California Payroll Calculator
Use this calculator to estimate your net pay in California, taking into account common federal and state deductions. Please note that this is an estimate and not a substitute for professional tax advice or official payroll calculations.
Estimated Paycheck Summary
Enter your details and click "Calculate Net Pay" to see your estimated paycheck breakdown.
Understanding Your California Paycheck
A California payroll calculator helps you understand how your gross earnings are reduced by various taxes and deductions to arrive at your net pay. This is crucial for budgeting and financial planning.
How It Works: Gross Pay to Net Pay
Your paycheck starts with your Gross Pay, which is your total earnings before any deductions. For hourly employees, this is typically your hourly wage multiplied by the hours worked in a pay period. From this gross amount, several mandatory deductions are made:
Federal Deductions
- Federal Income Tax (FIT): This is withheld from your pay and sent to the IRS. The amount depends on your gross pay, filing status (e.g., Single, Married Filing Jointly), and the number of dependents you claim on your W-4 form. Our calculator provides an estimate based on simplified rates.
- Social Security Tax (OASDI): This funds retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. The current rate is 6.2% of your gross pay, up to an annual wage base limit ($168,600 for 2024).
- Medicare Tax (HI): This funds hospital insurance for the elderly and disabled. The rate is 1.45% of your gross pay, with no wage base limit.
California State Deductions
- California State Income Tax (SIT): Similar to federal income tax, this is withheld for the state of California. The amount depends on your gross pay, filing status, and the number of allowances you claim on your DE 4 form. Our calculator uses simplified rates for estimation.
- California State Disability Insurance (SDI) / Paid Family Leave (PFL): California combines these into a single deduction. SDI provides partial wage replacement for eligible workers who are unable to work due to non-work-related illness or injury, or pregnancy. PFL provides benefits to workers who need to take time off to care for a seriously ill family member, bond with a new child, or participate in a qualifying event due to a family member's military deployment. The current rate is 1.1% of your gross pay, up to an annual wage base limit ($153,164 for 2024).
Important Considerations
This calculator provides an estimate. Actual payroll calculations can be more complex and may include other deductions not covered here, such as:
- Pre-tax deductions (e.g., 401k contributions, health insurance premiums)
- Post-tax deductions (e.g., Roth 401k, union dues, garnishments)
- Specific tax credits or additional withholdings you may have elected on your W-4 or DE 4.
Always refer to your official pay stubs for exact figures and consult with a tax professional for personalized advice.
Example Calculation
Let's consider an example for a bi-weekly pay period (80 hours) with an hourly wage of $30, filing as Single with 0 dependents/allowances:
- Hourly Wage: $30.00
- Hours Worked: 80
- Gross Pay: $30 * 80 = $2,400.00
- Estimated Federal Income Tax: ~$360.00 (based on simplified rates)
- Social Security Tax: $2,400 * 0.062 = $148.80
- Medicare Tax: $2,400 * 0.0145 = $34.80
- Estimated CA State Income Tax: ~$72.00 (based on simplified rates)
- CA SDI/PFL: $2,400 * 0.011 = $26.40
- Total Estimated Deductions: $360.00 + $148.80 + $34.80 + $72.00 + $26.40 = $642.00
- Estimated Net Pay: $2,400.00 – $642.00 = $1,758.00
This example demonstrates how various deductions reduce your gross pay to your final net pay.
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function calculateCAPayroll() {
var hourlyWage = parseFloat(document.getElementById("hourlyWage").value);
var hoursWorked = parseFloat(document.getElementById("hoursWorked").value);
var federalFilingStatus = document.getElementById("federalFilingStatus").value;
var federalDependents = parseInt(document.getElementById("federalDependents").value);
var caFilingStatus = document.getElementById("caFilingStatus").value;
var caAllowances = parseInt(document.getElementById("caAllowances").value);
// Input validation
if (isNaN(hourlyWage) || hourlyWage < 0 || isNaN(hoursWorked) || hoursWorked < 0 ||
isNaN(federalDependents) || federalDependents < 0 || isNaN(caAllowances) || caAllowances < 0) {
document.getElementById("result").innerHTML = "Please enter valid positive numbers for all fields.";
return;
}
var grossPay = hourlyWage * hoursWorked;
// — Federal Deductions —
var federalIncomeTax = 0;
var oasdiTax = 0; // Social Security
var medicareTax = 0;
// Simplified Federal Income Tax (FIT) – This is a highly simplified estimate.
// Real FIT calculation involves complex tables, standard deductions, credits, etc.
