How California taxes your paycheck
California has progressive income tax rates from 1% to 13.3% for tax year 2025, in 10 brackets. Before the rate applies, the calculator subtracts a standard deduction of $5,706 for single filers, $11,412 for married couples filing jointly and $11,412 for heads of household and a personal exemption credit of $153 ($306 for a married couple) that reduces the tax itself.
Traditional 401(k) contributions are excluded from California taxable wages, and Section 125 health premiums are excluded.
Figures are from 2025 California Tax Rate Schedules. California had not published its full 2026 schedule when we checked, so this page uses the latest official figures, for tax year 2025.
Take-home pay examples in California
A single filer earning $60,000 in California, paid every two weeks, takes home about $1,845.02 per paycheck, or $47,970 a year. Of the $60,000, $5,020 goes to federal income tax, $4,590 to Social Security and Medicare, and $1,640 to California income tax, plus $780 of state payroll contributions.
At $100,000, take-home pay is about $72,825 a year ($2,800.96 per paycheck), with $5,055 of California income tax. A married couple filing jointly on one $100,000 salary keeps about $81,331, because of the larger standard deduction and wider brackets. The table below shows more salaries.
California payroll contributions
CA SDI: 1.3% of wages, with no wage cap (tax year 2026; official source). This is deducted from your pay in addition to income tax and is included in the calculator.
Local income taxes in California
California has no local income taxes on wages.
Hourly pay in California
A full-time worker earning $20 an hour (40 hours a week, $41,600 a year) in California takes home about $1,323.77 every two weeks, or $661.89 a week on average, as a single filer. California income tax takes $647 of that pay a year, an effective state rate of 1.555%. Choose Hourly wage in the calculator to enter your own rate and hours.
California compared with neighboring states
On a $75,000 salary (single, no pre-tax deductions), take-home pay in California is about $57,843 a year. It is higher in Nevada and Arizona, and lower in Oregon. The comparison table below shows the difference in dollars. Where you live usually decides which state taxes your wages, but people who live in one state and work in another should check both states' rules on residency and credits.
What else to know about California taxes
The 13.3% top rate includes the 1% Behavioral Health Services Tax on taxable income over $1 million.
Personal exemption credits phase out at high incomes; this estimate does not reduce them.
California SDI (State Disability Insurance) applies to all wages with no annual cap.
What this estimate does not include
Tax credits, itemized deductions, other income, overtime, bonuses and post-tax deductions are not included, and actual withholding follows your Form W-4 and California's own withholding rules. Use it as a planning estimate. For the method and the federal rules, see the main paycheck calculator.