1. What is the California Paycheck Calculator?

The California Paycheck Calculator estimates your net take-home pay after accounting for federal tax, California state tax, FICA (Social Security and Medicare), and State Disability Insurance (SDI) deductions.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the following formula:

Where:

• \( Gross \) — Your total salary before deductions
• \( Federal \) — Federal income tax based on your tax bracket
• \( CA\ State\ Tax \) — California state income tax (1-13.3%)
• \( FICA \) — Social Security and Medicare tax (7.65%)
• \( SDI \) — State Disability Insurance (1%)

Explanation: The calculator subtracts all mandatory California tax deductions from your gross salary to determine your net take-home pay.

3. Understanding California Tax Deductions

Details: California has one of the highest state income tax rates in the US, ranging from 1% to 13.3% based on income brackets. FICA consists of 6.2% for Social Security and 1.45% for Medicare. SDI provides short-term disability benefits for California workers.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your gross salary in USD, federal tax rate as a percentage (based on your tax bracket), and California state tax rate as a percentage (between 1-13.3%). The calculator automatically applies FICA (7.65%) and SDI (1%) rates.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the maximum California state tax rate?
A: The highest marginal tax rate in California is 13.3% for taxable income over $1 million for single filers.

Q2: Are FICA rates the same for everyone?
A: FICA rates are generally 7.65% for employees, but high earners may pay additional Medicare tax of 0.9% on income above certain thresholds.

Q3: Is SDI mandatory in California?
A: Yes, most employees in California are required to contribute to SDI through payroll deductions.

Q4: How accurate is this calculator?
A: This provides an estimate. Actual deductions may vary based on specific tax situations, deductions, credits, and local taxes.

Q5: What about other deductions like retirement or health insurance?
A: This calculator covers only mandatory tax deductions. Additional voluntary deductions (401k, health insurance, etc.) would further reduce your net pay.