California Paycheck Calculator
Easily estimate take home pay after income tax so you can have an idea of what to possibly expect when planning your budget
Last reviewed on January 29, 2023
Results
Income Before Tax
Take Home Pay
Total Tax
Average Tax Rate
$ = US Dollar
Income Before Tax
Federal Income Tax
State Income Tax
State Tax Credits
Social Security
Medicare
State Disability Insurance
State Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML)
State Unemployment Insurance
State Worker Comp
State Transit Tax
Mental Health Services Tax
Local Income Tax
Total Tax
Take Home Pay
Federal Deductions
State Deductions
Average Tax Rate
Table of Contents
Summary
Enter your employment income into the paycheck calculator above to estimate how taxes in California, USA may affect your finances. You'll then get your estimated take home pay, an estimated breakdown of your potential tax liability, and a quick summary down here so you can have a better idea of what to possibly expect when planning your budget.
This paycheck calculator also works as an income tax calculator for California, as it shows you how much income tax you have to pay based on your salary and personal details.
To learn more about California, its income tax, and tax brackets, so that you can get a deeper understanding of how your budget and finances may be affected, scroll down to the detail section below!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the income tax rate in California?
The state income tax rate in California is progressive and ranges from 1% to 12.3% while federal income tax rates range from 10% to 37% depending on your income. This paycheck calculator can help estimate your take home pay and your average income tax rate.
How many income tax brackets are there in California?
The state income tax system in California has nine different tax brackets. For more details, check out our detail section.
How Your California Paycheck Works
If you start a job in the Golden State, you might be wondering how your California paycheck works. How much money will you actually take home after taxes and other withholdings? What are the specific rules and forms that apply to California workers? Here is a brief overview of some of the main aspects of your California paycheck.
First of all, you need to know that your gross pay is different from your net pay. Your gross pay is the amount of money you earn before any withholdings are made. Your net pay is the amount of money you receive after all withholdings are subtracted from your gross pay. Items that are taken out of your gross pay can include federal income tax, state income tax, Social Security tax, Medicare tax, health insurance premiums, retirement contributions and more.
One of the most important withholdings is federal income tax. This is a tax that applies to all U.S. workers regardless of where they live or work. The amount of federal income tax you owe depends on your filing status (single, married filing jointly, etc.), your taxable income (your gross pay minus certain adjustments and deductions) and other factors.
Form W-4 is a form that you fill out when you start a new job or when your personal or financial situation changes. It tells your employer how much federal income tax to withhold from each paycheck.
Another important withholding is state income tax. California has one of the highest state income tax rates in the country, ranging from 1% to 12.3% depending on your income bracket. The amount of state income tax you owe depends on your filing status, your taxable income and other factors.
Form DE-4 is similar to Form W-4 but it is specific to California. It tells your employer how much state income tax to withhold from each paycheck based on your personal situation.
Note that some sources may list the highest tax bracket as 13.3%, but that extra one percent is the mental health services tax. They're just lumping it in with the brackets whereas we keep them separate. We'll talk more about it further down.
In addition to federal and state income taxes, there are two other federal taxes that apply to most workers: Social Security tax and Medicare tax. These are also known as FICA taxes because they fund the Federal Insurance Contributions Act programs that provide benefits for retirees, disabled people and their dependents. Social Security tax is 6.2% of your gross pay up to a certain limit ($147,000 in 2022) and Medicare tax is 1.45% of your gross pay with no limit. Some high-income earners may also have to pay an additional 0.9% Medicare surtax. Your employer matches these taxes so they contribute an equal amount to these programs on your behalf.
Besides taxes, there may be other items taken from your paycheck depending on your employer and personal choices. For example, if you enroll in a health insurance plan through your employer, part or all of the premium may be taken from each paycheck. If you participate in a retirement plan such as a 401(k) or an IRA, some or all of your contributions may be taken from each paycheck. These contributions may reduce your taxable income for federal and/or state purposes which can lower your overall tax liability.
