California · 2026 take-home pay

$13 an hour after taxes in California

At $13 an hour in California you keep about $11.23 of every hour — $449 a week, $1,947 a month or $23,363 a year full time — after 2026 federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, California income tax and state payroll programs. California has a graduated income tax plus SDI, and its minimum wage is $16.90 an hour.

By Work & Money Editorial Team · Last reviewed October 14, 2026

Where $13 an hour goes

$13 an hour full time in California, single filer, 2026
A yearA weekAn hour
Gross pay$27,040$520$13.00
Federal income tax−$1,094−$21−$0.53
Social Security (6.2%)−$1,676−$32−$0.81
Medicare (1.45%+)−$392−$8−$0.19
California income tax−$163−$3−$0.08
SDI (State Disability Insurance, includes Paid Family Leave)−$352−$7−$0.17
Take-home pay$23,363$449$11.23

Effective tax rate 13.6% · federal bracket 10% · California bracket 2%.

SDI (State Disability Insurance, includes Paid Family Leave): 1.3% of wages.

Take-home per paycheck

40 hours a week, different pay schedules
PaidGrossTake-home
Weekly (52 paychecks)$520.00$449.29
Every two weeks (26)$1,040.00$898.58
Twice a month (24)$1,126.67$973.46
Monthly (12)$2,253.33$1,946.92

Change hours, overtime and deductions

$13 an hour at different hours

Take-home in California for part-time, full-time and overtime weeks. Overtime is paid at 1.5 times $13 an hour for hours over 40, as federal law requires for most hourly workers.

$13 an hour in California: weekly hours and take-home, 2026
ScheduleGross a weekTake-home a weekTake-home a year
20 hours a week*$260$237$12,310
30 hours a week$390$347$18,019
40 hours a week$520$449$23,363
40 hours + 5 overtime$618$525$27,296
40 hours + 10 overtime$715$598$31,101

*If this is your only job. With a second job, withholding on each is likely too low unless you adjust your W-4.

Is $13 an hour good pay in California?

  • Minimum wage: $13 an hour is below California's minimum wage of $16.90 an hour, so most employers there can't pay it. Many cities set higher local minimums.
  • Among California workers: It's below the 10th percentile of hourly pay in California (BLS, May 2025) — fewer than about 1 in 10 workers earn less. The median is $28.00 an hour.
  • Local prices: California's price level is 110.7% of the U.S. average (BEA Regional Price Parities), so $23,363 a year buys about what $21,101 would at national-average prices.
  • Rent: the 30% rule points to about $676 a month. Check it with your debts.
  • A 50/30/20 budget: about $973 a month for needs, $584 for wants and $389 for savings. Plan it in the budget calculator.

How California compares on $13 an hour

California ranks 28th of 51 for take-home pay on $13 an hour (1st = keeps the most). Here it is next to its neighbors.

Take-home on $13 an hour, 40 hours a week, single filer, 2026
StateAfter tax, per hourA yearMinimum wagevs California
California$11.23$23,363$16.90—
Arizona$11.34$23,595$15.15+$232 a year
Nevada$11.48$23,877$12.00+$514 a year
Oregon$10.70$22,255$15.55−$1,108 a year

How the federal tax on $27,040 ($13 an hour) is worked out

Taxable income is $27,040 minus the 2026 standard deduction ($16,100) = $10,940. Each slice is taxed at its own rate:

2026 federal income tax by bracket, single filer
RateIncome in this bracketTax
10%$10,940$1,094
Total$10,940$1,094

How the California income tax on $27,040 ($13 an hour) is worked out

Taxable income is $27,040 of California wages minus $5,706 standard deduction = $21,334.

California income tax by bracket, single filer, 2025 rules
RateIncome in this bracketTax
1%$11,079$111
2%$10,255$205
Personal credits—−$153
Total$21,334$163

Common questions

How much is $13 an hour after taxes in California?

About $11.23 for every hour you work, or $23,363 a year at 40 hours a week ($27,040 gross). Taxes take about 13.6% of your pay, for a single filer in 2026 with no pre-tax deductions.

How much is $13 an hour a week after taxes in California?

About $449 a week at 40 hours, from $520 gross. Paid every two weeks, each paycheck is about $899.

How much is $13 an hour a month after taxes in California?

About $1,947 a month at 40 hours a week, from $2,253 gross.

Is $13 an hour good pay in California?

$13 an hour is below California's minimum wage of $16.90 an hour, so most employers there can't pay it. It's below the 10th percentile of hourly pay in California (BLS, May 2025) — fewer than about 1 in 10 workers earn less. The median hourly wage for all jobs in California is $28.00. After taxes and local prices, $23,363 a year buys about what $21,101 would at national-average prices.

Is California a high-tax state for $13 an hour?

It ranks 28th of 51 among the 50 states and D.C. for take-home on $13 an hour. The most you'd keep is $23,877 a year, in 9 places including Florida, North Dakota, New Hampshire; the least, $22,255 in Oregon.

Sources and method

Our 2026 engine applies IRS Publication 15-T withholding, Social Security and Medicare, California's income tax rules and California's employee payroll programs (methodology). Local income taxes are not included. Minimum wages: U.S. Department of Labor. Wage distribution and jobs: BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities.

  1. Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods — Internal Revenue Service. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  2. State Minimum Wage Laws — U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  3. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  4. Regional Price Parities by State — U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Accessed October 14, 2026.