ||
| $474,824 - $569,790 | 10.3% | ||
| $569,790 - $949,649 | 11.3% | ||
| $949,649 - $1,000,000 | 12.3% | ||
| $1,000,000 and over | 13.3% | ||
| 2022 | Single Married, Filing Separately |
$0 - $10,099 | 1% |
| $10,099 - $23,942 | 2% | ||
| $23,942 - $37,788 | 4% | ||
| $37,788 - $52,455 | 6% | ||
| $52,455 - $66,295 | 8% | ||
| $66,295 - $338,639 | 9.3% | ||
| $338,639 - $406,364 | 10.3% | ||
| $406,364 - $677,275 | 11.3% | ||
| $677,275 - $1,000,000 | 12.3% | ||
| $1,000,000 and over | 13.3% | ||
| Married, Filing Jointly or Widow(er) | $0 - $20,198 | 1% | |
| $20,198 - $47,884 | 2% | ||
| $47,884 - $75,576 | 4% | ||
| $75,576 - $104,910 | 6% | ||
| $104,910 - $132,590 | 8% | ||
| $132,590 - $677,278 | 9.3% | ||
| $677,278 - $812,728 | 10.3% | ||
| $812,728 - $1,000,000 | 11.3% | ||
| $1,000,000 - $1,354,550 | 12.3% | ||
| $1,354,550 and over | 13.3% | ||
| Head of Household | $0 - $20,212 | 1% | |
| $20,212 - $47,887 | 2% | ||
| $44,217 – $56,999 | 4% | ||
| $56,999 – $70,542 | 6% | ||
| $70,542 – $83,324 | 8% | ||
| $83,324 – $425,251 | 9.3% | ||
| $425,251 – $510,303 | 10.3% | ||
| $510,303 – $850,503 | 11.3% | ||
| $850,503 – $1,000,000 | 12.3% | ||
| $1,000,000 and over | 13.3% | ||
| 2021 | Single Married, Filing Separately |
$0 – $9,325 | 1% |
| $9,325 – $22,107 | 2% | ||
| $22,107 – $34,892 | 4% | ||
| $34,892 – $48,435 | 6% | ||
| $48,435 – $61,214 | 8% | ||
| $61,214 – $312,686 | 9.3% | ||
| $312,686 – $375,221 | 10.3% | ||
| $375,221 – $625,369 | 11.3% | ||
| $625,369 – $1,000,000 | 12.3% | ||
| $1,000,000 and over | 13.3% | ||
| Married, Filing Jointly or Widow(er) | $0 – $18,650 | 1% | |
| $18,650 – $44,214 | 2% | ||
| $44,214 – $69,784 | 4% | ||
| $69,784 – $96,870 | 6% | ||
| $96,870 – $122,428 | 8% | ||
| $122,428 – $625,372 | 9.3% | ||
| $625,372 – $750,442 | 10.3% | ||
| $750,442 – $1,000,000 | 11.3% | ||
| $1,000,000 – $1,250,738 | 12.3% | ||
| $1,250,738 and over | 13.3% | ||
| Head of Household | $0 – $18,663 | 1% | |
| $18,663 – $44,217 | 2% | ||
| $44,217 – $56,999 | 4% | ||
| $56,999 – $70,542 | 6% | ||
| $70,542 – $83,324 | 8% | ||
| $83,324 – $425,251 | 9.3% | ||
| $425,251 – $510,303 | 10.3% | ||
| $510,303 – $850,503 | 11.3% | ||
| $850,503 – $1,000,000 | 12.3% | ||
| $1,000,000 and over | 13.3% | ||
| 2020 | Single Married, Filing Separately |
$0 – $8,932 | 1% |
| $8,932 – $21,175 | 2% | ||
| $21,175 – $33,421 | 4% | ||
| $33,421 – $46,394 | 6% | ||
| $46,394 – $58,634 | 8% | ||
| $58,634 – $299,508 | 9.3% | ||
| $299,508 – $359,407 | 10.3% | ||
| $359,407 – $599,012 | 11.3% | ||
| $599,012 – $1,000,000 | 12.3% | ||
| $1,000,000 and over | 13.3% | ||
| Married, Filing Jointly or Widow(er) | $0 – $17,864 | 1% | |
| $17,864 – $42,350 | 2% | ||
| $42,350 – $66,842 | 4% | ||
| $66,842 – $92,788 | 6% | ||
| $92,788 – $117,268 | 8% | ||
| $117,268 – $599,016 | 9.3% | ||
| $599,016 – $718,814 | 10.3% | ||
| $718,814 – $1,000,000 | 11.3% | ||
| $1,000,000 – $1,198,024 | 12.3% | ||
| $1,198,024 and over | 13.3% | ||
| Head of Household | $0 – $17,864 | 1% | |
| $17,864 – $42,353 | 2% | ||
| $42,353 – $54,597 | 4% | ||
| $54,597 – $67,569 | 6% | ||
| $67,569 – $79,812 | 8% | ||
| $79,812 – $407,329 | 9.3% | ||
| $407,329 – $488,796 | 10.3% | ||
| $488,796 – $814,658 | 11.3% | ||
| $814,658 – $1,000,000 | 12.3% | ||
| $1,000,000 and over | 13.3% |
State standard deduction
| Tax year | Filing status | Standard deduction amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Single Married, Filing Separately Head of Household |
$5,363 |
| Married, Filing Jointly | $10,726 | |
| 2022 | Single Married, Filing Separately Head of Household |
$5,202 |
| Married, Filing Jointly | $10,404 | |
| 2021 | Single Married, Filing Separately Head of Household |
$4,803 |
| Married, Filing Jointly | $9,606 | |
| 2020 | Single Married, Filing Separately Head of Household |
$4,601 |
| Married, Filing Jointly | $9,202 |
State exemptions
There are state-level exemptions for all type of filers and dependents. All exemptions are in the form of tax credits. Refer to Tax Foundation for more details.
FAQs
How to calculate take home pay in California?
Calculating your take-home pay in California includes a few steps:
- Determine your gross income
- Work out your total federal income tax
- Calculate your total California state income tax
- Gross income minus taxes, deductions and withholdings
- Divide your net pay by your pay frequency
How much will California tax paychecks in 2024?
California employs a progressive state income tax system, ranging from 1% to 13.3%. The tax brackets are different for single and married filers but the percentage rates remain the same. There is also a 1.2% State Disability Insurance (SDI).
How much is taken out of my paycheck in California?
Besides federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, California state income tax (1% to 13.3%) and State Disability Insurance (1.2%) are also deducted from your paychecks. You may also have deductions for health insurance, retirement savings, and other benefits.
What percentage of my paycheck goes to taxes in California?
The taxes on your paycheck include
- federal income tax (10% to 37%)
- state income tax (1% to 13.3%)
- Social Security (6.2%)
- Medicare (1.45% to 2.35%)
- state disability insurance (1.2%)