California Take-Home Pay Calculator
Your real California paycheck — federal tax, Social Security, Medicare, California state income tax, and California SDI, all computed with current figures.
What comes out of a California paycheck
California layers two things on top of the federal taxes every U.S. worker pays: a progressive state income tax administered by the Franchise Tax Board, and State Disability Insurance (SDI), a mandatory payroll deduction that funds short-term disability and Paid Family Leave benefits. Unlike most payroll taxes, SDI has no wage ceiling — every dollar of California wages is subject to it.
Federal taxable (after $4,000 pre-tax and the $15,000 federal standard deduction): $61,000 → federal tax ≈ $8,334. Social Security $4,960 · Medicare $1,160.
California taxable (after $4,000 pre-tax and the $5,706 CA standard deduction): $70,294 → CA tax on $70,294 (single brackets) ≈ $3,008 · SDI: $80,000 × 1.2% ≈ $960
Annual take-home ≈ $57,578 → about $2,215 per biweekly paycheck (72.0% of gross).
California's income tax, bracket by bracket (2025, single)
| Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $11,079 | 1% |
| $11,079 – $26,264 | 2% |
| $26,264 – $41,452 | 4% |
| $41,452 – $57,542 | 6% |
| $57,542 – $72,724 | 8% |
| $72,724 – $371,479 | 9.3% |
| $371,479 – $445,771 | 10.3% |
| $445,771 – $742,953 | 11.3% |
| $742,953 – $1,000,000 | 12.3% |
| Over $1,000,000 | 13.3%* |
*Includes California's additional 1% Mental Health Services Tax on taxable income above $1,000,000. Married-filing-jointly thresholds are roughly double through most brackets. Standard deduction: $5,706 single, $11,412 married filing jointly (2025). Married-filing-jointly brackets are used automatically when selected above.
The SDI deduction almost every CA employee pays
California is one of a small number of states that mandates employee-paid disability insurance. At 1.2% of wages with no cap, SDI adds a meaningful amount for higher earners — on a $150,000 salary, that's $1,800/year that doesn't show up in most generic paycheck calculators because most states don't have it. SDI funds California's short-term State Disability Insurance benefit and Paid Family Leave program, both of which pay out a portion of wages if you're unable to work due to illness, injury, pregnancy, or caring for a family member — so unlike some payroll deductions, most California workers will draw on this program at some point.
Common mistakes when estimating a California paycheck
- Forgetting SDI entirely. Generic, non-state-specific take-home pay calculators often skip California's SDI deduction because most states don't have an equivalent — leaving it out understates California withholding by over 1% of every paycheck.
- Assuming a flat state rate. California's progressive brackets mean your effective state tax rate is well below your top marginal bracket — a $150,000 earner in the "9.3% bracket" pays a blended rate closer to 6-7% overall.
- Missing the mental health tax at high incomes. Above $1,000,000 in taxable income, an additional 1% surcharge applies on top of the top 12.3% bracket, pushing the effective top rate to 13.3%.
- Overlooking that California has no local income tax. Unlike New York or Pennsylvania, no California city or county adds its own income tax on top of the state rate — state tax and SDI are the full state-level picture.
Frequently asked questions
What is California's state income tax rate?
A progressive schedule from 1% to 13.3% (single filers), with the top rate including a 1% Mental Health Services surcharge above $1,000,000 in taxable income. Most middle incomes fall in the 6%-9.3% range.
What is California SDI and why is it deducted from my paycheck?
State Disability Insurance, 1.2% of wages in 2025 with no wage cap, funding short-term disability and Paid Family Leave benefits. It's mandatory for nearly all California employees.
Does California have local or city income tax?
No — California does not allow cities or counties to levy their own income tax on wages, so state tax plus SDI is the complete state-level picture.
How much of a California paycheck goes to taxes?
Roughly 27%-29% combined (federal, FICA, state, SDI) for a single filer earning $80,000, though the exact share depends on deductions and filing status.
Are California tax brackets the same for everyone?
No — single and married-filing-jointly filers use different bracket thresholds, with married thresholds roughly double the single ones through most of the schedule.
Related calculators
Note: Simplified estimate using 2025 federal and California figures, standard deduction, and current SDI rate; excludes credits, local assessments, and benefit specifics. Not tax advice — consult the FTB or a tax professional for your situation. Figures: 2025 tax year (California FTB brackets, EDD SDI rate). Last reviewed: September 2026.