How California taxes your paycheck
California taxes wages at nine rates from 1% to 12.3%, plus the 1% Mental Health Services Tax (now the Behavioral Health Services Tax) on taxable income over $1,000,000, which is encoded here as a 13.3% bracket above $1,000,000 for every filing status (the $1 million threshold is not doubled for joint filers). The 2026 brackets, standard deduction ($5,900/$11,800) and exemption credit ($158/$316) are FTB's 2026 indexed amounts (3.4% CCPI inflation) from the October 2026 Tax News; rates are unchanged from 2025. Heads of household have their own schedule (Schedule Z), and the exemption credit is a nonrefundable credit, not a deduction.
2026 California income tax brackets
| Taxable income (single) | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 to $11,456 | 1% |
| $11,456 to $27,157 | 2% |
| $27,157 to $42,861 | 4% |
| $42,861 to $59,498 | 6% |
| $59,498 to $75,197 | 8% |
| $75,197 to $384,109 | 9.3% |
| $384,109 to $460,927 | 10.3% |
| $460,927 to $768,213 | 11.3% |
| $768,213 to $1,000,000 | 12.3% |
| Over $1,000,000 | 13.3% |
| Taxable income (married filing jointly) | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 to $22,912 | 1% |
| $22,912 to $54,314 | 2% |
| $54,314 to $85,722 | 4% |
| $85,722 to $118,996 | 6% |
| $118,996 to $150,394 | 8% |
| $150,394 to $768,218 | 9.3% |
| $768,218 to $921,854 | 10.3% |
| $921,854 to $1,000,000 | 11.3% |
| $1,000,000 to $1,536,426 | 12.3% |
| Over $1,536,426 | 13.3% |
| Deduction or credit | Single | Married | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard deduction | $5,900 | $11,800 | $11,800 |
| Personal exemption | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Personal credit | $158 | $316 | $158 |
California payroll programs
These employee contributions come out of each paycheck in addition to income tax.
| Program | Employee rate | Wage cap |
|---|---|---|
| State Disability Insurance (SDI) (2026 employee withholding rate per EDD; no taxable wage ceiling since January 1, 2024 (SB 951). Funds both SDI and Paid Family Leave.) | 1.3% | None |
Local income taxes
No California city or county taxes residents' wages; San Francisco's gross receipts and payroll-expense taxes are imposed on businesses, not withheld from employees.
Take-home pay in California at common salaries
Single filer, 2026 rules, no pre-tax deductions or local taxes.
| Salary | Federal tax | FICA | California taxes | Take-home | Biweekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $1,420 | $2,295 | $599 | $25,686 | $988 |
| $40,000 | $2,620 | $3,060 | $1,068 | $33,252 | $1,279 |
| $50,000 | $3,820 | $3,825 | $1,623 | $40,732 | $1,567 |
| $60,000 | $5,020 | $4,590 | $2,353 | $48,037 | $1,848 |
| $75,000 | $7,670 | $5,738 | $3,640 | $57,952 | $2,229 |
| $100,000 | $13,170 | $7,650 | $6,211 | $72,969 | $2,807 |
| $150,000 | $24,734 | $11,475 | $11,511 | $102,280 | $3,934 |
How California compares
At a $60,000 salary, California ranks #36 of 51 for take-home pay. The table below shows the states closest in take-home pay.
Minimum wage in California
The California minimum wage is $16.90 an hour as of January 1, 2026. A full-time minimum wage job pays $35,152 a year before taxes and about $29,613 after taxes. See the full California minimum wage guide for tipped wages and scheduled increases.
What this calculator does not include
The personal exemption credit phases out ($6 per $2,500 of federal AGI over indexed thresholds whose 2026 values FTB publishes in late December), and CalEITC, Young Child Tax Credit, renter's credit and dependent credits are ignored. Withholding under EDD's 2026 Method B tables uses 2025 indexed amounts and rates multiplied by 1.1, so paycheck withholding will differ from this liability estimate. The calculator also leaves out dependents, tax credits, additional withholding on your W-4 and non-wage income. Your employer's withholding can differ from your final tax bill.
Frequently asked questions
Does California have a state income tax?
Yes. California taxes wages at graduated rates from 1% to 13.3% for 2026. Your employer withholds it from each paycheck along with federal taxes.
How much is $60,000 after taxes in California?
A single filer earning $60,000 in California keeps about $48,037 a year, or $4,003 a month, in 2026. That ranks 36 of 51 for take-home pay at that salary.
Does California have local income taxes?
No California city or county taxes residents' wages; San Francisco's gross receipts and payroll-expense taxes are imposed on businesses, not withheld from employees.
What is the minimum wage in California?
The minimum wage in California is $16.90 an hour as of January 1, 2026. Full time, that is $35,152 a year before taxes and about $29,613 after taxes for a single filer.
Sources
- FTB Tax News, October 2026: 2026 Indexing (2026 tax rate schedules X, Y, Z; standard deduction; exemption credits)
- EDD: Contribution Rates, Withholding Schedules, and Meals and Lodging Values (2026 SDI 1.3%)
- EDD: California Withholding Schedules for 2026, Method B
- Tax Foundation: State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026 (cross-check)
- IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (2026 federal tax tables)