California paycheck & tax overview

California uses a graduated income tax, meaning your rate rises in steps as your income grows, topping out at 13.30% — one of the 1st-highest top marginal state income tax rates in the country. Because the brackets matter as much as the top rate, the table below shows every bracket that could apply to your paycheck, not just the headline number.

California state tax brackets (2026, single filers)

2026 standard deduction: $5,540 (single) / $11,080 (married filing jointly).

2026 minimum wage: $16.90/hour.

Top bracket includes the 1% Mental Health Services Act surcharge on taxable income over $1,000,000.

California take-home pay by salary (2026, single filer)

Assumes biweekly pay, no pre-tax or post-tax deductions. Use the calculator above for your exact numbers.

California hourly wage take-home pay (2026, single filer)

Assumes a standard 40-hour week, 52 weeks/year, paid weekly.

Single vs. married filing jointly in California

Compared at a $75,000 annual salary.

California paycheck FAQ

Does California have state income tax?

Yes. California levies a graduated state income tax on wage income for 2026, in addition to federal income tax and FICA.

How much is $60,000 a year after taxes in California?

A single filer earning $60,000/year in California, paid biweekly, takes home approximately $47,961 per year (about $1,845 per paycheck) — an effective tax rate of about 20.07% once federal tax, FICA, and California state tax are withheld.

What is the minimum wage in California in 2026?

The 2026 minimum wage in California is $16.90 per hour. Working full-time (40 hours/week, 52 weeks/year) at that rate comes to about $35,152/year before taxes.

$20 an hour is how much a year after taxes in California?

At $20/hour full-time (40 hours/week), gross pay is $41,600/year. After federal tax, FICA, and California state tax, a single filer takes home approximately $34,411/year — about $662 per week.

Do you pay less tax if you're married in California?

On a $75,000 salary, a single filer in California takes home about $57,830/year (22.89% effective tax rate), while a married couple filing jointly at the same combined income takes home about $62,669/year (16.44%). Married filing jointly usually results in a lower or equal effective tax rate, since joint brackets are wider than single brackets.

How much tax is taken out of an hourly paycheck in California?

The percentage is the same whether you're paid hourly or salaried — what matters is your total gross pay per period, filing status, and pay frequency. Enter your hourly rate × hours worked as your "gross pay per period" above (for example, $25/hour × 80 hours for a biweekly hourly paycheck) to get an exact California breakdown.

What FICA taxes come out of every paycheck in California?

Every paycheck nationwide — including in this state — has 6.2% withheld for Social Security up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500, plus 1.45% for Medicare with no cap. Employees earning over $200,000 from one employer also owe an Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9% on the excess.

Are there other payroll deductions unique to California?

Yes — California also withholds for: CA State Disability Insurance (SDI). These fund state disability or paid-family-leave insurance programs and are separate line items from state income tax.

Does California tax bonuses and overtime the same as regular pay?

For withholding purposes, most employers treat bonuses and overtime as regular wages added to that pay period's gross pay — which is exactly how this calculator treats any amount you enter. Your actual year-end tax liability on that income is the same either way; only the withholding timing can differ slightly if your employer uses the IRS "supplemental wage" flat-rate method for bonuses.