Washington Paycheck Calculator
Reviewed Sep 29, 2026 IRS Pub 15-T 2026, Washington DOR How we verify
Not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. General information; laws vary by state. Terms of use
Washington paycheck calculator for tax year 2026: take-home pay and what the employer pays, per paycheck and per year. Washington takes no state income tax out of a paycheck; the state deductions are the employee share of the Paid Family and Medical Leave premium, a part of the 1.13% total premium, and the WA Cares long-term care premium of 0.58% of wages (Employer Wage Reporting and Premiums Toolkit, updated June 2026 (Paid Leave and WA Cares, Employment Security Department)). Figures checked on September 29, 2026; the result is an estimate, not tax advice.
Take-home pay and employer cost
Example: $2,000.00 gross pay per paycheck, paid every two weeks (26 paychecks a year), single, with the default Form W-4 entries below
Take-home pay
$1,663.11 per paycheck
$43,240.86 per year
| Line | Per paycheck | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,000.00 | $52,000.00 |
| Federal income tax withholding | $156.15 | $4,059.90 |
| Social Security | $124.00 | $3,224.00 |
| Medicare | $29.00 | $754.00 |
| Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave (employee share) | $16.14 | $419.64 |
| WA Cares Fund (long-term care) | $11.60 | $301.60 |
| Take-home pay | $1,663.11 | $43,240.86 |
What the employer pays
$2,165.00 per paycheck
$56,020.00 per year
| Line | Per paycheck | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,000.00 | $52,000.00 |
| Social Security (employer match) | $124.00 | $3,224.00 |
| Medicare (employer match) | $29.00 | $754.00 |
| Federal unemployment (FUTA) | $12.00 | $42.00 |
| Total employer cost | $2,165.00 | $56,020.00 |
Sources: IRS Pub 15-T 2026 and Washington DOR, checked September 29, 2026. Estimate for tax year 2026. Not tax advice.
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How Washington taxes a paycheck
No Washington income tax is withheld (Income tax (Washington Department of Revenue)), so the estimate starts from federal income tax withholding under the IRS Publication 15-T percentage method, Social Security and Medicare, plus the Washington payroll premiums. Social Security takes 6.2% of wages up to $184,500 a year and Medicare 1.45% of all wages (plus 0.9% on wages above $200,000 a year), and the employer pays Social Security and Medicare again at the same rates (Publication 15 (2026), (Circular E), Employer's Tax Guide). The oldest Washington document behind these figures was checked on September 29, 2026.
Washington does not tax wages, so there is no state withholding certificate and no state income tax line on a Washington pay stub. The federal withholding certificate still controls federal withholding, which is the largest deduction for most workers here. A new tax of 9.9% on very high individual incomes begins only in a later year and does not apply to paychecks in this tax year (Income tax (Washington Department of Revenue)).
What does come out of a Washington paycheck is the Paid Family and Medical Leave premium. The total premium is 1.13% of gross wages, and the Employment Security Department lets employers withhold up to 71.43% of that premium as the employee share. Premiums apply only up to the Social Security wage cap of $184,500 per employer, so a high earner stops paying late in the year, and tips are left out of the wages (Employer Wage Reporting and Premiums Toolkit, updated June 2026 (Paid Leave and WA Cares, Employment Security Department); Paid Family & Medical Leave premium rate increases to 1.13% in 2026 (Employment Security Department news release)).
The second deduction is WA Cares, the state long-term care insurance program. Its premium is 0.58% of every dollar of gross wages, with no cap at all, and the employee pays all of it. Some workers hold a permanent exemption approved by the department, for example because they bought private long-term care coverage before the deadline, live outside the state, or are military spouses; for them the employer withholds nothing (Employer Wage Reporting and Premiums Toolkit, updated June 2026 (Paid Leave and WA Cares, Employment Security Department)).
Both premiums are figured on gross wages before pre-tax retirement or health deductions, rounded to the cent on each paycheck. Because the department later assesses quarterly premiums on the total wages reported for all employees, the amount withheld over a quarter can differ by a few cents from the department's bill, which is normal and is settled with the quarterly report.
This page shows no local line for Washington. Washington workers' compensation premiums are charged per hour worked by risk class, with part of that hourly premium deducted from the worker's pay; those hourly amounts depend on the job and are not shown here.
The employer's side in Washington
Washington employers that the Employment Security Department counts at 50 or more employees pay the employer share of the Paid Leave premium, 28.57% of the total; smaller businesses owe only the employee share they withhold, unless they took a small business grant. WA Cares has no employer share. Unemployment insurance is charged on wages up to the yearly taxable wage base, and a new business is assigned a rate based on the average for its industry rather than a flat new-employer rate, so this calculator leaves that line out (Paid Family & Medical Leave premium rate increases to 1.13% in 2026 (Employment Security Department news release)).
