Pennsylvania Payroll Calculator 2026
Pennsylvania is the simplest state to run: employers withhold a flat 3.07% of compensation from every paycheck, with no allowances or deductions on a state certificate. Employees also pay 0.07% unemployment compensation on all wages, and most also owe a local earned income tax that is withheld separately under Act 32.
| Official example | Official result | This calculator | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRS wage-bracket table: biweekly, $1,075–$1,090, single | $46 | $46 | match |
| IRS wage-bracket table: biweekly, $2,205–$2,225, married filing jointly | $98 | $98 | match |
| IRS wage-bracket table: monthly, $3,185–$3,225, head of household | $119 | $119 | match |
| IRS wage-bracket table: weekly, $1,145–$1,155, single, Step 2 checked | $168 | $168 | match |
Pennsylvania publishes no worked example; its rule is a flat 3.07% of each paycheck's compensation with no allowances, which the calculator applies directly.
Paycheck calculator
Federal income tax follows IRS Publication 15-T (2026) Worksheet 1A for a Form W-4 from 2020 or later. Social Security stops at $184,500 of wages for the year; the extra 0.9% Medicare starts once year-to-date wages pass $200,000.
Every-two-weeks paychecks at a glance
| Gross pay | Federal tax | State withholding | FICA | State contributions | Net (single) | Net (married filing jointly) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000.00 | $38.08 | $30.70 | $76.50 | $0.70 | $854.02 | $892.10 |
| $1,500.00 | $96.15 | $46.05 | $114.75 | $1.05 | $1,242.00 | $1,312.00 |
| $2,500.00 | $216.15 | $76.75 | $191.25 | $1.75 | $2,014.10 | $2,097.94 |
| $4,000.00 | $540.38 | $122.80 | $306.00 | $2.80 | $3,028.02 | $3,256.09 |
| $6,000.00 | $1,006.69 | $184.20 | $459.00 | $4.20 | $4,345.91 | $4,711.83 |
Biweekly pay, federal W-4 with no Step 2–4 entries, no year-to-date wages before this check.
What to watch in Pennsylvania
- Local earned income tax (Act 32) and the local services tax depend on where the employee lives and works and are not included.
- Residents of states with a reciprocal agreement (IN, MD, NJ, OH, VA, WV) who file REV-419 are not subject to Pennsylvania withholding.
- 401(k) deferrals are taxable compensation in Pennsylvania even though they cut federal tax.
Sources
- Pennsylvania DOR: employer withholding — 3.07% of compensation
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods — Worksheet 1A and 2026 Percentage Method Tables for Automated Payroll Systems (p. 10, 12)
- Pennsylvania Dept. of Revenue: personal income tax (3.07%)
Planning a salary rather than a paycheck? See Pennsylvania take-home pay by salary.
Estimates for payroll planning, not tax advice. Withholding is an estimate of the year's tax, not the tax itself.