How Much Is $15/Hour After Taxes in California? (2026)
$15/hour in California equals $31,200 gross per year (2,080 hours). After federal income tax ($1,564), California state tax ($845), and FICA ($2,387), annual take-home is approximately $26,405 for a single filer in 2026. Biweekly paycheck: $1,016.
$15/hour after taxes in California — breakdown
| Annual | Monthly | Biweekly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $31,200 | $2,600 | $1,200 |
| Federal income tax | $1,564 | $130 | $60 |
| California state tax | $845 | $70 | $32 |
| FICA | $2,387 | $199 | $92 |
| Take-home | $26,405 | $2,200 | $1,016 |
Single filing status, biweekly pay frequency, standard withholding, no pre-tax deductions. Based on 40 hours per week, 52 weeks per year.
$15/hour at 40 hours/week, 52 weeks/year equals $31,200 gross annually. In California, this nets $26,405 after federal income tax ($1,564), state tax ($845), and FICA ($2,387) — an effective total tax rate of 15.4%.
$15/hour is 2.1× the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour. It is above the federal minimum wage but below the US median household income of $65,000. (Source: BLS, 2026 estimates.)
Per pay period at $15/hour in California: biweekly $1,016, weekly $508, monthly $2,200. These figures assume a standard 40-hour work week and Single filing status with no additional deductions.