California Paycheck Calculator

How to estimate your California take-home pay in 2026

California paychecks shrink faster than in many other states because of progressive state income tax, federal withholding, FICA payroll taxes, and the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program. This calculator estimates net pay per paycheck using 2026 federal brackets, California tax tables, and current SDI rates so you can budget before your first deposit lands.

Start with your annual salary or convert hourly wages with our gross pay calculator. If you are paid every two weeks, the biweekly pay calculator helps you map gross earnings across 26 pay periods. For a broader annual view that includes federal brackets and credits, pair this tool with the income tax calculator and the salary calculator.

What gets deducted from a California paycheck

Most W-2 employees in California see four major withholding categories on each pay stub:

• Federal income tax: Withheld using 2026 IRS brackets and your W-4 filing status, dependents, and pre-tax deductions.
• FICA taxes: Social Security at 6.2% (up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500) and Medicare at 1.45%, plus an additional 0.9% Medicare surtax on high earners. See our dedicated FICA tax calculator for a line-by-line breakdown.
• California state income tax: Applied on a progressive schedule with rates from 1% on the lowest bracket up to 12.3% on taxable income above roughly $432,791 for single filers in 2026.
• CA State Disability Insurance (SDI): A mandatory employee payroll tax that funds short-term disability and Paid Family Leave benefits.

Pre-tax 401(k) contributions, HSA deposits, and health insurance premiums reduce taxable wages before federal and California income tax is calculated. SDI is assessed on gross wages up to the annual wage cap, not on post-deduction income.

California SDI explained

SDI is unique among payroll deductions because it is a state-run insurance program, not an income tax. For the 2026 tax year, California withholds 1.1% of covered wages up to a wage base of $160,200. Once your year-to-date earnings exceed that cap, SDI withholding stops for the remainder of the calendar year.

SDI contributions fund benefits if you need time off for a non-work-related injury, illness, pregnancy, or to bond with a new child. Because SDI is calculated on gross wages rather than taxable income, it appears as a separate line item even when you maximize pre-tax retirement contributions.

California standard deduction and tax brackets

California applies its own standard deduction before computing state tax. For 2026, single filers receive a $5,540 deduction, while married filing jointly and head of household filers receive $11,080. Taxable income is then run through nine progressive brackets ranging from 1% to 12.3%.

Worked example: $75,000 salary, single, biweekly

Consider a single California employee earning $75,000 per year, paid biweekly (26 paychecks), with no dependents, no 401(k) deferrals, and no health premium deductions:

1. Gross per paycheck: $75,000 / 26 = $2,884.62
2. Federal income tax: Withheld based on 2026 brackets after the $16,100 federal standard deduction.
3. FICA: Social Security and Medicare on full gross wages.
4. California income tax: Progressive tax on $69,460 of CA taxable income ($75,000 minus the $5,540 state standard deduction).
5. SDI: $75,000 x 1.1% = $825.00 per year, or about $31.73 per biweekly paycheck.

After all withholdings, estimated net pay lands near $2,217.50 per biweekly paycheck. If you receive a signing bonus or annual incentive, model the gross impact first with our bonus calculator, then re-run this calculator with your updated annual salary.

Comparing California to other states

California has one of the highest combined tax burdens in the country. Neighboring Arizona paycheck estimates use a flat 2.5% state rate, while Colorado paycheck estimates apply a flat 4.4% rate with no SDI equivalent. For neighboring Oregon progressive rates up to 9.9%, see the Oregon paycheck calculator. If you are evaluating a job offer or relocation, run the same salary through multiple state calculators to see how take-home pay shifts.

Frequently asked questions