// These rates are illustrative and not actual IRS rates.
var taxableGrossForFIT = grossPay – (federalDependents * 50); // Arbitrary deduction per dependent
if (taxableGrossForFIT < 0) taxableGrossForFIT = 0;
if (federalFilingStatus === 'single') {
if (taxableGrossForFIT <= 500) {
federalIncomeTax = taxableGrossForFIT * 0.10;
} else if (taxableGrossForFIT <= 1500) {
federalIncomeTax = (500 * 0.10) + ((taxableGrossForFIT – 500) * 0.12);
} else {
federalIncomeTax = (500 * 0.10) + (1000 * 0.12) + ((taxableGrossForFIT – 1500) * 0.15);
}
} else { // Married Filing Jointly
if (taxableGrossForFIT <= 1000) {
federalIncomeTax = taxableGrossForFIT * 0.10;
} else if (taxableGrossForFIT <= 3000) {
federalIncomeTax = (1000 * 0.10) + ((taxableGrossForFIT – 1000) * 0.12);
} else {
federalIncomeTax = (1000 * 0.10) + (2000 * 0.12) + ((taxableGrossForFIT – 3000) * 0.15);
}
}
federalIncomeTax = Math.max(0, federalIncomeTax); // Ensure tax is not negative
// Social Security (OASDI) – 6.2% up to annual wage base limit ($168,600 for 2024)
// For a single pay period, we apply the rate to the current gross.
// A real payroll system tracks cumulative earnings.
var oasdiWageBaseLimitPerPeriod = 168600 / 26; // Assuming bi-weekly for illustrative limit
oasdiTax = Math.min(grossPay, oasdiWageBaseLimitPerPeriod) * 0.062;
// Medicare (HI) – 1.45% with no wage limit
medicareTax = grossPay * 0.0145;
// — California State Deductions —
var caStateIncomeTax = 0;
var caSdiTax = 0; // State Disability Insurance / Paid Family Leave
// Simplified California State Income Tax (SIT) – This is a highly simplified estimate.
// Real CA SIT calculation involves complex tables, standard deductions, credits, etc.
// These rates are illustrative and not actual CA FTB rates.
var taxableGrossForSIT = grossPay – (caAllowances * 25); // Arbitrary deduction per allowance
if (taxableGrossForSIT < 0) taxableGrossForSIT = 0;
if (caFilingStatus === 'single') {
if (taxableGrossForSIT <= 300) {
caStateIncomeTax = taxableGrossForSIT * 0.01;
} else if (taxableGrossForSIT <= 700) {
caStateIncomeTax = (300 * 0.01) + ((taxableGrossForSIT – 300) * 0.02);
} else {
caStateIncomeTax = (300 * 0.01) + (400 * 0.02) + ((taxableGrossForSIT – 700) * 0.03);
}
} else { // Married Filing Jointly
if (taxableGrossForSIT <= 600) {
caStateIncomeTax = taxableGrossForSIT * 0.01;
} else if (taxableGrossForSIT <= 1400) {
caStateIncomeTax = (600 * 0.01) + ((taxableGrossForSIT – 600) * 0.02);
} else {
caStateIncomeTax = (600 * 0.01) + (800 * 0.02) + ((taxableGrossForSIT – 1400) * 0.03);
}
}
caStateIncomeTax = Math.max(0, caStateIncomeTax); // Ensure tax is not negative
// California State Disability Insurance (SDI) / Paid Family Leave (PFL) – 1.1% up to annual wage base limit ($153,164 for 2024)
// For a single pay period, we apply the rate to the current gross.
// A real payroll system tracks cumulative earnings.
var sdiWageBaseLimitPerPeriod = 153164 / 26; // Assuming bi-weekly for illustrative limit
caSdiTax = Math.min(grossPay, sdiWageBaseLimitPerPeriod) * 0.011;
var totalDeductions = federalIncomeTax + oasdiTax + medicareTax + caStateIncomeTax + caSdiTax;
var netPay = grossPay – totalDeductions;
var resultHtml = "
Gross Pay: $" + grossPay.toFixed(2) + "
";
resultHtml += "
";
resultHtml += "- Federal Income Tax (FIT) Estimate: $" + federalIncomeTax.toFixed(2) + "
";
resultHtml += "- Social Security Tax (OASDI): $" + oasdiTax.toFixed(2) + "
";
resultHtml += "- Medicare Tax (HI): $" + medicareTax.toFixed(2) + "
";
resultHtml += "- CA State Income Tax (SIT) Estimate: $" + caStateIncomeTax.toFixed(2) + "
";
resultHtml += "- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI/PFL): $" + caSdiTax.toFixed(2) + "
";
resultHtml += "
";
resultHtml += "
Total Estimated Deductions: $" + totalDeductions.toFixed(2) + "
";
resultHtml += "
Estimated Net Pay: $" + netPay.toFixed(2) + "
";
resultHtml += "
Note: This is an estimate. Actual deductions may vary based on specific tax situations, additional withholdings, and other pre/post-tax deductions.";
document.getElementById("result").innerHTML = resultHtml;
}