How Washington taxes your paycheck
Washington does not tax wages. Its capital gains tax applies only to large investment gains, not paychecks.
Other Washington payroll deductions
Besides income tax, Washington 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| WA PFML | Paid Family and Medical Leave (employee share)2026 premium is 1.13% of wages; employees pay 71.43% of it, up to the Social Security wage base. | 0.807% | $184,500 |
| WA Cares | WA Cares Fund (long-term care)0.58% of all wages, paid entirely by the employee, unless the employee holds an approved exemption. | 0.58% | None |
Not sure what these are? Our guide to SDI and paid leave deductions explains each one.
Example: $60,000 salary in Washington
A single filer paid every two weeks (26 paychecks) on a $60,000 salary, with no 401(k) or health premiums, takes home about $1,906.06 per paycheck, or $49,558 a year.
| Gross pay | $2,307.69 |
| Federal income tax | -$193.08 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$143.08 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$33.46 |
| WA PFML | -$18.63 |
| WA Cares | -$13.38 |
| Net pay | $1,906.06 |
Washington pay stub and payday rules
Washington employers must provide an itemized statement each payday. Electronic statements are fine if employees can access and print them on payday.
- Number of hours worked
- Rate or rates of pay
- Gross pay
- Pay period
- Each deduction itemized
Source: Wash. Admin. Code § 296-126-040; RCW 49.46.070. Every state compared in our pay stub requirements by state guide.
Pay frequency: At least once a month on regular paydays.
Minimum wage: $17.13 per hour. Indexed each January 1. Several cities set higher rates (for example Seattle, SeaTac, Tukwila).
Washington Paycheck FAQs
No. Washington does not tax wages. Its capital gains tax applies only to large investment gains, not paychecks. Your paycheck still has federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare withheld.
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 $1,906.06 take-home per paycheck. About 17.4% of gross goes to taxes: $193.08 federal income tax, $143.08 Social Security, $33.46 Medicare, plus $18.63 WA PFML and $13.38 WA Cares.
$17.13 per hour, effective January 1, 2026. Indexed each January 1. Several cities set higher rates (for example Seattle, SeaTac, Tukwila).
Washington employers must provide an itemized statement each payday. Electronic statements are fine if employees can access and print them on payday. (Wash. Admin. Code § 296-126-040; RCW 49.46.070)
At least once a month on regular paydays.
Paid Family and Medical Leave (employee share) (WA PFML): 0.807% of wages up to $184,500 a year. WA Cares Fund (long-term care) (WA Cares): 0.58% of wages, no wage cap.