How this social security tax calculator 2026 works
FICA has two parts: Social Security at 6.2% of wages up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500, and Medicare at 1.45% with no cap. Employees and employers each pay both. Above $200,000 of wages ($250,000 jointly) an extra 0.9% Medicare tax kicks in, paid only by the worker. Because Social Security stops at the wage base, effective FICA rates fall as income rises — this calculator shows that curve, and note the result is only your payroll tax: income tax, state tax and deductions are separate.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Social Security wage base in 2026?
For 2026 the Social Security taxable maximum is $184,500 (up from $176,100 in 2025). You pay 6.2% on wages up to that amount — a maximum employee share of $11,439 — and nothing above it. The SSA raises the base each year with average wages.
Is Medicare tax capped?
No. Medicare's 1.45% applies to every dollar of wages, and high earners pay an additional 0.9% on wages above $200,000 ($250,000 married filing jointly / $125,000 married filing separately). The employer does not match the additional 0.9%.
What changes if I'm self-employed?
You pay both halves as Self-Employment Contributions Act (SECA) tax — 15.3% up to the wage base, effectively about double the withheld employee amount — though you can deduct the employer-equivalent portion when filing income tax.