Washington payroll · Updated November 6, 2026
Washington paycheck calculator for 2026
Washington has no income tax on wages, but two state programs do come out of most paychecks: WA Cares long-term care (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave (about 0.81% for 2026). This calculator includes both, alongside federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare.
Calculate my take-home payCalculate your Washington take-home pay
Take-home pay per paycheck
$1,906.06
$49,558 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 |
| Washington income tax | $0.00 | $0 |
| WA Cares (0.58%) | -$13.38 | -$348 |
| Paid Family and Medical Leave | -$18.63 | -$484 |
| Take-home pay | $1,906.06 | $49,558 |
2026 estimate for one paycheck, using the IRS percentage method. Washington has no state income tax on wages. Your employer's payroll may differ by a few cents to a few dollars. Not tax advice.
What comes out of a Washington 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 |
| WA Cares (0.58%) | 0.58% | All wages |
| Paid Family and Medical Leave | 0.807% | Wages up to $184,500 |
| Washington income tax | None | No state income tax on wages |
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 |
| WA Cares (0.58%) | −$13.38 | −$348 |
| Paid Family and Medical Leave | −$18.63 | −$484 |
| Washington income tax | $0.00 | $0 |
| Take-home pay | $1,906.06 | $49,558 |
WA Cares and Paid Leave: the two Washington deductions
WA Cares is Washington’s long-term care insurance. Employees pay 0.58% of gross wages for 2025 and 2026, with no wage cap. You can be exempt only with an approved application whose letter you give your employer: for example if you live outside Washington, are an active-duty service member or their spouse, or are a veteran rated 70% or more. Non-immigrant work visa holders are automatically exempt from January 1, 2026 unless they opt in.
Paid Family and Medical Leave has a 2026 premium of 1.13% of gross wages, excluding tips, up to the $184,500 Social Security wage base. Employees pay 71.43% of it, about 0.81% of wages; the employer pays the rest, and employers with fewer than 50 employees can skip the employer share. Employers may choose to pay the employee share too, in which case nothing comes out of your check.
Washington employers can also withhold part of the workers’ compensation premium. It is an hourly amount that depends on the job’s risk class, so this calculator leaves it out; check your pay stub.
Washington’s capital gains tax and the coming income tax
Washington does tax long-term capital gains above a yearly standard deduction: 7% on the first $1 million and 9.9% above that, from tax year 2025. It is not withheld from wages.
In 2026 the Legislature passed a 9.9% tax on adjusted gross income above $1 million, starting January 1, 2028, with the first returns due in April 2029. Wages in 2026 and 2027 are not affected, and the threshold leaves out almost all workers. Counties and cities are barred by state law from taxing net income.
Your federal withholding and Form W-4
With no state income tax, federal withholding is the only income tax on your paycheck. It 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 Washington?
For a single person paid every two weeks with no W-4 adjustments, about $193.08 federal income tax, $143.08 Social Security and $33.46 Medicare, $13.38 WA Cares (0.58%), $18.63 Paid Family and Medical Leave come out of each $2,307.69 paycheck, leaving about $1,906.06. There is no Washington income tax to withhold.
Does Washington have a state income tax?
Not on wages in 2026. Washington taxes long-term capital gains, and a 9.9% tax on income above $1 million takes effect January 1, 2028.
What is WA Cares on my paycheck?
Washington’s long-term care insurance premium: 0.58% of gross wages for 2026, with no cap. Approved exemptions, such as living outside Washington, stop it.
How much is Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave in 2026?
The total premium is 1.13% of wages up to $184,500. Employees pay 71.43% of it, about 0.81% of their wages, unless the employer covers it.
What is the minimum wage in Washington in 2026?
$17.13 an hour, rising to $17.73 in 2027. Some cities set higher local minimums.
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
- Washington Department of Revenue: Income tax
- WA Cares Fund: Employers
- WA Cares Fund: Exemptions
- Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave: Premiums
- Washington Department of Revenue: Capital gains tax
- RCW 36.65.030: Local income tax prohibited
- Washington Labor & Industries: Minimum wage
- 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
- Washington income tax
- States with no income tax
- What is FICA tax? Rates for 2026 and 2027
- Federal tax brackets for 2026 and 2027
- Self-employment tax 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.