Estimate your net take-home pay in California after federal and state taxes, including Social Security, Medicare, and California State Disability Insurance (SDI). This calculator provides an estimate based on 2024 tax rates and common withholding methods.
Single
Married Filing Jointly
Head of Household
Married Filing Separately
Deductions
Understanding Your California Paycheck
Navigating your paycheck can be complex, especially in California, which has its own set of state taxes in addition to federal deductions. This guide breaks down the components of your California paycheck.
Gross Pay vs. Net Pay
Your Gross Pay is the total amount of money you earn before any deductions are taken out. This is typically your hourly wage multiplied by hours worked, or your salary divided by your pay periods. Net Pay, often referred to as your "take-home pay," is the amount you receive after all taxes and deductions have been subtracted from your gross pay.
Federal Deductions
Federal Income Tax (FIT): This is a progressive tax levied by the U.S. government on your earnings. The amount withheld depends on your gross pay, filing status (Single, Married Filing Jointly, Head of Household), and the number of dependents claimed on your W-4 form.
Social Security Tax (OASDI): This funds retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. The rate is 6.2% of your gross wages, up to an annual wage base limit ($168,600 for 2024). Your employer also pays an equal amount.
Medicare Tax (HI): This funds hospital insurance for the elderly and disabled. The rate is 1.45% of all your gross wages, with no wage base limit. An additional 0.9% Medicare tax applies to wages over certain thresholds ($200,000 for single filers, $250,000 for married filing jointly).
California State Deductions
California State Income Tax (CA PIT): Similar to federal income tax, California has a progressive state income tax. The amount withheld depends on your gross pay, filing status (Single, Married Filing Jointly, Head of Household, Married Filing Separately), and the number of allowances claimed on your DE 4 form. California's tax brackets are among the highest in the nation.
California State Disability Insurance (CA SDI): This program provides temporary benefits to eligible workers who are unable to work due to a non-work-related illness or injury, or for family leave. The rate is 1.1% of your gross wages, up to an annual wage base limit ($164,609 for 2024). Unlike many other states, California's SDI is entirely employee-funded.
Other Deductions
Pre-tax Deductions: These are deductions taken from your gross pay before taxes are calculated, effectively reducing your taxable income. Common examples include contributions to a 401(k) or 403(b) retirement plan, health insurance premiums, and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) contributions.
Post-tax Deductions: These are deductions taken from your pay after all applicable taxes have been calculated. Examples include Roth 401(k) contributions, union dues, charitable contributions, or garnishments.
How the Calculator Works
Our California Paycheck Calculator uses the latest 2024 federal and state tax rates, standard deductions, and exemption credits to provide an estimated breakdown of your take-home pay. It annualizes your gross pay, applies pre-tax deductions, calculates federal and state income taxes, Social Security, Medicare, and California SDI, and then subtracts any post-tax deductions to arrive at your net pay.
Important Considerations
This calculator provides an estimate. Your actual paycheck may vary due to several factors, including:
Specific employer benefits and deductions not included here.
Local taxes (though less common in California, some cities may have specific taxes).
Year-to-date earnings affecting wage base limits for Social Security and SDI.
Specific tax credits or adjustments not accounted for in a simplified calculator.
Changes in tax laws or your W-4/DE 4 elections throughout the year.
For precise figures, always refer to your official pay stubs or consult with a tax professional.
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function calculatePaycheck() {
// Constants for 2024 (simplified for calculator purposes)
// Federal
var OASDI_RATE = 0.062;
