California Paycheck Calculator + Payroll Software
Free calculator with 2026 California tax brackets, SDI, FICA, and federal withholding. Plus payroll software trusted by 50–500 person businesses across Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and the Bay Area.
Estimates only. Actual withholding depends on your W-4 elections, additional state allowances, and employer-specific deductions. MyCo handles all of this automatically — book a demo.
California Payroll Rules at a Glance
Minimum Wage (2026)
State minimum: $16.50/hr
- Los Angeles: $17.28/hr
- San Francisco: $18.67/hr
- West Hollywood: $19.65/hr
- Fast-food workers: $20/hr (statewide)
Overtime
California is stricter than federal:
- 1.5× for hours over 8/day or 40/week
- 1.5× for first 8 hours on 7th consecutive day
- 2× for hours over 12/day
- 2× for hours over 8 on 7th consecutive day
Meal & Rest Breaks
Required by law:
- 30-min unpaid meal break before end of 5th hour
- 10-min paid rest break per 4 hours
- Premium pay (1 hour) for each missed break
Paid Sick Leave
California SB 616 (2024+):
- Minimum 40 hours / 5 days per year
- Accrue 1 hour per 30 hours worked
- Carry over up to 80 hours
SDI & PFL
State Disability Insurance (SDI):
- ~1.1–1.2% of wages (employee-paid)
- No taxable wage cap (since 2024)
- Funds Paid Family Leave (8 weeks at 70–90%)
Employer Taxes
What employers pay in CA:
- UI (Unemployment Insurance): variable, 1.5–6.2%
- ETT (Employment Training Tax): 0.1%
- Federal FUTA: 0.6% effective
- FICA match: 7.65%
California State Income Tax Brackets (2026)
| Taxable Income (Single) | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $10,756 | 1.00% |
| $10,757 – $25,499 | 2.00% |
| $25,500 – $40,245 | 4.00% |
| $40,246 – $55,866 | 6.00% |
| $55,867 – $70,606 | 8.00% |
| $70,607 – $360,659 | 9.30% |
| $360,660 – $432,787 | 10.30% |
| $432,788 – $721,314 | 11.30% |
| $721,315 – $1,000,000 | 12.30% |
| Over $1,000,000 | 13.30% (incl. Mental Health Tax) |
Built for California Businesses
Stop calculating payroll by hand
MyCo automatically handles CA daily overtime, meal/rest break premium pay, SDI, ETT, CalSavers, paid sick leave accrual, and EDD filings. Used by HVAC, cleaning, security, and field-service teams across LA, SF, and San Diego.
Book Your Free Demo →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the California state income tax rate for 2026?
California uses a progressive income tax ranging from 1% to 13.3% (top bracket includes 1% Mental Health Services Tax on income over $1M). Most California employees pay between 4% and 9.3% depending on income.
What is California SDI?
California State Disability Insurance (SDI) is a mandatory employee-paid contribution that funds short-term disability and paid family leave. The 2026 rate is approximately 1.1–1.2% of wages with no taxable wage cap as of 2024.
What is California's minimum wage in 2026?
California's statewide minimum wage is $16.50/hour in 2026. Many cities have higher local minimums: Los Angeles ($17.28), San Francisco ($18.67), West Hollywood ($19.65). Fast-food workers earn at least $20/hour statewide.
How does California overtime work?
California is stricter than federal law. Time-and-a-half is required for: hours over 8 in a workday, hours over 40 in a workweek, and the first 8 hours on the 7th consecutive workday. Double-time applies to hours over 12 in a day, and hours over 8 on the 7th consecutive workday.
Does California require meal and rest breaks?
Yes. California requires an unpaid 30-minute meal break before the end of the 5th hour of work, and paid 10-minute rest breaks for every 4 hours worked. Failure to provide either triggers one hour of premium pay per missed break per day.
Is MyCo certified for California payroll?
Yes. MyCo handles California state withholding, SDI, ETT, SUI, daily and weekly overtime, meal/rest break tracking, paid sick leave accrual, and CalSavers participation — all automatically. We file with the EDD and IRS quarterly.