Pennsylvania pairs one of the simplest state income tax calculations in the country with one of the most crowded local systems. The state part is a single flat rate on taxable compensation, with no allowances, no standard deduction and no filing status. There is no state withholding certificate to fill in for ordinary employees; the only state form most people ever see is REV-419, the nonwithholding certificate for residents of a reciprocal state.
One detail surprises many people. Pennsylvania counts your own 401(k) contributions as taxable pay, so moving money into a traditional 401(k) lowers your federal withholding but leaves the Pennsylvania line where it was. A small unemployment compensation contribution also comes out of every paycheck, on all wages with no yearly cap.
The local layer is where the real variation sits. Nearly every municipality and school district levies an earned income tax, and under Act 32 your employer withholds the higher of two rates: the combined resident rate where you live, or the nonresident rate where you work. Most workers also pay a Local Services Tax to the place they work, a fixed annual amount spread across paychecks, with a low-income exemption. The calculator lists every municipality, county by county, so pick both your home and work location to get the right pair.
Philadelphia stands apart. Its Wage Tax replaces the local earned income tax for residents, applies to nonresidents at a slightly lower rate for work done in the city, and is figured on gross pay with 401(k) contributions included. The Philadelphia paycheck calculator shows both cases, and the Pittsburgh paycheck calculator covers that city’s earned income tax and Local Services Tax.
Pennsylvania has reciprocal agreements with Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia. A resident of one of those states who works here and files REV-419 has no Pennsylvania state tax withheld, although local tax at the work location can still apply.
How Pennsylvania taxes your paycheck
State income tax withholding
On the tax return, Pennsylvania taxes income at a single rate of 3.07%. Employers withhold at the same rate, on all taxable wages, with no allowances. The withholding figures here follow Pennsylvania's own instructions for employers.
For a single filer paid every two weeks, Pennsylvania withholds 3.1% of a $30,000 salary and 3.1% of $150,000:
| Salary | Pennsylvania tax withheld | Share of pay |
|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $921 | 3.1% |
| $50,000 | $1,535 | 3.1% |
| $75,000 | $2,303 | 3.1% |
| $100,000 | $3,070 | 3.1% |
| $150,000 | $4,605 | 3.1% |
Pennsylvania taxes your own 401(k) contributions: they come out of pay before federal income tax but not before Pennsylvania tax, so saving in a 401(k) lowers your Pennsylvania withholding less than you might expect.
Payroll levies
Besides income tax, one payroll levy comes out of each Pennsylvania paycheck: $35 a year at the median wage.
- PA Unemployment Compensation (employee): 0.07% of all wages, with no yearly cap. On the median wage that is $34.84 a year.
City and county taxes
Almost every Pennsylvania worker pays a local earned income tax to the municipality and school district where they live, or the nonresident rate where they work if that is higher, and most also pay a Local Services Tax where they work. The calculator lists every municipality, county by county (66 counties), along with Philadelphia's Wage Tax. Worked figures: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh. The guide to local income taxes explains how the home and work rates combine.
Living in one state and working in another
Pennsylvania has reciprocal agreements with Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia. A resident of one of them who works in Pennsylvania has only home-state tax withheld after giving the employer the exemption form.
For a job in any other state, Pennsylvania withholds as well but subtracts the other state's tax first, so the two are not added in full. Enter both states in the calculator to see it; the guide to reciprocity agreements covers the rest.
Pennsylvania take-home pay by salary
Net pay per paycheck at each salary, single with no 401(k), benefits or extra withholding, living and working in Pennsylvania. It runs from $974.73 every two weeks on $30,000 to $4,195.42 on $150,000. For a 401(k), health premiums or a different filing status, use the calculator above.
