How Washington taxes your paycheck
Washington does not tax wages. Instead, most workers pay two state premiums. Paid Family & Medical Leave costs 1.13% of wages in 2026, with employees paying 71.43% of it, and it stops once you earn $184,500 in the year. WA Cares takes 0.58% of all wages with no cap.
Employers can also deduct the worker share of workers' compensation premiums, which on average is about a quarter of the premium. It is an hourly amount that depends on the type of job, so this calculator does not include it.
Washington taxes certain long-term capital gains, but that tax does not apply to wages and is not withheld from paychecks.
| Deduction | Rate | Applies to wages up to |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | 10% to 37% | No limit |
| Social Security | 6.2% | $184,500 |
| Medicare | 1.45% (2.35% over $200,000) | No limit |
| Washington income tax | None | – |
| WA Paid Family & Medical Leave | 0.807% | $184,500 |
| WA Cares Fund | 0.58% | No limit |
- WA Paid Family & Medical Leave: The 2026 premium is 1.13% of wages and employees pay 71.43% of it (about 0.81% of wages), up to $184,500.
- WA Cares Fund: Long-term care insurance at 0.58% of wages with no wage cap. Some workers have an approved exemption.
How to use the Washington paycheck calculator
Enter your salary, or your hourly wage and hours, choose how often you are paid and pick the filing status on your W-4. The calculator estimates your Washington (WA) take-home pay for each paycheck and for the year, after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Washington payroll deductions.
It follows the published withholding formulas that employers' payroll systems use, so it works as a paycheck estimator for a job offer, a raise or a change to your W-4. Open "401(k), benefits and W-4 details" to add pre-tax deductions, dependents or extra withholding. Your real paycheck can differ if your employer takes out deductions the calculator does not know about.
Washington take-home pay examples
Single filer, paid every two weeks, standard W-4 with no dependents, no 401(k) or pre-tax benefits, in Washington.
| Salary | Per paycheck | Per year | Taxes per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $994.96 | $25,868.85 | $4,131.15 |
| $40,000 | $1,298.66 | $33,765.14 | $6,234.86 |
| $50,000 | $1,602.38 | $41,661.42 | $8,338.58 |
| $60,000 | $1,906.06 | $49,557.70 | $10,442.30 |
| $75,000 | $2,328.93 | $60,552.13 | $14,447.87 |
| $100,000 | $2,992.03 | $77,792.84 | $22,207.16 |
| $150,000 | $4,296.55 | $111,710.26 | $38,289.74 |
| Hourly rate | Per week | Per year | Before taxes |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00 an hour | $515.70 | $26,816.41 | $31,200 |
| $20.00 an hour | $673.62 | $35,028.54 | $41,600 |
| $25.00 an hour | $831.55 | $43,240.68 | $52,000 |
| $30.00 an hour | $989.47 | $51,452.81 | $62,400 |
| $40.00 an hour | $1,273.22 | $66,207.08 | $83,200 |
| $50.00 an hour | $1,549.07 | $80,551.35 | $104,000 |
Washington paycheck questions
Does Washington have a state income tax?
No. Washington does not tax wages. Paychecks do include Paid Family & Medical Leave and WA Cares premiums.
How much is WA Cares and Paid Family Leave in 2026?
Employees pay about 0.81% of wages for Paid Family & Medical Leave (up to $184,500) and 0.58% for WA Cares, with no cap.
Can I stop paying WA Cares?
Some workers qualify for an exemption, such as certain veterans with a service-connected disability or people who work in Washington while living in another state. With an approved exemption your employer stops the deduction, so subtract the WA Cares line from the result shown here.
Sources
- Washington Paid Leave: 2026 premium rate and wage cap
- WA Cares Fund: information for employers
- Washington L&I: workers' comp rates notice
- IRS: tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods
- Social Security wage base for 2026
- 2026 401(k) contribution limit
Tax figures last reviewed October 7, 2026. How we calculate