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(Gross Annual Pay)
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(Net Annual Pay After Taxes & Deductions)
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(Estimated Net Hourly Pay)
Understanding Your California Hourly Pay
This calculator helps you estimate your annual and hourly take-home pay in California after accounting for taxes and other common deductions. Understanding your net pay is crucial for budgeting and financial planning.
How the Calculation Works:
The calculator performs the following steps:
Gross Annual Pay: This is the total amount you earn before any taxes or deductions. It's calculated by multiplying your hourly wage by the number of hours you work per week, and then by the number of weeks you work per year.
Gross Annual Pay = Hourly Wage × Hours Per Week × Weeks Per Year
Total Tax and Deduction Rate: This combines your federal income tax, California state income tax, and other mandatory deductions (like Social Security and Medicare taxes, which are generally around 7.65% in the US, but can vary).
Total Deduction Rate = Federal Tax Bracket + California Tax Bracket + Other Deductions
Total Deductions Amount: This is the actual dollar amount that will be subtracted from your gross pay. It's calculated as a percentage of your Gross Annual Pay.
Total Deductions Amount = Gross Annual Pay × (Total Deduction Rate / 100)
Net Annual Pay: This is your take-home pay after all taxes and deductions have been subtracted.
Net Annual Pay = Gross Annual Pay - Total Deductions Amount
Net Hourly Pay: This is your estimated hourly take-home pay. It's calculated by dividing your Net Annual Pay by the total number of hours you work in a year.
Net Hourly Pay = Net Annual Pay / (Hours Per Week × Weeks Per Year)
Important Considerations for California:
Progressive Tax System: California, like the federal government, uses a progressive income tax system. This means higher earners pay a larger percentage of their income in taxes. The 'California Tax Bracket' field is a simplification; your actual tax rate depends on your total income and filing status.
Mandatory Deductions: Besides federal and state income taxes, California employees typically have deductions for Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%), and potentially State Disability Insurance (SDI). These are often grouped under "Other Deductions".
Withholding vs. Actual Tax Liability: The percentages entered for tax brackets are typically your *marginal* tax rates. The actual amount withheld from your paycheck might differ based on your W-4 and DE 4 forms, which allow you to adjust withholdings. This calculator provides an estimate based on the bracket percentages provided.
Other Potential Deductions: This calculator does not include voluntary deductions such as health insurance premiums, retirement contributions (401k, IRA), union dues, or wage garnishments. These would further reduce your net pay.
Minimum Wage: California has a state minimum wage that is higher than the federal minimum wage. Ensure your hourly wage meets or exceeds the current California minimum wage for your location and industry.
Disclaimer: This calculator is for estimation purposes only and does not constitute financial or tax advice. Consult with a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for personalized guidance.
function calculatePay() {
var hourlyWage = parseFloat(document.getElementById("hourlyWage").value);
var hoursPerWeek = parseFloat(document.getElementById("hoursPerWeek").value);
var weeksPerYear = parseFloat(document.getElementById("weeksPerYear").value);
var federalTaxBracket = parseFloat(document.getElementById("federalTaxBracket").value);
var californiaTaxBracket = parseFloat(document.getElementById("californiaTaxBracket").value);
var otherDeductions = parseFloat(document.getElementById("otherDeductions").value);
var grossPayResult = document.getElementById("grossPayResult");
var netPayResult = document.getElementById("netPayResult");
var hourlyNetResult = document.getElementById("hourlyNetResult");
// Clear previous results and styles
grossPayResult.textContent = "–";
netPayResult.textContent = "–";
hourlyNetResult.textContent = "–";
grossPayResult.style.color = "#28a745";
netPayResult.style.color = "#28a745";
hourlyNetResult.style.color = "#28a745";
// Input validation
if (isNaN(hourlyWage) || hourlyWage <= 0 ||
isNaN(hoursPerWeek) || hoursPerWeek <= 0 ||
isNaN(weeksPerYear) || weeksPerYear <= 0 ||
isNaN(federalTaxBracket) || federalTaxBracket 100 ||
isNaN(californiaTaxBracket) || californiaTaxBracket 100 ||
isNaN(otherDeductions) || otherDeductions 100) {
alert("Please enter valid positive numbers for all fields. Tax and deduction percentages should be between 0 and 100.");
return;
}
// Calculations
var grossAnnualPay = hourlyWage * hoursPerWeek * weeksPerYear;
var totalDeductionRate = federalTaxBracket + californiaTaxBracket + otherDeductions;
// Ensure total deduction rate doesn't exceed 100% for calculation purposes
if (totalDeductionRate > 100) {
totalDeductionRate = 100;
}
var totalDeductionsAmount = grossAnnualPay * (totalDeductionRate / 100);
var netAnnualPay = grossAnnualPay – totalDeductionsAmount;
// Ensure net pay is not negative
if (netAnnualPay < 0) {
netAnnualPay = 0;
}
var totalHoursWorked = hoursPerWeek * weeksPerYear;
var netHourlyPay = netAnnualPay / totalHoursWorked;
// Display results with formatting
grossPayResult.textContent = "$" + grossAnnualPay.toLocaleString(undefined, { minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2 });
netPayResult.textContent = "$" + netAnnualPay.toLocaleString(undefined, { minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2 });
hourlyNetResult.textContent = "$" + netHourlyPay.toLocaleString(undefined, { minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2 });
}