Calculators

California Paycheck Calculator

Take-home pay after federal tax, California tax, SDI, Social Security and Medicare, using 2026 tables.

How it works

Each deduction uses a different wage base. Section 125 benefits such as health insurance come out before everything. A traditional 401(k) comes out before income tax but not before Social Security, Medicare or SDI. The pay is annualised, run through the 2026 federal brackets after the standard deduction and through the EDD's 2026 California withholding tables, then divided back into a single paycheck. Social Security stops at the $184,500 wage base; SDI has had no cap since 2024.

net = gross − 401(k) − pre-tax benefits − federal − Social Security − Medicare − CA income tax − CA SDI
Social Security
6.2% of wages up to $184,500
Medicare
1.45%, plus 0.9% on wages above $200,000
CA SDI
1.3% of all wages, no cap
DE 4
California's own withholding form, separate from the federal W-4

Worked example

A single filer paid $3,000 every two weeks, putting 5% in a 401(k) and $80 a paycheck into health insurance, with 1 DE 4 allowance.

  1. 1401(k): $150. FICA and SDI wages: 3,000 − 80 = $2,920. Income tax wages: $2,770
  2. 2Federal: 2,770 × 26 = 72,020, less 16,100 = 55,920 taxable; $7,014 a year = $269.78
  3. 3California: 72,020 − 5,706 = 66,314; $2,958 − $168 credit = $2,790 a year = $107.30
  4. 4Social Security $181.04, Medicare $42.34, SDI $37.96

Take-home pay of about $2,131.58 per paycheck, with 21.3% of gross going to tax.

Frequently asked questions

What is California SDI and why is it on my paycheck?

State Disability Insurance funds California's short-term disability and Paid Family Leave programmes. It is paid entirely by employees, at 1.3% in 2026. Since January 2024 there is no wage ceiling, so high earners pay it on every dollar, which was a significant change from the old cap of around $150,000.

Why does California withholding look higher than the tax rate tables?

The EDD's withholding tables use rates about 10% above the Franchise Tax Board's filing rates: 1.1% instead of 1%, 10.23% instead of 9.3%, and so on. The top withholding rate of 14.63% on income over $1 million also includes the 1% Mental Health Services Tax. Withholding is designed to slightly over-collect, which usually shows up as a state refund.

Should I claim more allowances on my DE 4?

Each allowance cuts California withholding by $168.30 a year in 2026. Claiming more raises take-home pay now but shrinks your refund or creates a balance due when you file. The DE 4 worksheet sets it by your expected deductions and dependents. Married couples who both work often under-withhold if both claim married allowances.

Does a 401(k) lower California tax too?

Yes. California follows federal treatment for traditional 401(k) contributions, so they reduce state income tax as well. They do not reduce Social Security, Medicare or SDI. Contributions to an HSA are different: they avoid federal tax but California taxes them, which this calculator does not model separately.

Are there city payroll taxes in California?

Not on individual paychecks. Unlike New York City or several Ohio and Pennsylvania cities, California cities do not withhold local income tax from wages. San Francisco and some others levy taxes on employers' payroll or gross receipts, but those are not deducted from your pay.

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