California Paycheck Calculator
Use this calculator to estimate your net take-home pay in California, factoring in federal and state taxes, as well as common deductions. Please note that this is an estimate and actual payroll calculations may vary based on specific circumstances, additional deductions, or changes in tax laws.
Your Estimated Paycheck
Enter your details and click "Calculate Paycheck" to see your results.
Understanding Your California Paycheck
A paycheck calculator is an essential tool for anyone working in California. It helps you understand how your gross earnings are reduced by various taxes and deductions to arrive at your net take-home pay. This guide breaks down the components of a typical California paycheck.
Gross Pay
Your gross pay is the total amount of money you earn before any deductions are taken out. This is usually calculated based on your hourly wage or annual salary and your pay frequency (e.g., weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly).
Federal Taxes
These are taxes levied by the U.S. federal government and include:
- Federal Income Tax: This is a progressive tax, meaning higher earners pay a larger percentage. The amount withheld depends on your gross pay, filing status (Single, Married Filing Jointly, Head of Household), and any credits claimed for dependents on your W-4 form.
- Social Security Tax (FICA): This funds retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. Employees typically pay 6.2% of their gross wages up to an annual limit (e.g., $168,600 for 2024).
- Medicare Tax (FICA): This funds hospital insurance for the elderly and disabled. Employees typically pay 1.45% of all gross wages, with no income 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 Taxes
In addition to federal taxes, California residents also pay state-specific taxes:
- California State Income Tax: Similar to federal income tax, California has its own progressive tax brackets. The amount withheld depends on your gross pay, state filing status (e.g., Single, Married, Head of Household), and the number of allowances you claim on your California Form DE 4.
- California State Disability Insurance (SDI): This program provides temporary benefits to eligible workers who are unable to work due to non-work-related illness or injury, or for family leave. Employees typically pay a percentage (e.g., 1.1% for 2024) of their gross wages up to an annual limit (e.g., $164,609 for 2024).
Deductions
Deductions are amounts subtracted from your gross pay. They can be categorized as:
- Pre-tax Deductions: These are taken out before taxes are calculated, thereby 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 taken out after taxes have been calculated. Examples include Roth 401(k) contributions, union dues, garnishments, or certain charitable contributions.
Net Pay
Your net pay, or take-home pay, is the amount remaining after all federal taxes, state taxes, and other deductions have been subtracted from your gross pay. This is the money you actually receive.
Example Calculation
Let's consider an example using the calculator with some realistic numbers:
- Gross Pay per Pay Period: $2,500 (Bi-weekly)
- Pay Frequency: Bi-weekly (26 pay periods per year)
- Federal Filing Status: Single
- Federal Dependents: $0
- Additional Federal Withholding: $0
- CA Filing Status: Single
- CA Allowances: 0
- Additional CA Withholding: $0
- Pre-tax Deductions: $100 per pay period (e.g., 401k)
- Post-tax Deductions: $20 per pay period (e.g., Roth 401k)
Based on these inputs, the calculator would perform the following steps (simplified):
- Annual Gross Pay: $2,500 * 26 = $65,000
- Pre-tax Deductions (Annual): $100 * 26 = $2,600
- Taxable Federal Income: $65,000 – $2,600 – Federal Standard Deduction (e.g., $14,600 for Single) = $47,800. Federal income tax would be calculated based on this amount and federal tax brackets.
- Social Security Tax: 6.2% of $65,000 = $4,030 (annual)
- Medicare Tax: 1.45% of $65,000 = $942.50 (annual)
- Taxable CA Income: $65,000 – $2,600 – CA Standard Deduction (e.g., $5,302 for Single) = $57,098. CA income tax would be calculated based on this amount, CA tax brackets, and personal exemption credits.
- CA SDI Tax: 1.1% of $65,000 = $715 (annual)
- Total Annual Taxes & Deductions: Sum of all annual taxes + $2,600 (pre-tax) + $520 (post-tax).
- Annual Net Pay: Annual Gross Pay – Total Annual Taxes & Deductions.
- Net Pay per Pay Period: Annual Net Pay / 26.
This process provides a clear breakdown, helping you budget and plan your finances effectively.
