Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave employee share
What this line takes out of your pay in 2026, what it is calculated on, and where the rate comes from.
What Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave employee share costs at different salaries
Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave employee share is charged at 0.807% of wages in Washington, but only on the first $184,500 earned in the year. The figure is set in statute, so it is the amount actually withheld rather than an approximation.
This assessment stops applying above $184,500 of wages, so the amount flattens once pay passes that ceiling while the share of gross keeps falling.
| Salary | Per year | Per biweekly cheque | Share of gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $323 | $12 | 0.807% |
| $60,000 | $484 | $19 | 0.807% |
| $85,000 | $686 | $26 | 0.807% |
| $150,000 | $1,211 | $47 | 0.807% |
How Washington compares
10 states in this model run a paid family and medical leave programme funded by an employee deduction. Ranked by employee rate, Washington is 1 of 10. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | 0.81% | Wages up to a cap |
| Oregon | 0.60% | Wages up to a cap |
| Connecticut | 0.50% | Wages up to a cap |
| Maine | 0.50% | Wages up to a cap |
| Massachusetts | 0.46% | Wages up to a cap |
| Colorado | 0.44% | Wages up to a cap |
| Minnesota | 0.44% | Wages up to a cap |
| New York | 0.43% | Wages |
| Delaware | 0.40% | Wages up to a cap |
| New Jersey | 0.23% | Wages up to a cap |
A single filer paid biweekly in Washington, on 2026 rules reviewed through 2026-08-09. The rate traces to Washington Paid Leave — premium rates.
More on Washington pay and deductions
Washington paycheck calculator
Washington's own brackets, deductions and payroll assessments, with the sources behind each.
Where Washington ranks
What Washington leaves you against every other state on the same salary, and where a move gains most.
Washington unemployment benefits
How Washington works out a weekly benefit, for how long, and the caps either side of it.
Washington wage garnishment limits
The most a creditor can take from a Washington paycheck, where state law is stricter than federal.
Common questions
How much does Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave employee share take out of a Washington paycheck?
0.807% of wages, charged only on the first $184,500 you earn in the year. Above that ceiling the deduction stops for the rest of the year, so it takes a larger share of a lower salary than a higher one.
Is Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave employee share 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.