How California taxes your paycheck
Graduated, 1% to 12.3%, plus a 1% Mental Health Services Tax on income over $1 million (13.3% top rate)
| Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 to $11,079 | 1% |
| $11,079 to $26,264 | 2% |
| $26,264 to $41,452 | 4% |
| $41,452 to $57,542 | 6% |
| $57,542 to $72,724 | 8% |
| $72,724 to $371,479 | 9.3% |
| $371,479 to $445,771 | 10.3% |
| $445,771 to $742,953 | 11.3% |
| $742,953 to $1,000,000 | 12.3% |
| Over $1,000,000 | 13.3% |
Thresholds, standard deduction ($5,706 single, $11,412 married or head of household), and exemption credits are from EDD's 2026 withholding schedules. Those schedules withhold at 1.1 times the tax rates shown here (1.1% to 14.63%), so actual California withholding runs about 10% higher than this estimate of the tax itself.
Other California payroll deductions
Besides income tax, California requires these employee-paid deductions. They show up on your pay stub under the abbreviation in the first column.
| On your stub | Program | 2026 employee rate | Wage cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA SDI | State Disability Insurance (includes Paid Family Leave)No wage cap since January 1, 2024. | 1.3% | None |
Not sure what these are? Our guide to SDI and paid leave deductions explains each one.
Example: $60,000 salary in California
A single filer paid every two weeks (26 paychecks) on a $60,000 salary, with no 401(k) or health premiums, takes home about $1,838.71 per paycheck, or $47,806 a year.
| Gross pay | $2,307.69 |
| Federal income tax | -$193.08 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$143.08 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$33.46 |
| California income tax | -$69.36 |
| CA SDI | -$30.00 |
| Net pay | $1,838.71 |
California pay stub and payday rules
California requires an itemized wage statement with every paycheck, on paper or electronically if employees can access and print it. Missing items carry penalties of $50 to $100 per employee per pay period, up to $4,000.
- Gross wages earned
- Total hours worked (nonexempt employees)
- Piece-rate units and rates, if any
- All deductions
- Net wages earned
- Pay period start and end dates
- Employee name and last 4 digits of SSN or an employee ID
- Employer's legal name and address
- Every hourly rate in effect and hours worked at each
- Paid sick leave available
Source: Cal. Labor Code § 226; § 246(i). Every state compared in our pay stub requirements by state guide.
Pay frequency: At least twice a month on designated paydays for most employees; exempt salaried employees may be paid monthly (Labor Code § 204).
Minimum wage: $16.90 per hour. Adjusted each January. Many cities set higher local rates, and fast food ($20) and health care workers have separate minimums.
California Paycheck FAQs
Yes. Graduated, 1% to 12.3%, plus a 1% Mental Health Services Tax on income over $1 million (13.3% top rate)
For a single filer paid every two weeks on a $60,000 salary with no pre-tax deductions, our 2026 estimate is $2,307.69 gross and $1,838.71 take-home per paycheck. About 20.3% of gross goes to taxes: $193.08 federal income tax, $143.08 Social Security, $33.46 Medicare, $69.36 California income tax, plus $30.00 CA SDI.
$16.90 per hour, effective January 1, 2026. Adjusted each January. Many cities set higher local rates, and fast food ($20) and health care workers have separate minimums.
California requires an itemized wage statement with every paycheck, on paper or electronically if employees can access and print it. Missing items carry penalties of $50 to $100 per employee per pay period, up to $4,000. (Cal. Labor Code § 226; § 246(i))
At least twice a month on designated paydays for most employees; exempt salaried employees may be paid monthly (Labor Code § 204).
State Disability Insurance (includes Paid Family Leave) (CA SDI): 1.3% of wages, no wage cap.