🇺🇸 Updated for 2025 Tax Year

California Hourly
Paycheck Calculator

Get your exact take-home pay in seconds. Accurate 2025 federal & California state taxes — SDI, Medicare, Social Security included. No guesswork, no ads, no signup.

✅ 2025 CA Tax Brackets ✅ Federal Withholding Tables ✅ SDI & SUI Included ✅ Overtime Calculated
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Your Pay Details

Pay Information

CA overtime = 1.5× after 8 hrs/day or 40 hrs/week; 2× after 12 hrs/day

Federal Tax (W-4)

California State Tax (DE-4)

Pre-Tax Deductions

Post-Tax Deductions

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Your Take-Home Pay

Net Pay Per Period
$0.00
Bi-Weekly
Annual Gross $0
Annual Net $0
Effective Tax Rate 0%
Pay Breakdown
DescriptionPer PeriodAnnual
📊 Gross Pay $0.00 $0
  Regular Pay $0.00—
🏛️ Federal Taxes
  Federal Income Tax $0.00 $0
  Social Security (6.2%) $0.00 $0
  Medicare (1.45%) $0.00 $0
🌴 California Taxes
  CA State Income Tax $0.00 $0
  CA SDI (1.2%) $0.00 $0
🏠 Net Take-Home Pay $0.00 $0
Where Does Your Money Go?
ℹ️ Disclaimer: This calculator uses 2025 IRS Publication 15-T and California EDD withholding tables. Results are estimates for informational purposes. Actual withholding may vary based on specific W-4/DE-4 elections. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice.

How California Paycheck Taxes Work

Understanding every deduction from your California paycheck — clearly explained.

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Federal Income Tax

Withheld based on your W-4 filing status and 2025 IRS tax brackets ranging from 10% to 37%. Progressive — you only pay higher rates on income above each threshold.

10%12%22%24%32%35%37%
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CA State Income Tax

California has 9 tax brackets (plus 1% Mental Health surcharge on incomes over $1M). One of the highest state income taxes in the U.S., ranging from 1% to 12.3%.

1%2%4%6%8%9.3%10.3%11.3%12.3%
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Social Security (OASDI)

You pay 6.2% on wages up to the 2025 wage base of $176,100. After that, no more Social Security tax is withheld for the rest of the year.

2025 Wage Cap: $176,100
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Medicare Tax

You pay 1.45% on all wages, with no income cap. High earners (over $200K single / $250K married) pay an additional 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax.

No Income Cap · Extra 0.9% at $200K+
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California SDI

State Disability Insurance funds paid leave benefits. In 2025, the SDI rate is 1.2% with no wage cap — it applies to all wages earned in California.

2025 Rate: 1.2% — No Wage Cap
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CA Overtime Rules

California has some of the strictest overtime laws. Time-and-a-half after 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week. Double time after 12 hours in a day or on the 7th consecutive day.

1.5× after 8 hrs/day · 2× after 12 hrs/day

Frequently Asked Questions

How accurate is this California paycheck calculator? ▼
This calculator uses official 2025 IRS Publication 15-T federal withholding tables and California EDD's 2025 withholding schedules. It accounts for all standard deductions including federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, California state income tax, and SDI. Results are highly accurate for standard W-4/DE-4 situations. Your employer may apply rounding or additional employer-specific rules.
What is California SDI and do I have to pay it? ▼
California State Disability Insurance (SDI) is an employee-paid payroll tax that funds short-term disability and Paid Family Leave (PFL) programs. In 2025, the rate is 1.2% with no wage cap. As a California employee, this is automatically withheld from your paycheck. It is not the same as federal FUTA or SUTA (which employers pay). SDI benefits can replace up to 60-70% of your wages if you are unable to work due to illness, injury, or pregnancy.
What's the difference between gross pay and net pay? ▼
Gross pay is your total earnings before any deductions — your hourly rate multiplied by hours worked plus overtime. Net pay (take-home pay) is what you actually receive after all federal taxes, California state taxes, SDI, and any pre- or post-tax deductions are subtracted. The difference is often 20–35% depending on your income level and filing status.
How does California overtime pay work? ▼
California law requires overtime based on daily AND weekly hours — whichever triggers it first. You earn 1.5× your regular rate after 8 hours in a single workday or after 40 hours in a workweek. You earn 2× (double time) after 12 hours in a single workday, or for all hours on the 7th consecutive day of a workweek. This is stricter than federal law, which only requires overtime after 40 hours/week.
How do pre-tax deductions reduce my taxes? ▼
Pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions, health insurance premiums (Section 125), HSA/FSA contributions are subtracted from your gross pay BEFORE taxes are calculated. This reduces your taxable income, which lowers federal income tax, state income tax, and in some cases FICA taxes. A $200/paycheck 401(k) contribution doesn't reduce your paycheck by $200 — it reduces it by roughly $130–160 depending on your tax bracket, because you save on taxes.
What is the Additional Medicare Tax? ▼
The Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9% applies to wages above $200,000 for single filers, $250,000 for married filing jointly, or $125,000 for married filing separately. Your employer is required to withhold this extra 0.9% once your wages exceed $200,000 from that employer alone, regardless of your filing status. If you have multiple jobs and combined wages exceed your threshold, you may owe additional tax (or get a refund) when you file your return.

California Paycheck Guides

Expert guides to help you understand and maximize your California take-home pay.

Tax Guide

California Income Tax: Complete 2025 Guide for Hourly Workers

Every California income tax bracket explained. Learn exactly how much you'll pay at different income levels and strategies to reduce your tax burden.

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Wages

California Minimum Wage 2025: City-by-City Breakdown

California's minimum wage is $16.50/hr statewide — but many cities pay much more. See what the minimum is in your city and how it affects your paycheck.

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Deductions

Every Deduction on Your California Paycheck, Explained

What does every line on your pay stub mean? FIT, SIT, OASDI, SDI, Medicare — we decode every acronym and explain exactly why each dollar is withheld.

Read Guide →
Overtime

California Overtime Laws 2025: Your Complete Rights Guide

California's daily overtime rules are stricter than federal law. Know when your employer owes you 1.5× or 2× pay and how to calculate it correctly.

Read Guide →