var OASDI_LIMIT = 168600;
var MEDICARE_RATE = 0.0145;
var FED_STD_DEDUCTION_SINGLE = 14600;
var FED_STD_DEDUCTION_MFJ = 29200;
var FED_STD_DEDUCTION_HOH = 21900;
var FED_DEPENDENT_CREDIT_EQUIVALENT = 2000; // Simplified for withholding
// Federal Tax Brackets (Annual Taxable Income after deductions/credits)
var FED_BRACKETS_SINGLE = [
{ limit: 11600, rate: 0.10 },
{ limit: 47150, rate: 0.12 },
{ limit: 100525, rate: 0.22 },
{ limit: 191950, rate: 0.24 },
{ limit: 243725, rate: 0.32 },
{ limit: 609350, rate: 0.35 },
{ limit: Infinity, rate: 0.37 }
];
var FED_BRACKETS_MFJ = [
{ limit: 23200, rate: 0.10 },
{ limit: 94300, rate: 0.12 },
{ limit: 201050, rate: 0.22 },
{ limit: 383900, rate: 0.24 },
{ limit: 487450, rate: 0.32 },
{ limit: 731200, rate: 0.35 },
{ limit: Infinity, rate: 0.37 }
];
var FED_BRACKETS_HOH = [
{ limit: 16550, rate: 0.10 },
{ limit: 63100, rate: 0.12 },
{ limit: 100500, rate: 0.22 },
{ limit: 191950, rate: 0.24 },
{ limit: 243700, rate: 0.32 },
{ limit: 609350, rate: 0.35 },
{ limit: Infinity, rate: 0.37 }
];
// California
var CA_SDI_RATE = 0.011;
var CA_SDI_LIMIT = 164609;
var CA_STD_DEDUCTION_SINGLE_MFS = 5302;
var CA_STD_DEDUCTION_MFJ_HOH = 10604;
var CA_EXEMPTION_CREDIT_SINGLE_MFS = 146;
var CA_EXEMPTION_CREDIT_MFJ_HOH = 292;
var CA_EXEMPTION_CREDIT_DEPENDENT = 453;
// California Tax Brackets (Annual Taxable Income after deductions)
var CA_BRACKETS_SINGLE_MFS_HOH = [
{ limit: 10412, rate: 0.01 },
{ limit: 24684, rate: 0.02 },
{ limit: 38959, rate: 0.04 },
{ limit: 54081, rate: 0.06 },
{ limit: 68350, rate: 0.08 },
{ limit: 348667, rate: 0.093 },
{ limit: 418397, rate: 0.103 },
{ limit: 697328, rate: 0.113 },
{ limit: Infinity, rate: 0.123 }
];
var CA_BRACKETS_MFJ = [
{ limit: 20824, rate: 0.01 },
{ limit: 49368, rate: 0.02 },
{ limit: 77918, rate: 0.04 },
{ limit: 108162, rate: 0.06 },
{ limit: 136700, rate: 0.08 },
{ limit: 697334, rate: 0.093 },
{ limit: 836794, rate: 0.103 },
{ limit: 1394656, rate: 0.113 },
{ limit: Infinity, rate: 0.123 }
];
// Get input values
var grossPay = parseFloat(document.getElementById("grossPay").value);
var payFrequency = parseFloat(document.getElementById("payFrequency").value);
var federalFilingStatus = document.getElementById("federalFilingStatus").value;
var federalDependents = parseInt(document.getElementById("federalDependents").value);
var additionalFederalWithholding = parseFloat(document.getElementById("additionalFederalWithholding").value);
var stateFilingStatus = document.getElementById("stateFilingStatus").value;
var stateAllowances = parseInt(document.getElementById("stateAllowances").value);
var additionalStateWithholding = parseFloat(document.getElementById("additionalStateWithholding").value);
var preTaxDeductions = parseFloat(document.getElementById("preTaxDeductions").value);
var postTaxDeductions = parseFloat(document.getElementById("postTaxDeductions").value);
// Validate inputs
if (isNaN(grossPay) || grossPay < 0) grossPay = 0;
if (isNaN(federalDependents) || federalDependents < 0) federalDependents = 0;
if (isNaN(additionalFederalWithholding) || additionalFederalWithholding < 0) additionalFederalWithholding = 0;
if (isNaN(stateAllowances) || stateAllowances < 0) stateAllowances = 0;
if (isNaN(additionalStateWithholding) || additionalStateWithholding < 0) additionalStateWithholding = 0;
if (isNaN(preTaxDeductions) || preTaxDeductions < 0) preTaxDeductions = 0;
if (isNaN(postTaxDeductions) || postTaxDeductions < 0) postTaxDeductions = 0;
// Annualize values
var annualGrossPay = grossPay * payFrequency;
var annualPreTaxDeductions = preTaxDeductions * payFrequency;
// — Federal Tax Calculations —
var federalTaxableGross = annualGrossPay – annualPreTaxDeductions;
if (federalTaxableGross < 0) federalTaxableGross = 0;
// Apply Federal Standard Deduction
var federalStandardDeduction = 0;
if (federalFilingStatus === "single") {
federalStandardDeduction = FED_STD_DEDUCTION_SINGLE;
} else if (federalFilingStatus === "married") {
federalStandardDeduction = FED_STD_DEDUCTION_MFJ;
} else if (federalFilingStatus === "hoh") {
federalStandardDeduction = FED_STD_DEDUCTION_HOH;
}
federalTaxableGross -= federalStandardDeduction;
if (federalTaxableGross < 0) federalTaxableGross = 0;
// Apply Dependent Credit Equivalent (reduces taxable income for withholding)
