California pay stub generator
Create a California pay-stub PDF with progressive state income tax handling, federal withholding, FICA, deductions, YTD totals, and net pay. The stub should match the income records behind it.
Create your pay stubCalifornia tax overview
Tax structure
California has a progressive state income tax with rates from 1% to 13.3%, one of the highest top rates in the nation.
Top tax rate
13.3%
Maximum state income tax rate for California residents.
Important notes
Includes mandatory State Disability Insurance (SDI).
2026 California income tax rates
California uses a progressive income tax. Below are the 2026 marginal brackets for a single filer — each rate applies only to the income that falls within that band, after the withholding standard deduction of $5,706. Married-filing-jointly brackets are generally wider.
| Taxable income (single filer) | Marginal rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $11,079 | 1% |
| $11,079 – $26,264 | 2% |
| $26,264 – $41,452 | 4% |
| $41,452 – $57,542 | 6% |
| $57,542 – $72,724 | 8% |
| $72,724 – $371,479 | 9.3% |
| $371,479 – $445,771 | 10.3% |
| $445,771 – $742,953 | 11.3% |
| $742,953 – $1,000,000 | 12.3% |
| $1,000,000 and up | 13.3% |
Local & payroll taxes: California also withholds State Disability Insurance (SDI) at 1.3% of wages, with no wage cap.
2026 rates, single-filer schedule — the same tax tables our generator uses. Confirm against the California revenue department before filing; your withholding shifts with filing status, deductions, and credits.
What's included in your California pay stub
Federal income tax
Federal withholding is calculated from the gross pay, pay frequency, filing status, and deduction details you enter.
California state income tax
progressive state income tax handling for California, based on the supported current bracket or rate schedule.
FICA taxes
Social Security and Medicare are shown as separate lines. 1099 contractor stubs show gross pay with no tax withheld.
Deductions & year-to-date
Show health insurance, retirement, and other deduction lines, plus YTD totals derived from the pay-period inputs.
Sample California paycheck on a $60,000 salary
Single filer, bi-weekly pay (26 paychecks/year), no W-4 adjustments. Numbers come from the same calculator that generates your stub — see the pay-stub creator to plug in your own figures.
| Line | Per paycheck |
|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,307.69 |
| Federal income tax | −$193.08 |
| California state income tax | −$68.94 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | −$143.08 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | −$33.46 |
| California SDI / wage tax | −$30.00 |
| Net pay (take-home) | $1,839.13 |
Annualized, that's about $47,817 in take-home pay on a $60,000 salary — with roughly $1,792 going to California state income tax over the year. Numbers assume the 2026 IRS withholding tables and California's progressive rate schedule (top rate 13.3%); your actual withholding will shift with filing status, W-4 adjustments, pre-tax deductions, and YTD wages.
Where a California stub fits
Loan applications
Use a current pay-period summary alongside bank statements, employer records, tax returns, or invoices so the reviewer can reconcile the numbers.
Mortgage approval
A mortgage file usually relies on tax returns, bank statements, credit, and debts. A stub can organize the recent income piece.
Rental applications
Property managers may ask for recent income periods. Use consecutive stubs that match deposits or payroll records.
Self-employment & freelance
Freelancers & self-employed individuals in California can summarize invoice, platform, deposit, or business records in a payroll-style layout.
Create a California pay stub preview
Generate the watermarked preview first. Pay $2.49 for the clean PDF only when the state tax line, deductions, YTD totals, and net pay match your records.
Create your pay stubYear-end forms
When the year closes, the same figures feed a California employee's W-2 or a contractor's 1099-NEC. Preview is free; the clean PDF is $4.99 per form, or included with a subscription.
California pay stub FAQs
- Does California have a state income tax?
- Yes. California has a progressive state income tax topping out at 13.3%, charged on top of federal income tax and FICA (Social Security and Medicare).
- What taxes are withheld on a California pay stub?
- A California pay stub itemizes federal income tax, Social Security (6.2%), and Medicare (1.45%), plus California state income tax, and a state disability/insurance (SDI) deduction. Year-to-date totals for each line are included.
- Are employers required to provide a pay stub in California?
- California has the most prescriptive wage-statement law in the country. Labor Code section 226(a) requires a detachable, itemised statement with every payment of wages, and it enumerates exactly what has to appear on it. Employees may see only the last four digits of their Social Security number, which is why a compliant California stub never prints a full SSN.
- What is the take-home pay on a $60,000 salary in California?
- A single filer earning $60,000 in California takes home about $47,817 per year after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — roughly $1,839.13 per bi-weekly paycheck. Your actual figure varies with filing status, deductions, and W-4 elections.
- Can I use a California pay stub as proof of income?
- A California pay stub can support an apartment, loan, or mortgage file when it reflects real earnings and matches the records behind it. Reviewers may still ask for bank statements, tax returns, employer records, invoices, or other source documents.
California pay stub requirements
Pay stub required by state law
What the statute requires on the statement
- Gross wages earned
- Total hours worked (not required for salaried exempt employees)
- Piece-rate units and applicable piece rate, if paid on piece rate
- All deductions
- Net wages earned
- The inclusive dates of the period for which the employee is paid
- Employee name and the last four digits of their SSN or an employee ID number
- Employer name and address
- All applicable hourly rates in effect during the pay period and the corresponding hours worked at each rate
How often wages must be paid
Wages must generally be paid at least twice during each calendar month.
Sources
- California DIR — Paydays, pay periods, and final wages (Labor Code §226)
- U.S. Department of Labor — State payday requirements
Summarized from the sources above for general information. Wage statement law changes — verify against the primary source before relying on it. This is not legal advice.
Generating pay stubs in a nearby state?
Tax rules vary from one state to the next. Pick the right calculator for the state where the work was performed.