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function calculatePaycheck() {
// Input values
var grossPay = parseFloat(document.getElementById('grossPay').value);
var payFrequency = document.getElementById('payFrequency').value;
var federalFilingStatus = document.getElementById('federalFilingStatus').value;
var federalDependents = parseFloat(document.getElementById('federalDependents').value);
var additionalFederalWithholding = parseFloat(document.getElementById('additionalFederalWithholding').value);
var stateFilingStatus = document.getElementById('stateFilingStatus').value;
var stateAllowances = parseFloat(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 ||
isNaN(federalDependents) || federalDependents < 0 ||
isNaN(additionalFederalWithholding) || additionalFederalWithholding < 0 ||
isNaN(stateAllowances) || stateAllowances < 0 ||
isNaN(additionalStateWithholding) || additionalStateWithholding < 0 ||
isNaN(preTaxDeductions) || preTaxDeductions < 0 ||
isNaN(postTaxDeductions) || postTaxDeductions addMedThreshold) {
annualMedicareTax += (annualGrossPay – addMedThreshold) * ADD_MED_RATE;
}
// Federal Income Tax
var federalStandardDeduction;
var federalTaxBrackets;
switch (federalFilingStatus) {
case 'single':
federalStandardDeduction = 14600;
federalTaxBrackets = [
{ 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 }
];
break;
case 'married': // Married Filing Jointly
federalStandardDeduction = 29200;
federalTaxBrackets = [
{ 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 }
];
break;
case 'hoh': // Head of Household
federalStandardDeduction = 21900;
federalTaxBrackets = [
{ 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 }
];
break;
default: // Default to single if something goes wrong
federalStandardDeduction = 14600;
federalTaxBrackets = [
{ 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 federalTaxableIncome = annualGrossPay – annualPreTaxDeductions – federalStandardDeduction;
federalTaxableIncome = Math.max(0, federalTaxableIncome); // Cannot be negative
var annualFederalIncomeTax = 0;
var remainingTaxable = federalTaxableIncome;
for (var i = 0; i < federalTaxBrackets.length; i++) {
var bracket = federalTaxBrackets[i];
var prevLimit = (i === 0) ? 0 : federalTaxBrackets[i – 1].limit;
var taxableInBracket = Math.min(remainingTaxable, bracket.limit – prevLimit);
annualFederalIncomeTax += taxableInBracket * bracket.rate;
remainingTaxable -= taxableInBracket;
if (remainingTaxable <= 0) break;
}
// Apply federal dependent credit (simplified, W-4 Step 3)
// This is a credit, not a deduction from taxable income.
annualFederalIncomeTax -= federalDependents; // Assuming federalDependents input is the credit amount
annualFederalIncomeTax = Math.max(0, annualFederalIncomeTax + annualAdditionalFederalWithholding); // Cannot be negative
// — California State Tax Calculations (2024 values, indexed) —
var CA_SDI_RATE = 0.011;
var CA_SDI_LIMIT = 164609; // 2024 limit
var annualCASDI = Math.min(annualGrossPay, CA_SDI_LIMIT) * CA_SDI_RATE;
// CA Income Tax
var caStandardDeduction;
var caPersonalExemptionCredit;
var caDependentCreditValue = 453; // 2024 value per dependent
var caTaxBrackets;
switch (stateFilingStatus) {
case 'single':
case 'mfs': // Married Filing Separately
caStandardDeduction = 5302;
caPersonalExemptionCredit = 146;
caTaxBrackets = [
{ 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: 836792, rate: 0.123 },
{ limit: Infinity, rate: 0.133 } // Includes 1% mental health surcharge
];
break;
case 'married': // Married Filing Jointly
case 'qss': // Qualifying Widow(er)
caStandardDeduction = 10604;
caPersonalExemptionCredit = 292;
caTaxBrackets = [
{ 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: 1673584, rate: 0.123 },
