California Paycheck Calculator 2026
See your exact take-home pay after federal income tax, California state tax (1% to 13.3%), SDI (1.3%, uncapped), Social Security, and Medicare. Type a salary, the result updates instantly.
What is SDI? State Disability Insurance, California's mandatory payroll deduction. For 2026 it is 1.3% of your gross wages with no wage cap. It funds disability benefits and Paid Family Leave. What is SDI? →
Your salary of $95,000 puts you in the 9.3% marginal bracket. Your effective California income tax rate is 4.8%, only the income above each threshold is taxed at the higher rate.
Why a California-only calculator?
California has the highest top marginal income tax rate in the United States (13.3% on income above $1,000,000) and a unique payroll tax most other states do not have: SDI. It also treats HSA contributions differently: they reduce your federal taxable income but not your California taxable income. This calculator is built around California specifically.
What comes out of a California paycheck?
Five mandatory deductions, each calculated separately. The calculator above applies all of them.
Progressive 7-bracket system. Same in all 50 states. 2026 single standard deduction: $16,100.
Progressive 9 brackets plus 1% Behavioral Health Services surtax above $1M. CA standard deduction (single): $5,900 (2026).
Federal payroll tax on wages up to $184,500 (2026 cap). Stops for the year once you hit the cap.
1.45% on all wages, no cap. Additional 0.9% Medicare tax on wages above $200,000 (single) / $250,000 (MFJ).
California-only. Funds short-term disability and Paid Family Leave. No wage cap since January 2024.
2026 California income tax brackets (single filer)
Full bracket page, with MFJ and HOH →| Rate | Single filer taxable income |
|---|---|
| 1% | $0 – $11,456 |
| 2% | $11,456 – $27,157 |
| 4% | $27,157 – $42,861 |
| 6% | $42,861 – $59,498 |
| 8% | $59,498 – $75,197 |
| 9.3% | $75,197 – $384,109 |
| 10.3% | $384,109 – $460,927 |
| 11.3% | $460,927 – $768,213 |
| 12.3% | $768,213 – $1,000,000 |
| 13.3% | Over $1,000,000 |
Source: California Franchise Tax Board, 2026 California Tax Rate Schedules (ftb.ca.gov). Brackets apply to taxable income (after the $5,900 single CA standard deduction). A single filer reaches the 9.3% bracket at about $81,097 of gross salary, and even above that only the top slice is taxed at 9.3%, so the effective California rate is far lower.
Pre-tax deductions and California tax
Your 401(k) cuts California tax; your HSA does not
Traditional 401(k) deferrals are excluded from California wages just as they are from federal wages (EDD DE 231TP). On a $95,000 salary a $10,000 traditional 401(k) contribution saves about $2,200 in federal tax and $930 in California tax. Health insurance premiums (Section 125 cafeteria plans), FSA contributions, and commuter benefits also reduce both. HSA contributions are the exception: California does not conform to the federal HSA rules, so they cut federal tax only. Strategies to legally reduce California tax →
Explore California paycheck topics
California paycheck, common questions
This calculator provides estimates only. Federal income tax, California state income tax, FICA, and SDI calculations are based on 2026 published rates from the California Franchise Tax Board and the IRS. Actual paycheck amounts may vary based on employer-specific deductions, local tax obligations, pre-tax benefit contributions, and W-4 / DE-4 withholding elections. Always verify with your employer's payroll department or a licensed tax professional. Independent tool, not affiliated with the IRS, FTB, EDD, or any tax authority.