Weekly
Bi-weekly (Every 2 weeks)
Semi-monthly (Twice a month)
Monthly
Single
Married Filing Jointly
Head of Household
No (0.58% Tax)
Yes (Exempt)
Gross Pay:$0.00
Federal Income Tax (Est.):$0.00
Social Security (6.2%):$0.00
Medicare (1.45%):$0.00
WA Paid Family & Medical Leave:$0.00
WA Cares Fund (0.58%):$0.00
Estimated Net Pay:$0.00
*Note: Washington has no state income tax. Estimates based on 2024 federal tax brackets and WA state mandates.
Understanding Your Washington State Paycheck
Calculating your take-home pay in Washington State is unique compared to most other states. While Washingtonians enjoy the benefit of no state income tax, there are specific state-mandated programs that affect your net earnings, such as the Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) and the WA Cares Fund.
Key Deductions in Washington
When you look at your paystub in the Evergreen State, you will see several standard federal deductions alongside local state premiums:
Federal Income Tax: Based on your W-4 selections and filing status. Even without state tax, the IRS still takes its share.
FICA (Social Security & Medicare): A standard federal requirement. Social Security is 6.2% and Medicare is 1.45% of your gross wages.
WA Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML): As of 2024, the total premium rate is 0.74%. The employee portion is approximately 0.528% of their gross wages.
WA Cares Fund: This is a long-term care insurance benefit. Employees contribute 0.58% of their gross wages unless they have a verified exemption from the ESD.
Example Calculation
If you earn $5,000 on a bi-weekly basis and file as Single:
Gross: $5,000.00
FICA Deductions: ~$382.50 (SS + Medicare)
WA PFML: ~$26.40
WA Cares Fund: ~$29.00
Federal Tax (Est): ~$640.00
Net Pay: ~$3,922.10
No State Income Tax Benefit
Washington is one of the few states in the U.S. that does not impose a personal income tax. This typically results in a higher take-home pay for residents compared to neighboring Oregon or Idaho. However, Washington often offsets this with higher sales taxes and the specific payroll premiums mentioned above to fund social safety nets.