Pennsylvania payroll · Updated November 6, 2026
Pennsylvania paycheck calculator for 2026
See what comes out of a Pennsylvania paycheck: federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, Pennsylvania’s flat 3.07% income tax, your local earned income tax, and the 0.07% employee unemployment tax. Enter a salary, an hourly rate or one paycheck.
Calculate my take-home payCalculate your Pennsylvania take-home pay
Take-home pay per paycheck
$1,865.60
$48,506 a year
| Paycheck | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,307.69 | $60,000 |
| Federal income tax | -$193.08 | -$5,020 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$143.08 | -$3,720 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$33.46 | -$870 |
| Pennsylvania income tax (3.07%) | -$70.85 | -$1,842 |
| PA unemployment (0.07%) | -$1.62 | -$42 |
| Take-home pay | $1,865.60 | $48,506 |
2026 estimate for one paycheck, using the IRS percentage method and Pennsylvania’s withholding formula. Your employer's payroll may differ by a few cents to a few dollars. Not tax advice.
What comes out of a Pennsylvania paycheck
| Deduction | Rate | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | 10% to 37% | Wages after the W-4 standard amount, by filing status |
| Social Security | 6.2% | Wages up to $184,500 for 2026 |
| Medicare | 1.45%, plus 0.9% over $200,000 | All wages, no cap |
| PA unemployment (0.07%) | 0.07% | All wages |
| Pennsylvania income tax (3.07%) | 3.07% flat, no deductions | All compensation, including your 401(k) contributions |
| Local earned income tax | Set locally; often 1% to 2%, Philadelphia 3.735% for residents | Earned income, by home and work location |
Example: $60,000 a year, paid every two weeks
| Line | Per paycheck | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay ($60,000 ÷ 26) | $2,307.69 | $60,000 |
| Federal income tax | −$193.08 | −$5,020 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | −$143.08 | −$3,720 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | −$33.46 | −$870 |
| PA unemployment (0.07%) | −$1.62 | −$42 |
| Pennsylvania income tax (3.07%) | −$70.85 | −$1,842 |
| Take-home pay | $1,865.60 | $48,506 |
How Pennsylvania withholding works
Pennsylvania withholds a flat 3.07% of compensation from every employee, resident or not, with no standard deduction, no personal exemption and no state withholding certificate. One difference from federal rules catches many people: contributions you choose to make to a 401(k), 403(b) or 457 plan are taxable for Pennsylvania, so they do not lower your state withholding. Health insurance premiums through a cafeteria plan are excluded.
Pennsylvania is also one of the few states where employees pay unemployment tax: 0.07% of gross wages, 70 cents per $1,000, with no wage cap.
Local earned income tax and the Local Services Tax
Almost every Pennsylvania municipality and school district levies an earned income tax. Under Act 32 your employer withholds the higher of your home’s total resident rate and the nonresident rate where you work. Philadelphia runs its own wage tax: 3.735% for residents and 3.425% for nonresidents who work in the city from July 1, 2026, down from 3.74% and 3.43%. In Pittsburgh, residents pay 3% (1% city plus 2% school district).
Many places also charge a Local Services Tax of up to $52 a year, often collected as $1 a week. People earning less than $12,000 a year are exempt where the tax is above $10. This calculator does not include it.
Minimum wage in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, the federal rate.
Your federal withholding and Form W-4
Federal withholding is separate from the state’s and depends on your Form W-4: your filing status, the Step 2 box if you have two jobs or both spouses work, and the Step 3 amount for children and other dependents. Pre-tax 401(k), 403(b) and cafeteria-plan health premiums come out before income tax is figured. If you are paid on a 1099 instead of a W-2, nothing is withheld; use the self-employment tax calculator and plan for estimated payments.
Questions
How much is taken out of a $60,000 paycheck in Pennsylvania?
For a single person paid every two weeks with no W-4 adjustments, no local tax, about $193.08 federal income tax, $143.08 Social Security, $33.46 Medicare and $70.85 Pennsylvania income tax, $1.62 PA unemployment (0.07%) come out of each $2,307.69 paycheck, leaving about $1,865.60.
What is the Pennsylvania income tax rate for 2026?
A flat 3.07% on compensation, with no standard deduction or personal exemption.
Do 401(k) contributions lower Pennsylvania tax?
No. Employee elective contributions to 401(k), 403(b) and similar plans are taxable for Pennsylvania income tax, so they stay in your Pennsylvania wages.
What is the Philadelphia wage tax in 2026?
3.735% for residents and 3.425% for nonresidents who work in Philadelphia, from July 1, 2026. Before that it was 3.74% and 3.43%.
Why is my paycheck different from this calculator?
Payroll systems round differently, and paychecks can include things this calculator leaves out: overtime, bonuses withheld at the flat supplemental rate, after-tax deductions, extra withholding on your W-4, or W-4 Step 4 adjustments.
Owe at tax time, or getting too much back?
We prepare federal returns for clients in every state and can tell you how to set your W-4 so next year comes out closer. We work remotely through a secure portal, by phone or video.
Tax preparation serviceWhere these rules come from
- Pennsylvania REV-415: Employer Withholding Information Guide (PDF)
- Pennsylvania DCED: Local withholding tax FAQs
- Pennsylvania DCED: Local Services Tax
- City of Philadelphia: Wage tax for employers
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026): Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods
- IRS Topic 751: Social Security and Medicare withholding rates
Related
- Paycheck calculators for other states
- Pennsylvania income tax
- What is FICA tax? Rates for 2026 and 2027
- Federal tax brackets for 2026 and 2027
- Self-employment tax calculator
- Illinois paycheck calculator
USTAXX prepares tax returns and offers tax planning. We are not a CPA firm and do not represent clients before the IRS. This page is general information, not tax advice for your situation.