2026 Connecticut Hourly Wage Estimate
$15 an Hour After Taxes in Connecticut (2026)
Based on 40 hours per week × 52 weeks = 2,080 hours/year. Annual equivalent: $31,200.
| Federal Income Tax | $1,564 |
| State Income Tax | $479 |
| Social Security | $1,934 |
| Medicare | $452 |
| Effective tax rate | 14.2% |
Calculation assumptions
- Standard withholding per IRS Publication 15-T (2026)
- Social Security wage base: $184,500 (SSA 2026)
- No pre-tax deductions, no post-tax deductions
- Filing status: Single, one job
- Standard W-4 withholding (no additional withholding elections)
- Actual paycheck may differ based on employer setup, benefits, or W-4 elections
How Your CT Paycheck Works
Connecticut paychecks begin with federal income tax withholding under IRS Publication 15-T, using the employee's Form W-4, taxable wages, payroll period, and IRS withholding tables. FICA is separate: employees pay 6.2% Social Security tax up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500, plus 1.45% Medicare tax on all covered wages, and employers withhold an additional 0.9% Medicare surtax after an employee's Medicare wages exceed $200,000 in a calendar year. Connecticut uses its own Form CT-W4 withholding code system. The 2026 DRS calculation rules annualize wages, subtract the applicable personal exemption, and apply Connecticut's graduated income tax rates from 2.00% to 6.99%, with a tax-rate phase-out and recapture for higher incomes. Connecticut also has a statewide employee payroll deduction for CT Paid Leave: the 2026 contribution rate is 0.5% of pay, applied until the employee reaches the Social Security contribution limit of $184,500. CT Paid Leave is not included in this calculator's withholding computation. Estimates assume standard 2026 withholding, single filing status, and no pre-tax deductions; actual paycheck may differ.
2026 Tax Rate Quick Reference
| Tax | 2026 Rate | Wage Cap | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Income Tax | 10%–37% (percentage-method withholding) | No wage cap | IRS Pub. 15-T |
| Social Security | 6.2% employee withholding | $184,500 | SSA 2026 |
| Medicare | 1.45% employee withholding | No wage cap | IRS Pub. 15 |
| Additional Medicare Surtax | 0.9% on wages over $200,000 | No wage cap | IRS Topic 560 |
| Connecticut State Income Tax | 2.00%–6.99% graduated; DRS phase-out/recapture where applicable | No wage cap | CT DRS IP 2026-1 |
Sources Used for This Estimate
Other hourly rates for Connecticut
- $15 an hour after taxes
- $20 an hour after taxes
- $25 an hour after taxes
- $30 an hour after taxes
- $40 an hour after taxes
- $50 an hour after taxes