Workers' compensation in Washington comes from the state fund run by Labor & Industries, not from private insurers, and it is billed per hour worked at the rate for each risk classification. Employers owe it on top of the payroll figures here.
Every employer also owes federal unemployment tax (FUTA): 6% on the first $7,000 of each employee's wages a year. With the full 5.4% credit for state unemployment tax paid on time, the net rate is 0.6%, at most $42 per employee a year (IRS Topic no. 759, Form 940, Employer's Annual Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax Return).
In Washington, a new employer's state unemployment rate is the average rate of its industry, so it depends on the business and is left out of the result. The taxable wage base is $78,200 of each employee's wages a year (U.S. DOL, Office of Unemployment Insurance: Significant Provisions of State Unemployment Insurance Laws, effective July 2026).
Payday and final pay rules in Washington
- How often wages are paid: Wages must be paid on an established regular payday at no longer than monthly payment intervals. U.S. DOL WHD state payday table, checked September 27, 2026
- Final pay after a firing: Whether the employee is fired or quits, wages due must be paid at the end of the established pay period, on or before the next regularly scheduled payday. The employer cannot hold the final paycheck until keys, uniforms or tools are returned. RCW 49.48.010(2), checked September 24, 2026
- Final pay after a resignation: Whether the employee is fired or quits, wages due must be paid at the end of the established pay period, on or before the next regularly scheduled payday. The employer cannot hold the final paycheck until keys, uniforms or tools are returned. RCW 49.48.010(2), checked September 24, 2026
The full Washington rules, with each law quoted: Washington employment rules. The date a final paycheck is due for a given last day: final paycheck calculator.
Worked examples
Three pay levels for a single filer paid every two weeks, with the default entries of the form, computed with the same code as the calculator.
| Gross pay per paycheck | Federal income tax per paycheck | Social Security and Medicare per paycheck | Washington deductions per paycheck | Take-home pay per paycheck | Employer cost per paycheck |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,200.00 | $60.15 | $91.80 | $16.65 | $1,031.40 | $1,299.00 |
| $2,500.00 | $216.15 | $191.25 | $34.68 | $2,057.92 | $2,706.25 |
| $5,000.00 | $766.69 | $382.50 | $69.36 | $3,781.45 | $5,412.50 |
At $2,500.00 per paycheck the employee takes home $53,505.92 per year, and the employer spends $70,014.50 per year on that job before benefits.
Full time at the Washington minimum wage of $17.13 per hour (Washington Minimum Wage Act (U.S. DOL WHD state minimum wage table), checked September 27, 2026), 40 hours per week, is $1,370.40 per paycheck every two weeks: $1,165.96 per paycheck take-home, and $1,483.45 per paycheck for the employer.
Method and sources
- Washington has no individual income tax on wages in 2026. Income tax (Washington Department of Revenue), checked September 29, 2026. Second document: Frequently asked questions about income tax (Washington Department of Revenue). two official documents
- New income tax from 2028 on adjusted gross income above one million dollars: 9.9%. Income tax (Washington Department of Revenue), checked September 29, 2026. Second document: Frequently asked questions about income tax (Washington Department of Revenue). two official documents
- The 2026 Paid Leave premium rate and split apply from January 1, 2026 (WA Cares rate for 2025 and 2026). Paid Family & Medical Leave premium rate increases to 1.13% in 2026 (Employment Security Department news release), checked September 29, 2026. Second document: Employer Wage Reporting and Premiums Toolkit, updated June 2026 (Paid Leave and WA Cares, Employment Security Department). two official documents
- Paid Family and Medical Leave total premium rate for 2026: 1.13%. Employer Wage Reporting and Premiums Toolkit, updated June 2026 (Paid Leave and WA Cares, Employment Security Department), checked September 29, 2026. Second document: Paid Family & Medical Leave premium rate increases to 1.13% in 2026 (Employment Security Department news release). two official documents
- Most of the Paid Leave premium an employer may withhold from the employee in 2026: 71.43%. Paid Family & Medical Leave premium rate increases to 1.13% in 2026 (Employment Security Department news release), checked September 29, 2026. Second document: Your role and responsibilities (Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave, employers). two official documents
- Employer share of the Paid Leave premium in 2026 (employers with fifty or more employees): 28.57%. Paid Family & Medical Leave premium rate increases to 1.13% in 2026 (Employment Security Department news release), checked September 29, 2026. Second document: Your role and responsibilities (Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave, employers). two official documents
- Paid Leave premiums stop at the 2026 Social Security cap: $184,500. Employer Wage Reporting and Premiums Toolkit, updated June 2026 (Paid Leave and WA Cares, Employment Security Department), checked September 29, 2026. Second document: Your role and responsibilities (Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave, employers). two official documents
