Pennsylvania Paycheck Calculator

How to estimate your Pennsylvania take-home pay in 2026

Pennsylvania applies a flat 3.07% state income tax on gross wages, and traditional 401(k) deferrals do not reduce Pennsylvania taxable income. This calculator estimates your 2026 net pay after federal withholding, FICA payroll taxes, and Pennsylvania state tax so you can plan monthly expenses and compare job offers with confidence.

Enter your annual salary or build it from hourly wages using our gross pay calculator. If you receive 26 paychecks per year, the biweekly pay calculator shows how gross and net amounts spread across the calendar. For federal tax details and dependent credits, see the income tax calculator and salary calculator.

What gets deducted from a Pennsylvania paycheck

A typical Pennsylvania W-2 paycheck includes three layers of mandatory withholding plus any voluntary deductions you elect through your employer:

• Federal income tax: Calculated from 2026 IRS brackets, your W-4 filing status, and qualifying child tax credits.
• FICA taxes: Social Security at 6.2% (capped at the 2026 wage base of $184,500) and Medicare at 1.45%, with an additional 0.9% on wages above $200,000 for single filers. Use our FICA tax calculator to isolate these amounts.
• Pennsylvania state income tax: A flat 3.07% applied to gross wages before pre-tax 401(k) deferrals.

Pennsylvania also allows municipalities to levy local earned income taxes, typically up to 1% on wages. This calculator models state withholding only. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh may apply additional local taxes not included here.

How Pennsylvania flat tax is calculated

Pennsylvania is one of the few states that taxes gross wages for income tax purposes. Pre-tax 401(k) contributions reduce federal taxable income but do not lower Pennsylvania withholding:

Because the rate is flat, your Pennsylvania marginal rate stays at 3.07% regardless of income level. That predictability makes Pennsylvania attractive compared with progressive states like New Jersey or Maryland, where top marginal rates exceed 5%.

Pennsylvania taxable wages in this calculator

Pennsylvania taxable wages equal gross annual salary before any pre-tax deductions. This differs from states like Colorado or Indiana that base state tax on federally taxable income after the standard deduction and 401(k) deferrals.

Worked example: $65,000 salary, single, biweekly, 5% 401(k)

Consider a single Pennsylvania employee earning $65,000 per year, paid biweekly, contributing 5% to a traditional 401(k), with no dependents or health premium deductions:

1. Pre-tax 401(k): $65,000 x 5% = $3,250 per year
2. Gross after pre-tax: $65,000 - $3,250 = $61,750
3. Federal taxable income: $61,750 - $16,100 (federal standard deduction) = $45,650
4. Pennsylvania state tax: $65,000 x 3.07% = $1,995.50 per year (401(k) does not reduce PA tax)
5. FICA: Social Security and Medicare on the full $65,000 gross (401(k) does not reduce FICA wages)
6. Estimated net per paycheck: About $1,905.85 biweekly after all withholdings

If you expect a performance bonus on top of base salary, estimate the gross amount with our bonus calculator and add it to your annual salary before running this tool.

Pennsylvania vs. neighboring state tax burdens

Pennsylvania sits among states with varied tax policies in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest. Compare your salary against Ohio (progressive rates), Maryland (progressive rates), and New York (progressive rates). Running the same inputs through each state calculator reveals how relocation affects your monthly budget.

Frequently asked questions