| Salary | Weekly | Every two weeks | Twice a month | Monthly | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $487.36 | $974.73 | $1,055.94 | $2,111.92 | $25,343 |
| $40,000 | $635.85 | $1,271.69 | $1,377.66 | $2,755.34 | $33,064 |
| $50,000 | $784.33 | $1,568.66 | $1,699.36 | $3,398.75 | $40,785 |
| $60,000 | $932.81 | $1,865.60 | $2,021.08 | $4,042.17 | $48,506 |
| $75,000 | $1,139.19 | $2,278.36 | $2,468.23 | $4,936.44 | $59,237 |
| $90,000 | $1,333.06 | $2,666.12 | $2,888.28 | $5,776.58 | $69,319 |
| $100,000 | $1,462.31 | $2,924.61 | $3,168.33 | $6,336.67 | $76,040 |
| $125,000 | $1,784.20 | $3,568.39 | $3,865.76 | $7,731.55 | $92,778 |
| $150,000 | $2,097.71 | $4,195.42 | $4,545.03 | $9,090.08 | $109,081 |
Hourly pay after tax in Pennsylvania
At 40 hours a week, $25.00 an hour comes to $814.02 in a weekly paycheck and $42,329 over the year, which is $20.35 for each hour worked. Overtime, tips and a different schedule change these figures: switch the calculator to its Hourly tab to enter them.
| Hourly wage | Weekly paycheck | Year | Per hour after tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00 | $505.18 | $26,270 | $12.63 |
| $20.00 | $659.60 | $34,299 | $16.49 |
| $25.00 | $814.02 | $42,329 | $20.35 |
| $30.00 | $968.44 | $50,359 | $24.21 |
| $40.00 | $1,245.17 | $64,749 | $31.13 |
| $50.00 | $1,514.01 | $78,729 | $37.85 |
Worked example: the median wage in Pennsylvania
The median annual wage in Pennsylvania is $49,690: half of all jobs pay more and half pay less, in the Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey for May 2025 (all occupations; survey date May 31, 2025). Paid every two weeks as a single filer, with no 401(k) or benefits, that salary works out like this.
| Line | Each paycheck | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $1,911.15 | $49,690.00 |
| Federal income tax | $145.49 | $3,782.75 |
| Social Security | $118.49 | $3,080.75 |
| Medicare | $27.71 | $720.46 |
| Pennsylvania income tax | $58.67 | $1,525.43 |
| PA Unemployment Compensation (employee) | $1.34 | $34.84 |
| Take-home pay | $1,559.45 | $40,545.77 |
You keep 81.6% of gross pay. Of the $9,144 withheld, federal income tax is the largest part at $3,783, followed by Social Security at $3,081.
Pennsylvania paycheck questions
How much is $49,690 a year after taxes in Pennsylvania?
Paid every two weeks as a single filer with no pre-tax deductions, $49,690 a year in Pennsylvania leaves $40,546 after tax, or $1,559.45 a paycheck. Federal income tax takes $3,783 and Social Security and Medicare $3,801; Pennsylvania income tax takes $1,525; state payroll levies take $35. $49,690 is the median annual wage for all jobs in Pennsylvania in the Bureau of Labor Statistics survey for May 2025.
Is Pennsylvania income tax a flat rate?
Yes. On the tax return, Pennsylvania taxes income at a single rate of 3.07%. Employers withhold at the same rate, on all taxable wages, with no allowances. At the median wage, Pennsylvania withholds 3.1% of gross pay.
What does Pennsylvania deduct from a paycheck besides income tax?
PA Unemployment Compensation (employee): 0.07% of all wages, with no yearly cap. At the median wage these come to $35 for the year.
Do cities or counties in Pennsylvania tax wages?
Yes. Nearly every Pennsylvania municipality and school district levies an earned income tax, and many also charge a Local Services Tax. The calculator lists them by county (66 counties), plus Philadelphia's Wage Tax. Pages with worked figures: Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
I live in another state and work in Pennsylvania. Which state withholds?
Pennsylvania has reciprocal agreements with Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia. A resident of one of them who works in Pennsylvania has only home-state tax withheld after giving the employer the exemption form.
What is $75,000 a year biweekly in Pennsylvania?
$2,278.36 a paycheck, single, with no 401(k) or other deductions. Paid twice a month it is $2,468.23, and monthly $4,936.44. Over the year that is $59,237.
Sources
- IRS Publication 15-T, Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods
- Social Security Administration, contribution and benefit base
- Pennsylvania employer withholding instructions
- Pennsylvania income tax rates on the return
- PA Unemployment Compensation (employee)
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Rules checked . How we calculate.