Pennsylvania paycheck calculator

The official method, step by step

• Pay is annualized, then reduced by the Form W-4 amount for your filing status ($8,600, or $12,900 if married filing jointly) unless the Step 2 box is checked.
• Federal income tax comes from the IRS 2026 Annual Percentage Method table for that status, divided back to one paycheck.
• Social security is 6.2% of wages until the year's wages reach $184,500.
• Medicare is 1.45% of all wages, plus 0.9% on wages over $200,000 in the year.
• A pre-tax 401(k) lowers federal income tax wages, not social security or Medicare wages.
• Pennsylvania income tax is a flat 3.07% of compensation, with no allowances. Employee 401(k) contributions still count as Pennsylvania compensation, so they don't lower this line.
• Pennsylvania unemployment compensation (UC) takes 0.07% of all gross wages from the employee in 2026, with no wage cap.

What this leaves out

• Local earned income tax (EIT) and the local services tax (LST), which depend on where the employee lives and works
• Benefits, garnishments and other after-tax deductions
• W-4 Step 3 credits and Step 4 entries (the pay stub generator handles them)

Sources: Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, Employer Withholding (flat rate of 3.07 percent of compensation); Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, PA Personal Income Tax Guide: Gross Compensation (employee 401(k) and other IRC 401 plan contributions are taxable compensation); Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, UC Yearly Tax Highlights (2026 employee withholding 0.07% of gross wages, no wage cap); IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods: Worksheet 1A and the Annual Percentage Method Tables; IRS Publication 15 (2026), (Circular E) Employer's Tax Guide: social security and Medicare tax, Additional Medicare Tax.