See what actually lands in your account on payday in Washington State. There is no state income tax, but WA Cares Fund and Paid Family & Medical Leave premiums still come out of every check. Enter salary or hourly pay and get net pay per check with 2026 federal brackets and FICA.
Last updated:
Your pay
How are you paid?
$
$
h
h
Paid at 1.5× your hourly rate
Federal (Form W-4)
$
$2,200 per child under 17, $500 per other dependent
$
Deductions
% of gross
$
Section 125 deductions: lower income tax and FICA
$
Roth 401(k), union dues, garnishments
Washington premiums (2026)
Uncheck only if you hold an approved WA Cares exemption
%
0.58% of all wages, no cap
%
2026: 1.13% total premium, employees pay about 71.5% of it
$
Cents per hour shown on your stub; depends on job risk class
Enter your values to see the result.
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How to use the Washington Paycheck Calculator
Choose salary or hourly and enter your annual salary, or your rate, weekly hours and overtime.
Pick your pay frequency and federal filing status, plus any W-4 credits or extra withholding.
Add deductions: 401(k) percentage, health insurance or HSA per check, and any after-tax items.
Check the Washington premiums: leave WA Cares on unless you have an approved exemption, and add your L&I cents per hour if your stub shows them.
Press Calculate take-home pay to see net pay per check, per year and the full breakdown.
How a Washington paycheck is calculated
Washington has no personal income tax, so a WA paycheck has fewer lines than most states. What comes out:
Federal income tax: (yearly taxable wages − standard deduction) run through the 2026 brackets, minus W-4 credits, ÷ paychecks per year.
Social Security: 6.2% of wages up to $184,500 (2026 wage base). Medicare: 1.45% of all wages, plus 0.9% above $200,000.
WA Cares Fund: 0.58% of gross wages, no cap, unless you hold an approved exemption.
Paid Family & Medical Leave: the employee share of the 1.13% 2026 premium (about 0.81% of wages), charged only up to the Social Security wage base.
L&I workers' comp: some employers deduct a few cents per hour worked; the rate depends on your job's risk class.
Example: a $65,000 salary paid every two weeks is $2,500 gross. WA Cares takes $14.50 (0.58%) and PFML about $20.25 (0.81%), so the two state premiums total about $34.75 per check, far less than a typical state income tax would.
Washington take-home pay at common salaries (2026)
Single filer, paid biweekly, no 401(k) or health deductions, WA Cares 0.58% and PFML 0.81%.
Salary
Gross per check
Federal tax
FICA
WA Cares + PFML
Take-home per check
Take-home per year
$40,000
$1,538.46
$100.77
$117.69
$21.38
$1,298.62
$33,764
$60,000
$2,307.69
$193.08
$176.54
$32.08
$1,906.00
$49,556
$80,000
$3,076.92
$337.31
$235.38
$42.77
$2,461.46
$63,998
$100,000
$3,846.15
$506.54
$294.23
$53.46
$2,991.92
$77,790
$150,000
$5,769.23
$951.31
$441.35
$80.19
$4,296.38
$111,706
Washington paycheck tips
Check your WA Cares status. If you were granted an exemption, make sure your employer has the approval letter; otherwise the 0.58% keeps coming out.
PFML stops at the wage base. High earners see the PFML line disappear for the rest of the year once wages pass $184,500, the same point where Social Security stops.
A 401(k) only saves federal tax here. With no state income tax, each $100 you defer lowers take-home by roughly $78–$90 depending on your federal bracket, but it does not reduce WA Cares or PFML.
Moving from another state? Remember Washington leans on sales tax (often 9–10.5% combined in cities), so part of the paycheck advantage goes to higher prices at the register.
Rates reflect 2026 figures: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 brackets, SSA wage base $184,500, WA Cares 0.58% and Washington ESD PFML premium 1.13%. All state rates are editable in the calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Does Washington State have a state income tax on paychecks?
No. Washington does not tax wages, so no state income tax is withheld. Your paycheck still shows federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and two state premiums: WA Cares Fund and Paid Family & Medical Leave.
What is the WA Cares Fund deduction?
WA Cares is Washington's long-term care insurance program. Workers pay 0.58% of all wages with no wage cap, so $1,000 of pay costs $5.80. People who bought private long-term care insurance before November 1, 2021 and got an approved exemption, plus some other exempt groups, do not pay it.
How much is Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave in 2026?
The total 2026 PFML premium is 1.13% of wages, and employees pay about 71.5% of it, roughly 0.81% of gross pay. Wages above the Social Security wage base ($184,500 in 2026) are not charged. The rate is editable in the calculator in case your employer covers part of your share.
What is the L&I deduction on my Washington paycheck?
Washington workers' compensation is run by the Department of Labor & Industries. Employers may deduct part of the premium from workers as a few cents per hour worked; the amount depends on the job's risk class. Enter the per-hour figure from your stub if you see one.
Do 401(k) contributions lower WA Cares or PFML premiums?
No. Both premiums are charged on gross wages, so a traditional 401(k) or health deduction does not reduce them. 401(k) money only lowers federal income tax.
How is federal tax estimated?
The calculator annualizes your taxable wages, subtracts the 2026 standard deduction for your filing status ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, $24,150 head of household), applies the 2026 brackets, subtracts W-4 credits and divides by the number of paychecks, which mirrors the IRS percentage method.
Is Seattle or any Washington city charging a local income tax?
No Washington city withholds an income tax from wages. Seattle's payroll expense tax is paid by large employers, not taken out of employee paychecks.
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