Washington income tax in 2026
Washington does not tax wages. Employers there withhold federal income tax, Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%), but no state income tax, which is why take-home pay in Washington is among the highest in the country on any salary.
Washington rules and notes
- Washington does not tax wages or salaries in 2026. The Department of Revenue says: 'Washington does not currently have an individual income tax.'
- Capital gains excise tax: 7% on Washington long-term capital gains above the annual standard deduction ($278,000 for 2025; indexed each year, and the 2026 figure was not yet published), plus an extra 2.9% on taxable gains over $1 million (9.9% combined) from tax year 2025 (ESSB 5813). Real estate and retirement accounts are exempt, and only individuals pay it.
- Future change: SB 6346 (2026 session) creates a 9.9% income tax for individuals and married couples filing jointly with adjusted gross income over $1 million. It takes effect January 1, 2028, and first returns are due in April 2029. It does not apply to 2026.
- Payroll deductions that are not income taxes: the WA Cares long-term-care premium (0.58% of wages) and the employee share of the Paid Family and Medical Leave premium.
Washington take-home pay by salary
Single filer, paid every two weeks, 2026 rules, standard deduction and no pre-tax deductions; includes WA Paid Leave and WA Cares but not local taxes.
| Salary | Federal income tax | Social Security + Medicare | WA Paid Leave and WA Cares | Take-home per year | Per bi-weekly paycheck |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $2,620 | $3,060 | $555 | $33,765 | $1,298.66 |
| $50,000 | $3,820 | $3,825 | $694 | $41,661 | $1,602.36 |
| $60,000 | $5,020 | $4,590 | $832 | $49,558 | $1,906.07 |
| $75,000 | $7,670 | $5,738 | $1,040 | $60,552 | $2,328.93 |
| $100,000 | $13,170 | $7,650 | $1,387 | $77,793 | $2,992.03 |
| $150,000 | $24,734 | $11,475 | $2,081 | $111,710 | $4,296.55 |
Hourly wages after taxes in Washington
Full-time (40 hours a week, 2,080 hours a year), no overtime, single filer:
| Hourly wage | Annual pay | Weekly take-home | Bi-weekly take-home | Take-home per year | Take-home per hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00 | $31,200 | $515.70 | $1,031.40 | $26,816 | $12.89 |
| $20.00 | $41,600 | $673.63 | $1,347.25 | $35,029 | $16.84 |
| $25.00 | $52,000 | $831.55 | $1,663.10 | $43,241 | $20.79 |
| $30.00 | $62,400 | $989.48 | $1,978.95 | $51,453 | $24.74 |
Washington vs. neighboring states
Take-home pay on a $75,000 salary (single, bi-weekly), with the difference from Washington. Federal taxes are identical in every state, so the gaps come from state income tax, county tax where it applies (Maryland and Indiana, at the most populous county’s rate) and state payroll contributions. On a $75,000 salary, Washington ranks #10 of 51 (50 states and DC) for take-home pay. Nationally, take-home pay on $75,000 ranges from $56,013 in Oregon to $61,593 in states with no wage tax or employee payroll contributions; the median is $58,763.
| State | State taxes & contributions | Take-home per year | Per bi-weekly paycheck | vs. Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $1,040 | $60,552 | $2,328.93 | — |
| Idaho | $2,860 | $58,733 | $2,258.94 | −$1,820 |
| Oregon | $5,580 | $56,013 | $2,154.34 | −$4,539 |
Neighboring state calculators: Idaho, Oregon. See all 50 states and DC on the national paycheck calculator.
How your Washington paycheck is calculated
- Gross pay for the year is your salary, or your hourly wage × hours × 52 plus overtime at 1.5×.
- Pre-tax deductions such as a traditional 401(k), health premiums and HSA contributions are subtracted before federal income tax.
- Federal income tax uses the 2026 brackets, your filing status’s standard deduction ($16,100 single) and credits for children and other dependents.
- Social Security and Medicare take 6.2% (up to $184,500 of wages) and 1.45%.
- No state income tax applies in Washington.
- State payroll contributions (WA Paid Leave and WA Cares) are a percentage of your wages, up to the annual limits listed in the questions below.
We divide the annual totals by your number of paychecks, which is how a correctly completed 2026 Form W-4 is designed to withhold. Your employer’s withholding tables may differ by a few dollars per check. For your full-year tax bill, use the income tax calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $75,000 a year after taxes in Washington?
A single filer earning $75,000 in Washington takes home about $60,552 a year in 2026, or $2,328.93 per bi-weekly paycheck. That is after $7,670 of federal income tax, $5,738 of Social Security and Medicare, with no state income tax and $1,040 of WA Paid Leave and WA Cares. Pre-tax 401(k) or health deductions would lower your taxes but also your take-home pay.
Does Washington have a state income tax?
No. Washington does not tax wages or salaries, so employers there don’t withhold state income tax. Federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare still apply. Some other payroll contributions may apply; see the notes on this page. A single filer earning $75,000 takes home about $2,328.93 per bi-weekly paycheck.
How much is $20 an hour after taxes in Washington?
Full time (40 hours a week), $20 an hour is $41,600 a year. After 2026 federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, a single filer in Washington takes home about $35,029 a year, or $1,347.25 per bi-weekly paycheck, about $16.84 per hour worked.
What else comes out of a paycheck in Washington?
Washington requires employers to withhold these contributions from employees’ pay in 2026: Paid Family & Medical Leave (employee share): 0.8072% of wages up to $184,500 a year (the maximum employee share; employers may pay more of it); WA Cares Fund (long-term care) premium: 0.58% of all wages (the maximum employee share; employers may pay more of it). On a $75,000 salary that is $1,040 a year, and the calculator subtracts it from your take-home pay.
How does take-home pay in Washington compare with nearby states?
On a $75,000 salary (single, bi-weekly), take-home pay is $60,552 a year in Washington. In neighboring states it ranges from $56,013 to $58,733; Idaho (the highest nearby) is $1,820 lower. Federal taxes are the same everywhere, so the gap comes from state and local income taxes and state payroll contributions.
How much federal tax comes out of each paycheck on a $75,000 salary?
Federal taxes don’t depend on the state. For a single filer paid every two weeks on $75,000, about $295.00 of federal income tax, $178.85 of Social Security (6.2%) and $41.83 of Medicare (1.45%) come out of each 2026 paycheck, based on the $16,100 standard deduction. Children, pre-tax deductions and W-4 choices change the federal amount.