California Paycheck Calculator

Use Federal Pension Advisors' paycheck calculator to find out your take-home pay for both salaried and hourly jobs. It helps you see how much you’ll actually take home after federal, state, and local taxes are deducted.

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Note: The results provided by this calculator are estimates and should not be considered as financial advice. For precise calculations and personalized advice, please consult with a financial professional.

California Taxes: An Overview

California has the highest top income tax rate in the U.S. Overall, it’s a high-tax state, which impacts how much Californians take home. The state's income tax system is progressive, meaning that higher earners pay a larger percentage of their income in taxes. While California cities have their own sales taxes, they don’t have local income taxes.

California Paycheck Quick Facts:

California's income tax rates 7.25%
The median household income in California is $91,905, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau
No cities in California have local income taxes

Understanding Your California Paycheck

Your job likely pays you an hourly wage or an annual salary, but your actual take-home pay is usually less than what’s listed in your job contract. This is because your employer takes out various amounts from your wages before you receive your paycheck. These deductions include taxes and contributions to benefits like insurance and retirement plans.

Your employer matches these FICA taxes, covering the full amount required. If you’re self-employed, you have to pay both the employee and employer parts of FICA taxes, totaling 15.3%. However, you can deduct the portion of FICA taxes that would normally be covered by the employer.

Other things that can affect your paycheck include your marital status, how often you’re paid, and any deductions or contributions you make. For example, if you contribute to your company’s health insurance plan or a 401(k) or Health Savings Account (HSA), these amounts will be taken out before your paycheck arrives.

In recent years, the IRS updated its tax withholding guidelines and changed the Form W-4. The new version eliminates allowances and personal or dependency exemptions. Instead, it requires you to enter specific dollar amounts and follow a five-step process to provide personal information, claim dependents, and report any additional income.

California Median Household Income

Year	Median Household Income
2022	$91,905
2021	$81,575
2020	$77,652
2019	$78,105
2018	$70,489
2017	$70,038
2016	$66,637
2015	$63,636
2014	$60,487
2013	$60,794

California’s payroll system stands out due to its high taxes and progressive tax brackets. Unlike states with a flat tax rate, California has 10 income tax brackets, so people with lower incomes pay less in taxes compared to those with higher incomes.

Using a California Paycheck Calculator can also help you understand how often you get paid and how taxes will impact your take-home pay.

How You Can Affect Your California Paycheck

Some deductions from your paycheck are fixed, but you can adjust others. For instance, saving more for retirement will lower your take-home pay, so experts suggest increasing your retirement savings with any raise to avoid feeling discouraged by a smaller paycheck.If you choose a more expensive health insurance plan or add family members, expect higher deductions based on your company's options.

If your paychecks are small and you receive a large tax refund, consider updating your W-4 and California DE-4 forms. Adjusting your allowances can change how much is withheld from your paychecks. More allowances might mean a bigger paycheck but a smaller refund, while fewer allowances could lead to larger withholdings and a smaller tax bill. In California, employers can only deduct wages as required by law or with your authorization, like for health insurance. Union workers might see extra deductions as per their collective bargaining agreements, such as for pension contributions.

Most Paycheck Friendly Places in California

Rank	County, State	Semi-Monthly Paycheck	Purchasing Power	Unemployment Rate	Income Growth	Most Paycheck Friendly Index
1	San Mateo County, CA	$2,353	2.47	2.4%	6.79%	71.72
2	Santa Clara County, CA	$2,353	2.51	2.6%	6.75%	71.67
3	Alpine County, CA	$2,353	2.82	5.4%	9.01%	71.35
4	San Francisco County, CA	$2,353	2.28	2.5%	7.55%	70.57
5	Alameda County, CA	$2,353	2.41	3.3%	7.01%	69.72
6	Placer County, CA	$2,353	2.50	3.1%	5.33%	69.23
7	Marin County, CA	$2,353	2.36	2.7%	5.49%	68.96
8	Contra Costa County, CA	$2,353	2.38	3.5%	5.91%	67.98
9	Sonoma County, CA	$2,353	2.08	3.1%	6.51%	66.71
10	Napa County, CA	$2,353	2.17	3.2%	5.50%	66.29
California		$2,353	2.0	4.8%	5.4%

Why Use a California Paycheck Calculator?

Understanding your take-home pay is essential for effective budgeting and financial planning. A California paycheck calculator simplifies this process by accurately determining your net pay. It takes into account various deductions such as federal taxes, state taxes, Social Security, Medicare, and any pre-tax deductions like health insurance or retirement contributions. Using a calculator tailored to Maine’s tax regulations ensures that all relevant state-specific factors are included in your calculations.

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