WA Cares Fund premium
What this line takes out of your pay in 2026, what it is calculated on, and where the rate comes from.
What WA Cares Fund premium costs at different salaries
WA Cares Fund premium is charged at 0.58% of every dollar of wages in Washington, 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 | $232 | $9 | 0.580% |
| $60,000 | $348 | $13 | 0.580% |
| $85,000 | $493 | $19 | 0.580% |
| $150,000 | $870 | $33 | 0.580% |
A single filer paid biweekly in Washington, on 2026 rules reviewed through 2026-08-09. The rate traces to WA Cares Fund — premium calculation.
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Common questions
How much does WA Cares Fund premium take out of a Washington paycheck?
0.58% 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 WA Cares Fund premium taken out of every paycheck?
Yes, while you are being paid wages in Washington 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 Washington 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.