California State Disability Insurance
What this line takes out of your pay in 2026, what it is calculated on, and where the rate comes from.
What California State Disability Insurance costs at different salaries
California State Disability Insurance is charged at 1.3% of every dollar of wages in California, with no ceiling. The figure is set in statute, so it is the amount actually withheld rather than an approximation.
This assessment applies to all wages with no ceiling, so the amount rises in step with pay and the share of gross stays flat.
| Salary | Per year | Per biweekly cheque | Share of gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $520 | $20 | 1.300% |
| $60,000 | $780 | $30 | 1.300% |
| $85,000 | $1,105 | $43 | 1.300% |
| $150,000 | $1,950 | $75 | 1.300% |
How California compares
3 states in this model run a state disability insurance programme funded by an employee deduction. Ranked by employee rate, California is 1 of 3. Rates are not directly comparable as benefits — each programme sets its own wage base, benefit ceiling and eligibility rules. See every payroll deduction in the model.
| State | Employee rate | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| California | 1.30% | All wages, no cap |
| Rhode Island | 1.10% | Wages up to a cap |
| New Jersey | 0.19% | Wages up to a cap |
A single filer paid biweekly in California, on 2026 rules reviewed through 2026-08-09. The rate traces to California EDD — 2026 rates and withholding.
More on California pay and deductions
California paycheck calculator
California's own brackets, deductions and payroll assessments, with the sources behind each.
Where California ranks
What California leaves you against every other state on the same salary, and where a move gains most.
California unemployment benefits
How California works out a weekly benefit, for how long, and the caps either side of it.
California wage garnishment limits
The most a creditor can take from a California paycheck, where state law is stricter than federal.
Common questions
How much does California State Disability Insurance take out of a California paycheck?
1.3% of every dollar of wages, with no annual ceiling. Unlike Social Security or a capped state assessment, it keeps applying at the same rate however much you earn in the year.
Is California State Disability Insurance taken out of every paycheck?
Yes, while you are being paid wages in California and, where a ceiling applies, until you reach it for the year. It is withheld by your employer alongside federal tax and FICA rather than being something you pay separately at filing time.
Can my California employer charge less than this?
Yes. The figure modelled here is the MAXIMUM an employee can be charged. Employers may set a lower employee share, or cover more of the cost themselves, so a real payslip can show less than this and still be correct. It should not show more.