How much is your
take-home pay in California?
Enter your hourly rate or annual salary and get an instant estimate of your California take-home pay. Federal tax, CA state tax, Social Security, Medicare and SDI — all broken down clearly.
California Paycheck Calculator · Take-Home Pay 2026
Most people have the 2020-or-later W-4, which has no allowances: leave this unchecked. Allowances then only affect California tax (form DE 4).
This assumes you earn the same all year. Federal and state income tax withholding isn't your final tax: when you file, you could get a refund or owe some.
The results provided by this calculator are estimates for informational purposes only. They do not constitute tax, legal, or financial advice. Your actual paycheck may differ based on your W-4 elections, employer deductions, pre-tax benefits, overtime, bonuses, or other individual factors. For your exact situation, consult a certified tax professional or use the official IRS withholding estimator. Use of this tool does not create any professional relationship between the user and calculadoranomina.us.
This calculator uses $16.90/hour, California's general 2026 minimum wage, as its floor (many cities and some industries require more, and a few narrow exceptions exist). The minimum applies to almost every worker in California, whatever their immigration status. If you're being paid less, it may be a wage violation: you can file a free wage claim with the California Labor Commissioner. Being paid in cash doesn't change this: you're generally still owed at least the minimum wage that applies to you, and most employers must give you a pay stub with your hours and deductions (people hired directly by a household, like nannies or housekeepers, and government jobs follow other rules). Learn more — California DIR. This is general information, not legal advice.
What comes out of your paycheck — explained simply
Federal Income Tax
Federal income tax uses progressive brackets — most hourly workers in California fall in the 10% or 12% bracket.
10% – 37% · IRS 2026California State Tax
California's top state income tax rate is the highest in the country, but for low and middle wages the effective rate is low. It applies after subtracting the $5,706 standard deduction for single filers. If you're single and earn less than about $18,900 a year, no California tax is withheld at all (low-income exemption).
1.1% – 14.63% · EDD 2026 withholdingSocial Security
Part of FICA. Applied to the first $184,500 of annual wages. Your employer also pays an additional 6.2% on their end.
6.2% · SSA 2026 · Cap $184,500Medicare
The other part of FICA. No income cap — applies to all wages. If you earn more than $200,000 in a year from one employer, an extra 0.9% is withheld on the amount above that. Funds health insurance mainly for people 65 and older.
1.45% · No cap · +0.9% over $200kCA SDI
California State Disability Insurance. If you can't work because of an illness or injury that isn't work-related, or pregnancy, it can pay about 70-90% of your past wages (depending on income), up to $1,765 a week in 2026, if you qualify. No income cap since 2024; the rate is 1.3% in 2026.
1.3% · EDD CA 2026 · No capW-4 and DE 4
The federal W-4 tells your employer how much federal tax to withhold; since 2020 it no longer uses allowances. California uses its own form, the DE 4, where more allowances = less state withholding. You can update both when your situation changes (marriage, kids, a new job).
You can update your W-4 and DE 4 anytimeHave you ever asked yourself these questions?
Why do I take home less than what my contract says?
Because five required withholdings usually come out before you're paid: federal income tax, California state tax, Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%), and California SDI (1.3%). A single worker earning $20/hr at 40 hours takes home about 83% of gross — the rest is withholding.
How much do I get paid if I work more than 8 hours in a day?
In California, overtime is daily, not just weekly: if you're a non-exempt worker (like most hourly workers) without an approved alternative workweek schedule, you're generally paid 1.5x after 8 hours in a single day, and 2x (double time) after 12 hours. If you work all 7 days of the same workweek, the first 8 hours on the 7th day are paid at 1.5x, and any hours after 8 that day at 2x. See the overtime guide.
How much do I take home earning $20/hr working 40 hours?
Working 40 hours at $20/hr (single, current W-4, biweekly pay), gross is $1,600 per paycheck and take-home is about $1,321 after all withholding. Adjust your exact case in the calculator above.
What is SDI and why is it taken out of my check?
SDI (State Disability Insurance) is California's state disability program. 1.3% of your wages is withheld, with no income cap since 2024. If you can't work because of an illness or injury that isn't work-related, or pregnancy, it can pay about 70-90% of your past wages (depending on income), up to $1,765 a week in 2026, while you recover, if you qualify.
The three most common uses
The calculator works for different situations — these are the most common ones among hourly workers in California.
Verify your paycheck is calculated correctly
Enter your rate and hours, choose your pay frequency, and compare the result against your actual pay stub. If the numbers don't match, it may be deductions the calculator doesn't include (like 401(k) or health insurance), your W-4 settings, or an error; if so, you can ask your payroll department.
Plan before accepting a job offer
If you're offered $22/hr, how much actually hits your account every two weeks? The calculator gives you an estimate before you sign — including federal, state, Social Security, Medicare, and SDI.
Understand how overtime changes your paycheck
Adjust weekly hours to 45, 48, or 50 and see how your net goes up — but also how much more tax is withheld. Useful for seeing how much of that extra pay you actually take home.
Why use this calculator instead of Googling it?
When you search "how much is taken out of my paycheck in California", results mix figures from different years without saying so. Here, every number is for 2026.
Based on current law
Federal withholding follows IRS Publication 15-T (2026). California withholding follows the EDD's 2026 tables (DE 44). SDI uses the EDD's 2026 rate of 1.3%.
No sign-up; your numbers stay in your browser
All calculations happen in your browser. We don't store any number you enter. No account, no email, nothing to install.
We're a guide, not an authority
This tool is a reference guide — not tax advice. Results are estimates. For important decisions, consult a certified tax professional or accountant.
Recent guides & articles
Plain-language explanations of paychecks, taxes, and labor laws in California — based on what the law actually says, in English and Spanish.