California also has additional state specific social security related taxes.
The first is a disability insurance tax which applies to everyone at all income levels while having a maximum cap on the applicable income. This funds the California state disability insurance (SDI), which is a program that provides short-term wage replacement benefits to eligible workers who need time off work due to a non-work-related illness, injury, pregnancy or childbirth.
The second is a mental health services tax that is based on the similarly named mental health services act (MHSA) which was passed by voters in 2004. This act is funded by a flat 1% tax on the portion of income that exceeds one million dollars per person per year. The MHSA is designed to expand and transform the state's behavioral health system to better help individuals with or are at risk of serious mental health issues. The act addresses a broad series of preventative and service measures while including the necessary infrastructure, technology, and training elements that effectively support the public behavioral health system.
State Income Tax Brackets
For 2022 tax year
| Taxable Income (USD) | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| First 10,099 | 1% |
| From 10,099 to 23,942 | 2% |
| From 23,942 to 37,788 | 4% |
| From 37,788 to 52,455 | 6% |
| From 52,455 to 66,295 | 8% |
| From 66,295 to 338,639 | 9.3% |
| From 338,639 to 406,364 | 10.3% |
| From 406,364 to 677,275 | 11.3% |
| From 677,275 onwards | 12.3% |
For 2022 tax year
| Taxable Income (USD) | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| First 20,198 | 1% |
| From 20,198 to 47,884 | 2% |
| From 47,884 to 75,576 | 4% |
| From 75,576 to 104,910 | 6% |
| From 104,910 to 132,590 | 8% |
| From 132,590 to 677,278 | 9.3% |
| From 677,278 to 812,728 | 10.3% |
| From 812,728 to 1,354,550 | 11.3% |
| From 1,354,550 onwards | 12.3% |
For 2022 tax year
| Taxable Income (USD) | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| First 20,212 | 1% |
| From 20,212 to 47,887 | 2% |
| From 47,887 to 61,730 | 4% |
| From 61,730 to 76,397 | 6% |
| From 76,397 to 90,240 | 8% |
| From 90,240 to 460,547 | 9.3% |
| From 460,547 to 552,658 | 10.3% |
| From 552,658 to 921,095 | 11.3% |
| From 921,095 onwards | 12.3% |
A state standard deduction exists and varies depending on your filing status.
There is also a standard personal exemption available too which is structured as a tax credit. This, along with all other state tax credits, phase out and are reduced for high income earners until a certain limit at which one is then no longer eligible for them. This limit also varies based on filing status.
More From Investomatica:
For sales tax, please visit our California Sales Tax Rates and Calculator page.
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Disclaimer
- The content shown on this page is strictly for educational purposes only. It does not represent advice nor is it a substitute for a professional advisor.
- Estimated results are just estimates. They are not a guarantee of future results.
- While internal calculations are not rounded, all final resultant numbers are rounded normally with numbers ending in 0.5 and above being rounded up.
- Tax situations vary widely and calculations can get very complex. This paycheck calculator only provides a rough estimate according to the most common scenarios for standard employment income that comes from an employer. If you are self-employed, your taxes might differ.
- There may be additional deductions, credits, exemptions, allowances, reliefs, etc depending on many factors. Some factors are about your family such as the number of dependents, children, relatives, parents, etc. Other factors may include mortgage payments, property depreciation, charitible donations, additional voluntary retirement contributions, etc. Whether or not you are handicapped and/or disabled may also sometimes be an additional factor.
- Depending on region and jurisdiction, salary bonuses may be treated and taxed differently from standard salary.
- Calculators from other sites may show slightly different numbers due to different deductions/credits being included or they are based on data from a different year.
- Generally, we review changes once a year since tax codes usually change once a year. If you notice a major miscalculation or error with our paycheck calculator (most likely caused by a typo somewhere), feel free to direct message us on twitter and let us know. However, if you have specific questions about your own personal situation, please consult a licensed tax professional.
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