California Salary After Tax Calculator
Use this calculator to estimate your California take-home pay (net pay) after federal income tax, FICA (Social Security + Medicare), California state income tax, and CA SDI. Your paycheck can vary based on filing status, pay frequency, and pre-tax deductions.
How Take-Home Pay Is Calculated in California
Your net pay is estimated by starting with gross annual income (salary or hourly wages) and subtracting taxes and required payroll deductions. This calculator estimates:
- Federal income tax (IRS brackets)
- California state income tax (progressive rates)
- FICA payroll taxes (Social Security + Medicare)
- California State Disability Insurance (CA SDI)
- Standard deduction assumptions
- Filing status (Single, Married Filing Jointly, etc.)
Pay Frequency: Annual vs Monthly vs Biweekly vs Weekly
Pay frequency changes your paycheck size, but it generally does not change your total taxes owed for the year. Use the dropdown above to view take-home pay as "Annual" and see your tax breakdown per pay period.
California Take-Home Pay Example
As a simple reference point, a $100,000 annual salary in California often results in roughly $68,000–$72,000 in take-home pay, depending on filing status, benefits, and deductions. Your results may vary based on your specific situation.
Salary vs Hourly Pay in California
Hourly and salaried employees can see different paycheck amounts even with similar annual earnings:
- Hourly pay is commonly estimated using 2,080 hours per year
- Overtime can increase taxable income and withholding
- Pay frequency affects paycheck size, not total taxes owed
How Filing Status Affects California Taxes
Filing status affects your tax brackets and withholding assumptions:
- Single filers generally reach higher marginal rates sooner
- Married filing jointly may benefit from wider tax brackets
- Head of household can reduce taxable income
- Married filing separately often results in higher total taxes
- Qualifying surviving spouse uses married-joint brackets
Why California Paychecks Can Be Lower Than Expected
Many workers are surprised by the gap between gross pay and net pay. Common reasons include:
- Progressive California income tax brackets
- Mandatory FICA payroll deductions
- CA SDI payroll deductions
- Withholding assumptions vs your actual tax situation
- Benefits and retirement contributions
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this calculator include CA SDI?Yes. California State Disability Insurance (CA SDI) is included as a payroll deduction estimate.
Is this California take-home pay estimate exact?It’s an estimate based on standard assumptions. Your exact paycheck can vary based on benefits, 401(k) contributions, HSA, bonuses, and employer withholding settings.
Why do my paychecks look different than this?Your employer may withhold differently based on your W-4 and DE-4 settings, plus pre-tax deductions and other payroll items that change taxable wages.
Can I use this for hourly wages?Yes. Switch to Hourly Wage and enter your hours per week and weeks per year to estimate annual income and net pay.
Updated for the 2026 tax year. Estimates are for informational purposes only.
Estimates are based on current federal and California tax brackets and standard deductions. Results do not include itemized deductions, tax credits, pre-tax benefits, retirement contributions, or employer-sponsored deductions. This calculator is for informational purposes only and should not be considered tax advice.