California Payroll Taxes Explained: What’s Taken From Your Check
Published 15 November 2026 · Tax & Salary
Try it nowCalifornia Paycheck Calculator →A California paycheck has more deductions than most states. Get your take-home figure from the California paycheck calculator.
1. Federal income tax
Withheld using the 2026 federal brackets (10% to 37%) and your W-4.
2. California income tax
Progressive rates from 1% to 12.3%, plus a 1% Mental Health Services Tax on income over $1 million. Most middle earners fall in the 8% or 9.3% bracket on their top dollars.
3. State Disability Insurance (SDI)
A percentage of all wages, with no cap since 2024. It funds disability and Paid Family Leave benefits.
4. Social Security and Medicare
6.2% (up to the wage base) and 1.45%, the same as every state.
Example: $85,000 salary, single
Roughly: federal ≈ $9,870, CA tax ≈ $3,660, SDI ≈ $1,105, FICA ≈ $6,500 → take-home about $63,860 a year, or ≈ $2,456 bi-weekly.
Lowering your California tax
- 401(k) contributions reduce federal and California taxable income.
- Note: California does not allow HSA deductions, unlike federal tax.
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