Pennsylvania Paycheck Calculator 2026

Pennsylvania paycheck taxes at a glance

Every paycheck also has federal income tax, Social Security (6.2% up to $184,500) and Medicare (1.45%), worked out with the same 2026 IRS figures as ourmain paycheck calculator.

Worked examples

A $60,000 salary in Harrisburg, single, 5% 401(k), paid every two weeks

Single, paid every two weeks (26 paychecks). Pennsylvania taxable income is $60,000 and the state tax is $1,842, an effective 3.07% of gross pay. The 401(k) deferral lowers federal tax only: state tax and local EIT are both figured on the full $60,000. The example uses a 1% EIT plus the $52 Local Services Tax.

A $95,000 household in Philadelphia, married filing jointly with two children

Married filing jointly, 2 children, paid every two weeks (26 paychecks). Pennsylvania taxable income is $95,000 and the state tax is $2,917, an effective 3.07% of gross pay. Philadelphia’s resident wage tax costs more than the state income tax here, and neither one is reduced by the 6% 401(k) contribution or the two children.

Local earned income tax (EIT) and LST

Under Act 32 every Pennsylvania resident pays an EIT to the municipality and school district where they live, collected by the employer. Most areas charge around 1% in total, but rates differ town by town: look yours up in the state’s Municipal Statistics EIT register and type it in. Where you work, the employer also withholds a Local Services Tax (LST) of up to $52 a year if you earn over $12,000 there. Like the state tax, EIT applies to wages before 401(k) deferrals.

Philadelphia wage tax

Philadelphia replaces the normal EIT with its own Wage Tax. Residents pay 3.735% on all their pay, wherever they work, on pay dates from July 1, 2026 (3.74% before). Non-residents pay 3.425%, but only on pay for days they actually work in the city, so days you are required to work from home outside Philadelphia can be refunded. The city has no Local Services Tax.

Your 401(k) does not lower PA tax

Pennsylvania treats employee 401(k), 403(b) and 457 deferrals as taxable pay. A 6% contribution cuts your federal taxable wages but leaves your state and local taxable wages unchanged. You are not taxed again when you withdraw those contributions in retirement. Health premiums and HSA contributions paid through a cafeteria plan are excluded, as they are for federal tax.

Tax Forgiveness for low-income families

Pennsylvania’s Tax Forgiveness program (Schedule SP) cancels the state income tax for low-income households. A single filer with income up to $6,500, or a married couple up to $13,000, owes nothing; each dependent child adds $9,500 to the limit. Every $250 above the limit removes 10% of the forgiveness. The calculator applies it automatically. It does not cover local EIT, which is still due.

Reciprocity with six states

Pennsylvania has reciprocal agreements with Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia. If you live in one of those states and work in Pennsylvania, your employer withholds your home state’s tax instead of the 3.07%. See the New Jersey or Ohio calculators if that applies to you. New York and Delaware have no such agreement with Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania payroll deductions besides income tax

• Unemployment Compensation (UC) employee contribution: Pennsylvania is one of three states where employees pay into unemployment insurance: 0.07% of all wages in 2026 (70 cents per $1,000), with no wage cap.

Pennsylvania vs. neighboring states

Take-home pay on a $75,000 salary, single, no pre-tax deductions and no local tax:

Where you work and where you live can both matter. See paycheck calculators for every state for the full comparison.