{ limit: Infinity, rate: 0.133 } // Includes 1% mental health surcharge
];
break;
case 'hoh': // Head of Household
caStandardDeduction = 10604; // Same as married for HoH
caPersonalExemptionCredit = 146; // Same as single for HoH
caTaxBrackets = [
{ 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: 836792, rate: 0.123 },
{ limit: Infinity, rate: 0.133 } // Includes 1% mental health surcharge
];
break;
default: // Default to single
caStandardDeduction = 5302;
caPersonalExemptionCredit = 146;
caTaxBrackets = [
{ 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: 836792, rate: 0.123 },
{ limit: Infinity, rate: 0.133 } // Includes 1% mental health surcharge
];
}
var caTaxableIncome = annualGrossPay – annualPreTaxDeductions – caStandardDeduction;
caTaxableIncome = Math.max(0, caTaxableIncome);
var annualCAIncomeTax = 0;
var remainingCATaxable = caTaxableIncome;
for (var j = 0; j < caTaxBrackets.length; j++) {
var caBracket = caTaxBrackets[j];
var caPrevLimit = (j === 0) ? 0 : caTaxBrackets[j – 1].limit;
var caTaxableInBracket = Math.min(remainingCATaxable, caBracket.limit – caPrevLimit);
annualCAIncomeTax += caTaxableInBracket * caBracket.rate;
remainingCATaxable -= caTaxableInBracket;
if (remainingCATaxable <= 0) break;
}
// Apply CA personal exemption and dependent credits
var totalCACredits = caPersonalExemptionCredit * (stateAllowances + 1); // Each allowance adds a credit
if (stateFilingStatus === 'married' || stateFilingStatus === 'qss') {
totalCACredits = caPersonalExemptionCredit * (stateAllowances + 2); // Married gets 2 base credits
}
// For simplicity, assuming stateAllowances includes dependents for credit calculation
// A more precise calculator would ask for dependents separately for CA.
// For now, let's assume stateAllowances is the total number of exemptions claimed.
// The DE 4 form combines personal and dependent exemptions into one line.
// So, if stateAllowances is 1, it means 1 personal exemption. If 2, it means 1 personal + 1 dependent, etc.
// The credit value for each allowance is the same.
// So, totalCACredits is already handled by (stateAllowances + 1) or (stateAllowances + 2) * caPersonalExemptionCredit.
// The caDependentCreditValue is for actual dependents, but DE 4 simplifies this.
// Let's stick to the DE 4 interpretation where allowances directly translate to credits.
annualCAIncomeTax -= totalCACredits;
annualCAIncomeTax = Math.max(0, annualCAIncomeTax + annualAdditionalStateWithholding);
// — Total Deductions and Net Pay —
var totalAnnualTaxes = annualFederalIncomeTax + annualSocialSecurityTax + annualMedicareTax + annualCAIncomeTax + annualCASDI;
var totalAnnualDeductions = totalAnnualTaxes + annualPreTaxDeductions + annualPostTaxDeductions;
var annualNetPay = annualGrossPay – totalAnnualDeductions;
// Convert back to pay period
var federalIncomeTaxPerPeriod = annualFederalIncomeTax / payPeriodsPerYear;
var socialSecurityTaxPerPeriod = annualSocialSecurityTax / payPeriodsPerYear;
var medicareTaxPerPeriod = annualMedicareTax / payPeriodsPerYear;
var caIncomeTaxPerPeriod = annualCAIncomeTax / payPeriodsPerYear;
var caSdiPerPeriod = annualCASDI / payPeriodsPerYear;
var netPayPerPeriod = annualNetPay / payPeriodsPerYear;
// Display results
var resultHtml = `
Gross Pay: $${grossPay.toFixed(2)}
Pre-tax Deductions: $${preTaxDeductions.toFixed(2)}
Federal Income Tax: $${federalIncomeTaxPerPeriod.toFixed(2)}
Social Security Tax: $${socialSecurityTaxPerPeriod.toFixed(2)}
Medicare Tax: $${medicareTaxPerPeriod.toFixed(2)}
California Income Tax: $${caIncomeTaxPerPeriod.toFixed(2)}
California SDI Tax: $${caSdiPerPeriod.toFixed(2)}
Post-tax Deductions: $${postTaxDeductions.toFixed(2)}
Estimated Net Pay: $${netPayPerPeriod.toFixed(2)}
`;
document.getElementById('result').innerHTML = resultHtml;
}