Enter your California salary and see the full split — federal tax, California state tax, Social Security and Medicare — down to the dollar.
California runs one of the most progressive state income tax systems in the country: nine brackets stretching from 1% to 13.3%, the highest top marginal rate of any U.S. state. That means take-home pay in California can look meaningfully different from a no-tax state like Texas or Florida even at the same gross salary.
On top of state and federal income tax, every paycheck also carries federal FICA — Social Security up to the annual wage base, plus Medicare. This calculator combines all three so you can see exactly what's actually deposited, not just what's promised in an offer letter.
Calculate a salary above to compare it across all provinces and territories.
No — this calculator reflects the standard nine-bracket California schedule shown above. If your income exceeds $1,000,000, expect an additional 1% state surcharge (Mental Health Services Tax) on top of the numbers shown here.
No. California's SDI payroll deduction is separate from state income tax and isn't modeled in this calculator. It's withheld as a percentage of wages, so factor it in separately when estimating your true take-home pay.
California taxes are marginal, meaning each bracket only applies to the income within that range. Even if part of your salary reaches the 13.3% bracket, your blended effective rate across your whole paycheck is always lower.
Not for the state portion — state-specific standard deductions aren't modeled, a known simplification noted on our About page. The federal calculation does include the federal standard deduction.
Bonuses and RSU vesting are taxed as ordinary income, though employers often withhold at a flat supplemental rate (22% federal, 10.23% California) rather than your marginal rate. Your actual tax owed is reconciled when you file, which can mean a refund or a bill depending on your total income.
Employer withholding tables estimate tax per pay period and don't always match your exact annual liability, especially with mid-year raises, bonuses, or multiple jobs. This calculator shows your true annual picture; individual paychecks can vary until everything reconciles at tax time.
No — California income tax is based on income level and residency, not city. San Francisco has its own local business taxes, but none of them are withheld from an individual employee's paycheck.