federalTaxableGross -= (federalDependents * FED_DEPENDENT_CREDIT_EQUIVALENT);
if (federalTaxableGross < 0) federalTaxableGross = 0;
// Calculate Federal Income Tax (FIT)
var federalIncomeTax = 0;
var federalBrackets;
if (federalFilingStatus === "single") {
federalBrackets = FED_BRACKETS_SINGLE;
} else if (federalFilingStatus === "married") {
federalBrackets = FED_BRACKETS_MFJ;
} else if (federalFilingStatus === "hoh") {
federalBrackets = FED_BRACKETS_HOH;
}
var remainingTaxable = federalTaxableGross;
var prevLimit = 0;
for (var i = 0; i 0) {
var taxableInBracket = Math.min(remainingTaxable, bracket.limit – prevLimit);
federalIncomeTax += taxableInBracket * bracket.rate;
remainingTaxable -= taxableInBracket;
prevLimit = bracket.limit;
} else {
break;
}
}
federalIncomeTax += additionalFederalWithholding * payFrequency;
if (federalIncomeTax < 0) federalIncomeTax = 0; // Ensure tax isn't negative
// Calculate Social Security (OASDI)
var socialSecurityTax = Math.min(annualGrossPay, OASDI_LIMIT) * OASDI_RATE;
// Calculate Medicare (HI)
var medicareTax = annualGrossPay * MEDICARE_RATE;
// — California State Tax Calculations —
var stateTaxableGross = annualGrossPay – annualPreTaxDeductions;
if (stateTaxableGross < 0) stateTaxableGross = 0;
// Apply CA Standard Deduction
var caStandardDeduction = 0;
if (stateFilingStatus === "single" || stateFilingStatus === "mfs") {
caStandardDeduction = CA_STD_DEDUCTION_SINGLE_MFS;
} else if (stateFilingStatus === "married" || stateFilingStatus === "hoh") {
caStandardDeduction = CA_STD_DEDUCTION_MFJ_HOH;
}
stateTaxableGross -= caStandardDeduction;
if (stateTaxableGross < 0) stateTaxableGross = 0;
// Calculate CA Exemption Credits
var caExemptionCredits = 0;
if (stateFilingStatus === "single" || stateFilingStatus === "mfs") {
caExemptionCredits += CA_EXEMPTION_CREDIT_SINGLE_MFS;
} else if (stateFilingStatus === "married" || stateFilingStatus === "hoh") {
caExemptionCredits += CA_EXEMPTION_CREDIT_MFJ_HOH;
}
caExemptionCredits += (stateAllowances * CA_EXEMPTION_CREDIT_DEPENDENT);
// Calculate California State Income Tax (CA PIT)
var californiaIncomeTax = 0;
var caBrackets;
if (stateFilingStatus === "single" || stateFilingStatus === "mfs" || stateFilingStatus === "hoh") {
caBrackets = CA_BRACKETS_SINGLE_MFS_HOH;
} else if (stateFilingStatus === "married") {
caBrackets = CA_BRACKETS_MFJ;
}
var remainingCATaxable = stateTaxableGross;
var caPrevLimit = 0;
for (var j = 0; j 0) {
var caTaxableInBracket = Math.min(remainingCATaxable, caBracket.limit – caPrevLimit);
californiaIncomeTax += caTaxableInBracket * caBracket.rate;
remainingCATaxable -= caTaxableInBracket;
caPrevLimit = caBracket.limit;
} else {
break;
}
}
californiaIncomeTax -= caExemptionCredits; // Subtract credits from tax
californiaIncomeTax += additionalStateWithholding * payFrequency;
if (californiaIncomeTax < 0) californiaIncomeTax = 0; // Ensure tax isn't negative
// Calculate California State Disability Insurance (CA SDI)
var caSdiTax = Math.min(annualGrossPay, CA_SDI_LIMIT) * CA_SDI_RATE;
// — Per Pay Period Calculations —
var fitPerPeriod = federalIncomeTax / payFrequency;
var ssPerPeriod = socialSecurityTax / payFrequency;
var medPerPeriod = medicareTax / payFrequency;
var caPitPerPeriod = californiaIncomeTax / payFrequency;
var caSdiPerPeriod = caSdiTax / payFrequency;
var totalTaxesPerPeriod = fitPerPeriod + ssPerPeriod + medPerPeriod + caPitPerPeriod + caSdiPerPeriod;
var totalDeductionsPerPeriod = preTaxDeductions + totalTaxesPerPeriod + postTaxDeductions;
var netPay = grossPay – totalDeductionsPerPeriod;
// Display results
var resultsDiv = document.getElementById("results");
resultsDiv.innerHTML = `
Estimated Paycheck Breakdown
Gross Pay: $${grossPay.toFixed(2)}
Pre-tax Deductions: $${preTaxDeductions.toFixed(2)}
Federal Income Tax (FIT): $${fitPerPeriod.toFixed(2)}
Social Security Tax (OASDI): $${ssPerPeriod.toFixed(2)}
Medicare Tax (HI): $${medPerPeriod.toFixed(2)}
California State Income Tax (CA PIT): $${caPitPerPeriod.toFixed(2)}
California SDI: $${caSdiPerPeriod.toFixed(2)}
Total Taxes: $${totalTaxesPerPeriod.toFixed(2)}
Post-tax Deductions: $${postTaxDeductions.toFixed(2)}
Net Pay:$${netPay.toFixed(2)}
`;
}
// Run calculation on page load with default values
window.onload = calculatePaycheck;