$15 an hour after tax in California
Take-home pay for the 2026 tax year, worked out line by line. Change any number below to see your own result.
If you earn $15.00 an hour (40 hours a week, $31,200 a year) in California in the 2026 tax year, your take-home pay is about $26,594 a year, or $2,216 a month, after federal tax, FICA and state taxes.
$15 an hour in California
| Gross pay | $31,200 |
|---|---|
| Federal income tax | −$1,564 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | −$1,934 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | −$452 |
| California income tax | −$249 |
| CA SDI | −$406 |
| Take-home pay | $26,594 |
- Income tax 6%
- Payroll & social 9%
- Take-home 85%
Full breakdown of $15 an hour
| Item | Per year | Per month | % of pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $31,200 | $2,600.00 | 100% |
| Federal income tax | −$1,564.00 | −$130.33 | 5.0% |
| Social Security (6.2%) | −$1,934.40 | −$161.20 | 6.2% |
| Medicare (1.45%) | −$452.40 | −$37.70 | 1.5% |
| California income tax | −$249.41 | −$20.78 | 0.8% |
| CA SDI | −$405.60 | −$33.80 | 1.3% |
| Take-home pay | $26,594.19 | $2,216.18 | 85.2% |
Effective tax rate 14.8%; marginal rate 22.9%. Assumes a single filer with no pension or savings deductions and the standard deduction.
$15 an hour by pay period
| Period | Before tax | After tax |
|---|---|---|
| Year | $31,200.00 | $26,594.19 |
| Month | $2,600.00 | $2,216.18 |
| Twice a month | $1,300.00 | $1,108.09 |
| Every 2 weeks | $1,200.00 | $1,022.85 |
| Week | $600.00 | $511.43 |
| Day (260 days) | $120.00 | $102.29 |
| Hour (40 h/week) | $15.00 | $12.79 |
Nearby hourly rates in California
| Pay | Take-home / year | Tax rate |
|---|---|---|
| $15 an hour | $26,594 | 14.8% |
| $20 an hour | $34,411 | 17.3% |
| $25 an hour | $42,117 | 19.0% |
$15 an hour in other states
How we calculated this
- Subtract the 2026 federal standard deduction ($16,100 for single filers) to get federal taxable income.
- Apply the 2026 federal brackets: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% and 37%.
- Add Social Security (6.2% up to $184,500 of wages) and Medicare (1.45%, plus 0.9% above $200,000).
- Apply California's own deductions, exemptions and brackets. Includes the 1% Mental Health Services Tax above $1 million and State Disability Insurance (1.3%, no wage cap).
- Add CA SDI at 1.30%.
Rates from official IRS, SSA and state publications, last checked October 14, 2026. See our methodology.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $15 an hour after tax in California?
If you earn $15.00 an hour (40 hours a week, $31,200 a year) in California in the 2026 tax year, your take-home pay is about $26,594 a year, or $2,216 a month, after federal tax, FICA and state taxes.
How much is $15 an hour per month after tax?
About $2,216.18 a month, $1,022.85 every two weeks, or $511.43 a week in California (2026).
What is the tax rate on $15 an hour in California?
Your effective rate is 14.8%: total taxes of $4,606 on $31,200 of pay. Your marginal rate is 22.9%, meaning that much of each extra dollar you earn goes to tax.
How much is $15.00 an hour a year?
At 40 hours a week for 52 weeks, $15.00 an hour is $31,200 a year before tax and $26,594 after tax in California.