Pennsylvania · 2026
Pennsylvania paycheck calculator
| Item | Per paycheck | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,307.69 | $59,999.94 |
| Federal income tax | −$193.08 | −$5,020.08 |
| Social security | −$143.08 | −$3,720.08 |
| Medicare | −$33.46 | −$869.96 |
| Pennsylvania income tax | −$70.85 | −$1,842.10 |
| PA unemployment (UC) | −$1.62 | −$42.12 |
| Take-home pay | $1,865.60 | $48,505.60 |
The official method, step by step
For 2026, the Pennsylvania lines are worked out as follows (rule set us-pa-2026.1): Pennsylvania income tax at 3.07% of pay (401(k) contributions are taxable in Pennsylvania) and unemployment at 0.07%.
- 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
The calculator works out federal income tax, social security, Medicare and the Pennsylvania lines for 2026, and leaves out the items below.
- 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.
Pennsylvania paycheck calculator: common questions
Common questions about Pennsylvania paychecks and take-home pay in 2026, answered from the official sources listed above.
What is the Pennsylvania income tax rate?
A flat 3.07% of compensation. There are no allowances or standard deduction for withholding.
Does a 401(k) lower Pennsylvania tax?
No. Pennsylvania counts employee 401(k) contributions as taxable compensation, so they lower federal income tax but not the Pennsylvania line.
What is PA UC on a pay stub?
The employee's unemployment compensation contribution: 0.07% of gross wages in 2026 (70 cents per $1,000), with no wage cap.
What about local tax in Pennsylvania?
Many Pennsylvania workers also have local earned income tax and often a local services tax withheld. The rates depend on the municipality and school district, so they aren't included here; add them on the pay stub from your payroll.
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