- Employers with fewer than this many employees do not owe the employer share: 50. Paid Family & Medical Leave premium rate increases to 1.13% in 2026 (Employment Security Department news release), checked September 29, 2026. Second document: Employer Wage Reporting and Premiums Toolkit, updated June 2026 (Paid Leave and WA Cares, Employment Security Department). two official documents
- Premium calculation and rounding (simplified method). Employer Wage Reporting and Premiums Toolkit, updated June 2026 (Paid Leave and WA Cares, Employment Security Department), checked September 29, 2026. single official source
- WA Cares Fund premium rate for 2026 (employee only, no wage cap): 0.58%. Employer Wage Reporting and Premiums Toolkit, updated June 2026 (Paid Leave and WA Cares, Employment Security Department), checked September 29, 2026. Second document: Your role and responsibilities (Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave, employers). two official documents
- How the new-employer unemployment tax rate is set in 2026. How we determine tax rates (Employment Security Department), checked September 29, 2026. single official source
- Workers' compensation premiums are hourly rates by risk classification. Rates for workers' compensation (Department of Labor & Industries), checked September 29, 2026. single official source
Federal figures used on every Pay Desk page:
- Pub 15-T edition: for use in 2026 (wages paid from January 1, 2026). Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods, checked September 29, 2026. single official source
- Social Security tax rate withheld from the employee (the employer pays the same): 6.2%. Publication 15 (2026), (Circular E), Employer's Tax Guide, checked September 29, 2026. Second document: Topic no. 751, Social Security and Medicare withholding rates. two official documents
- Social Security wage base for 2026: $184,500. Publication 15 (2026), (Circular E), Employer's Tax Guide, checked September 29, 2026. Second document: Topic no. 751, Social Security and Medicare withholding rates. two official documents
- Medicare tax rate withheld from the employee (the employer pays the same): 1.45%. Publication 15 (2026), (Circular E), Employer's Tax Guide, checked September 29, 2026. Second document: Topic no. 751, Social Security and Medicare withholding rates. two official documents
- Per paycheck and per year. Per paycheck is one paycheck early in the year, before any yearly wage base is reached; per year is the full year at this pay with every wage base applied (Social Security, unemployment tax and any capped state contribution).
- Forms W-4 from before 2020. Not covered: the federal line follows Worksheet 1A for the 2020 and later form.
- Tax year 2027. When this page was checked (September 29, 2026) the IRS had not published the 2027 withholding tables (IRS page of forms and publications posted before release), so the calculator stays on tax year 2026.
- What it leaves out. Local taxes the form does not ask for, workers' compensation insurance, benefits the employer pays, and supplemental pay such as bonuses.
Questions people ask
Does Washington have a state income tax on wages?
No. Washington does not tax wages, so nothing is withheld for state income tax. A new tax on very high incomes starts in a later year and is filed on a return, not withheld from paychecks.
What is the PFML deduction on my Washington paycheck?
It is the employee share of the Paid Family and Medical Leave premium. The total premium is 1.13% of gross wages and employees can be charged up to 71.43% of it, on wages up to $184,500 (Employer Wage Reporting and Premiums Toolkit, updated June 2026 (Paid Leave and WA Cares, Employment Security Department); Paid Family & Medical Leave premium rate increases to 1.13% in 2026 (Employment Security Department news release)).
What is WA Cares and can I stop paying it?
WA Cares is the state long-term care insurance premium, 0.58% of all wages with no cap. Only workers with an exemption approved by the Employment Security Department stop paying it. An exemption for private long-term care coverage bought before the deadline is permanent; the others, such as living outside the state or being the spouse of an active duty service member, last only while the condition applies (Employer Wage Reporting and Premiums Toolkit, updated June 2026 (Paid Leave and WA Cares, Employment Security Department)).
Does a small business in Washington pay Paid Leave premiums?
A business with fewer than 50 employees still collects and sends in the employee share, but does not owe the employer share unless it chooses to or has received a small business grant (Paid Family & Medical Leave premium rate increases to 1.13% in 2026 (Employment Security Department news release)).
Why is there no state unemployment line for a new Washington business?
Washington assigns new employers a rate based on the average rate of businesses in their industry, so there is no single statewide new-employer rate to apply.
General information, not legal advice. Not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. This page is for general information only and isn’t legal, financial or tax advice. Laws vary by state and change; check the official source or talk to a qualified professional about your situation. Report an error